It’s also the Indian capital for Bobos or Bohemian Bourgeoisie, as the David Brooks bestseller termed new-age yuppies, and hangouts like Mocha for coffee and Rain in Juhu are tailor-made for them. Rain is near where Bollywood’s A list goes flea market-shopping on Sundays. Its rustic but superchic look, world music and fusion food brings the Bollywood’s hottest and the wannabes.
Chocolate sushi or salmon rolls with mascarpone may seem a little out of place in an Oriental restaurant, but Farrokh Khambatta has a menu filled with unlikely winners and inspired choices at his new-age restaurant, Joss. He takes the food from the Far East and gives it his own twist. The water chestnuts stuffed with corn curd and flambéd prawns are served in soup spoons and are burst with full-bodied flavour. The Balinese curry is not to be missed as is the sushi, both veg and seafood versions. Khambatta’s weekly chef’s tables, where he cooks himself for a small group, are getting as popular as the restaurant itself.
As the city’s life moves north, so do its hottest eating destinations. Here you have the Grand Hyatt’s M grill; it’s a strange name but the dessert menu says M’s for mmm.... And the desserts are worth a drool. The Baked Alaska is flambéd at the table and the chocolate cake is homey and scrumptious. Before that you can choose from a range of organic veggies and imported meats and have them grilled, oven or spit roasted.
And while rainforest may seem a slightly incongruous theme for an urbane night club like Lush, it’s packing in Page 3 animals. Decor here’s minimal chic but the action spills over the bars spread over two levels, a good place to be at to get the news on who’s seeing who and to see some item number girls getting a start at the bar tables here.
The newest addition to Mumbai’s crowded nightlife is also one of the most startlingly different. Vie is right on Juhu Beach and makes the most of it with its beach-themed menu cards and starkly beautiful interiors. Even before it actually opened, Vie had been hosting private do’s on New Year’s etc. It culminated in a biggie on opening night and since then it has been a regular draw for Mumbai’s glamour set.
Bars