For the Indian fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, few other destinations in the world have the same energy and cosmopolitan vibe as Mumbai, where he lives part time.
“There’s a reason why this is called the maximum city,” he says. “It’s always alive and bustling. It’s the heart of India with the film industry and business people being based here, and like New York, people from India come to Mumbai to make their dreams come true.”
Mumbai is also inclusive, Mukherjee says, and has a diverse population composed of residents from all socioeconomic classes and religions.
Mukherjee is well-known in India and globally for his eponymous luxury brand that includes opulent clothes, jewelry and accessories. He has a 25,0000 square foot store in Mumbai and counts Oprah Winfrey and Priyanka Chopra among his many celebrity fans.
Mukherjee shared some of his top spots in Mumbai with Penta.
Stay
There’s one ultimate hotel to stay at in Mumbai, and it’s the Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba. Hotels like this don’t exist anymore, and it truly is the city’s grande dame. It’s a heritage building and a representation of Indian hospitality. Stay in the old Palace wing—the rooms are beautiful. It was gutted when we had the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and rebuilt. It’s a great story of resilience.
Hidden Gems
Ballard Estate, which is South Mumbai’s first consciously planned commercial center, is a place that most people miss. It was built in the 1900s and full of incredible architecture and sights like the Port Trust War Memorial. A lot of Mumbai has gone through urbanization and change, but this part of the city has stayed untouched. Time stands still. And unlike the rest of Mumbai, there isn’t too much traffic here.
Sights Not to Miss
Victoria Terminus, the public station, is a Victorian Gothic architectural marvel. Stand in front of it at 9 a.m., and you will see a million people running out and to work. It shows you the energy of Mumbai.
I also suggest the Prince of Wales Museum, which is related to Indian history, and the David Sassoon Library, situated in a beautiful Victorian Gothic building.
For religious sights, there’s the Blue Synagogue and Haji Ali Sargah.
You should also walk down Marine Drive in the early morning and late at night to soak in the expanse of the city. It’s a beautiful walk.
And of course, there’s the Gateway of India, an arch monument on the waterfront from the early 20th century. Missing it is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower
Eat
Trishna in Kala Goda is a must and opened as a hole in the wall in the 1930s. You won’t find better seafood anywhere else in the world. I recommend the butter garlic crab, the deep-fried Bombay duck, which is a local fish, and the appam or rice pancake. I end my meal with a Parsi malai kulfi that has a smoky caramelized quality that other kulfis don’t.
My other favorite places are Britannia Café, an old Iranian café, for the berry pulao (rice dish); salli boti, a traditional Parsi lamb dish; and raspberry soda. Leopold is another Iranian café that I like.
Haji Ali Juice Centre has the best vegetarian sandwiches with Indian spices like the butter tomato cucumber sandwich with black pepper and spices I love. You always have to wait in line, but it’s well worth it.
If you want an iconic street food experience, go to Chowpatty Beach for the vada pao (potato fritter sandwich), bhel puri (puffed rice and vegetables in a tangy sauce), and pani puri (savory stuffed fried dough balls filled with tangy water).
Shop
The best place for textiles is the Indian Textiles Company at the Taj Hotel. They have beautiful brocades, pashmina shawls, printed blouses, and saris. For home décor, Good Earth at Raghuvanshi Mills is the place. Think of it as a Williams Sonoma Indian style.
I love antique shopping, and my favorite places are Phillips Antiques and the Great Eastern Home, which has the most high-end antiques in the city.
Everyone needs to spend a day in Chor Bazaar, Mumbai’s equivalent of Portobello Market. I buy a lot of my antiques here at Taherally’s. Crawford Market in South Mumbai is another bustling Indian bazaar. It’s always crowded but so charming. Get lost, and you’ll find everything from clothes to electronics.
Souvenir to Buy
A pair of kolhapuri chappals, or slippers, from Colaba Causeway. These shoes are handmade with sturdy leather and are very functional yet beautiful at the same time. They’ll last you a lifetime.
Day Trip out of Town
The Elephanta Caves. This Unesco World Heritage site is a series of temples in caves dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
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