6 reasons to visit Mumbai

Royal Opera House

The Quarter at Mumbai’s iconic Royal Opera House is the newest entrant to the city’s live music scene – visit the jazz bar in the opulent 105-year-old baroque theatre.

The Harbour Line

Carrying a staggering eight million people a day, the local train system is the city’s lifeline – and not for the faint of heart. To understand the method to the madness, board at the fabulously Victorian Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and ride the Harbour Line.

Marine Drive

Catch the sea breeze on a morning run along the palm-lined promenade by the Arabian Sea. In the evening, grab a coconut-flavoured ice cream at Naturals and watch Mumbaikars come out in droves to see the sunset.

Bollywood

India’s tinseltown is where the Hindi film industry’s top celebs were made and young hopefuls come with stars in their eyes. Watch a song-and-dance-filled Bollywood flick at an iconic theatre, like the art deco Regal cinema in Colaba.

Vada pav

Bite into a potato patty (vada) stuffed in a bun (pav), topped with a green chilli. Every evening, Mumbai’s street snack of choice flies off pushcarts and into the hands of hungry homebound office workers.

Clove

Housed in an art deco building, Mumbai’s newest concept shop is a storehouse of contemporary Indian fashion, jewellery, and homewares by young indie brands. Ikka Dukka’s handcrafted stone kitchenware is particularly covetable.