First came the Mall with its hallowed Foodhall, then funny-chain The Comedy Store (now Canvas Laugh Factory) and Chanel. Now enticing Maximum City in equal measure is the Hotel. Yes, I’m talking about Palladium that started off as a mall and the success of which sparked the namesake Hotel. Either way, the two together began to convince us why phrases like ‘dynamic duo’ exist. And that led us to the obvious- who better to ask what to do when in Mumbai. You might be wondering why step out at all in the first place. But it takes a real expert to create and curate a list of the city’s finest. Which is why, we went on to speak with Deepti Dadlani, Director of Marketing & Communications and find you Mumbai’s best.“As someone who sincerely and unabashedly loves the ‘Good Life’ and lives to Eat, Shop and Party, these are my top picks of ‘Luxury Far From the Madding Crowd.’”
Dine in Style:
“Indigo has long been a personal favorite with its fine Modern European fare (best Lobster Bisque in town) and ambiance.” We concur. Rahul Akerkar’s iconic fine-dine, famous for its heritage-villa like appeal is what one might call a gastronomic no-brainer on our list. Mekong, the highest and award-winning Asian restaurant, at Palladium Hotel “has in recent times proved to be the perfect spot for a thorough luxurious dining experience.” Likely named after the trans-boundary river, it offers food and views that could, in all probability, benefit from the same adjective. “Can it get better than dining on the 37th floor in the city?” Doubt it.
Art galore:
“A walk around the art galleries of Colaba like Volte, Chemould Prescott Road Gallery, Tasveer, Chatterjee & Lal and my personal favorite, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke.” Trust the art aficionado in Deepti to comment on emergent contemporary art culture in India and the galleries, by extension. She also advises not to miss the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, “clearly a sight for sore eyes, with its Palladian edifice.” According to her, after many years of careful restoration, the museum now houses some of the finest works in history and culture. “To know Mumbai, a visit to BDLM is mandatory.” Then there’s, of course, Jehangir Art Gallery, one of the oldest in the city and also, home to Samovar, “a cafeteria and now- institute popular for its simple fare and history.”
For the love of the arts:
Art gets an extension. Everyone who is anyone that lives in Mumbai understands The National Centre of Performing Arts deserves a special mention. Such understanding no doubt has seen its fair share of ripple effect and NCPA receives countrywide patronage. “(It) is a haven with international film screenings, dance and musical performances, etc., on a daily basis. The cold coffee and chicken sandwiches are plain nostalgia.” So there’s your insider tip if you’re making your first visit. Needless to say its sweet Nariman Point spot means trickling over to the famous strip that juts into the water and has seen many a filmy moments. It was reclaimed from the sea along with the surrounding land that’s now dons the role of a swanky business district.
Sky High:
Next up, Asilo. Meaning sanctuary in Greek, this bar is indeed the perfect sanctuary for (much needed) post-work tippling.