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Mumbai's best suburban bars
Directions for drinking up north, including beachfront bars and boys' night out pubs
Mumbai's suburban bars have grown exponentially in the last two years.
Now is the time to gather that frothy top layer -- these are the best bars beyond Bandra.
Aurus: Best yuppie-crowd bar
Remember to keep room for desserts at star-studded Aurus.
Aurus' outdoor dining and lounging concept, especially the four-poster deck beds, were a huge success when this beachfront nightspot launched late in 2006.
The crowd is a heady mix of business barons from the 'burbs (as the North of the city is called by its snooty South cousins) and sexy, liberal long legs (with vertiginous heels to match) from the Bollywood's glamour world.
Weeknights are more sober and candle-lit than the sardine packed Friday and Saturday nights, unless a midweek Bollywood film wrap party decides to happen here. And then the TV crew vans parked outside usually give that away.
As a dining option, the baroque interiors, oversized chandeliers for company can be an option for those like to call it an early night with a Mediterranean menu.
Aurus's mixed bag of beers from around the world are enticing, single malts will set you back a lot, and martinis move faster than anything else here.
Be warned, Aurus has gained notoriety for its firm door policy. Getting past the velvet rope post 10.30 p.m. isn't a breeze, and if you're a single guy you can forget about it entirely.
Perhaps that’s why it’s also one of the best star spotting venues in Mumbai.
If drunk yet famished, order a burger and don't leave Aurus without dessert -- especially the banoffee pie.
Ground Floor, Nichani Kutir, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Vile Parle (W)); +91 (0) 22 6710 666; www.dishhospitality.com
Firangi Paani: Best after-work pub
Take yourself back to the 1980s in this London style pub, popular for after-work drinks.
Styled like a pub around-the-corner in 1970s London, with leather upholstered seating and dark wood, Firangi Paani, means foreign water.
This popular bar chain cutting across the city is a popular after-work watering hole, its happy hours being big with the media, advertising and television crowd that work in Andheri.
The DJ spins tunes from the 1980s and 1990s, like Scorpions, Steve Winwood and other soft rock, slipping into tardy remixes of one-hit-wonders from back in the day towards midnight.
The live rock band act every Thursday (9 p.m. onwards) is a huge draw. The wait staff tells me that Aussie cricketer Brett Lee gigged with a band here once.
The kebab platter, beer on the tap and shots (rather diluted ones) are the most popular items on the menu.
Go on Ladies' Nights (Monday and Wednesday) where the dance floor swarms with wobbly, drunken wannabe starlets who've had too many shots. Hysterical to watch.
Firaagi Paani, Fun Republic, Level 3, Link Road, Andheri West, Opposite Laxmi Industrial Estate; +91 (0) 22 2674414; www.bjngroup.in
WTF: Best neighborhood bar
Salty breeze and a quirky setting, knock back a few beers here at this youthful bar.
Perhaps the most popular of the new suburban bars, WTF is an easy dive bar in Andheri.
Don’t bother sitting inside, outside is where the young eye-candy is at -- waiting to be spotted and discovered by some casting director.
The salty sea breeze sans view adds to the flavor of the rimmed Bloody Marys, but clearly it's beer that works best here.
Indian-style cots with cushions strewn across, quirky tables made out of junked sewing machines set against an art wall add to the setting.
The soundtrack here is warm and familiar -- classic hip-hop cuts, a few new chart busters and a whole lot of chatter.
WTF is unapologetic about its bohemian spirit and the menu validates that.
Try the calorie-laden kheema pav (an oily minced lamb crumble with fresh bread, a popular Mumbai street food) and spicy Chettinad chicken wings.
What's more the owner Kishore, is often seen sipping his pint with regulars.
Jewel Shopping Center, near 7 Bungalows bus stop, Andheri (W), Versova; +91 996 7893 4165.
Gadda Da Vidda: Best beach-front bar
Mostly known through word-of-mouth, this venue in the back of a hotel is possibly Mumbai's best beach front bar.
This bar is one of those recently discovered secrets of Juhu beach. Please don’t ruin it.
In the sea-facing backyard of the Novotel hotel, Gadda Da Vida its gaining notoriety as the “first date to impress" venue.
A quick chat with the bar manager tells us that the bar's been named after 1960s psychedelic band Iron Butterfly’s massive hit single.
The interiors feature black walls, shiny upholstery and wire mesh chandeliers, while expats swagger in to hang their feet up on the polished rattan ottomans and bean bags outside.
The crashing waves of the Arabian Sea and the mint-loaded Caprioshkas make an excellent combination.
Music always helps, and the DJ gets everyone familiar with electro jazz followed by dance anthems from European mix masters such as Bob Sinclar post midnight -- just in time for the swish set to start showing up on the weekends.
Swanky it is, and definitely fair priced, Gadda Da Vida is far more enjoyable on a mid-week night.
The menu passed the fresh hummus litmus test and their seafood platter or the famed snapper shashlik is equally fresh too. PIzzas are passable.
Gadda da Vida, Novotel Mumbai, Balraj Sahani Marg, Juhu Beach; +91 (0) 22 6693 4444; www.novotel.com
