The best cocktail bars in Mumbai

What is it? A sexy bar for grown-ups by Aditi and Aditya Dugar, the duo behind Masque. 

Why we love it: Because the zine menu of speciality cocktails gets the balance between sweet and savoury offerings exactly right. Nothing here's too trendy or too classic – drinks are distilled with tomato powder (Bubble Bath) or elevated with egg white (Grassland); the infamous caviar bump, placed on the back of your hand by chef Varun Totlani, is worth the lick; the hand-embroidered wall panels and gauzy candle-lit ambience seal the deal. 

Time Out tip: Seriously, leave the kids at home. This is a serious bar. And maybe not the best place for a big meal. 

Price: About ₹1,550 per cocktail 

Timings: 6pm-1am from Tue-Sun. Monday closed.

Address: Shree Laxmi Woollen Mills, G17, Shakti Mills Ln, off Doctor Elijah Moses Road, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018

What is it? A quiet dinner date venue by evening, chaotic party haven at night. A safe bet for a European meal and classic cocktails. 

Why we love it: Not too many bars can transition effortlessly from romantic rendezvous to club-ready energy, but this one can. Their Bergamot Margaritas go best with meaty plates like the mi-cuit salmon, grilled prawn, smoked pork belly, while veggie options like the charred asparagus and the crispy okra potato pair well with the AeroPress Negroni or Meloma (a highball Paloma). It’s worth it for the whole shebang, I’d say – weekday dinner + drinks, as well as the much more frenetic Fridays and Saturdays. Paanch – their take on the 5-ingredient punch – promises to keep you going all night long. 

Time Out tip: Don’t make the mistake of expecting peace and solitude on weekends. For family or work suppers, go on a weekday. 

Price: ₹1,000-1,500 per cocktail 

Timings: 6.30pm-1.30am from Tue-Sun. Monday closed

Address: Thadani House 329/A Opposite Indian Coast Guard Worli Village, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400030

What is it? A breath of fresh air in the skyscraper-studded BKC area. 

Why we love it: The menus are artful – one cocktail selection gently guides you towards suggested food pairings, complete with a section for low-ABV drinks, while another special one pairs working lunches with cocktail recommendations. It’s also the prettiest place in the business district to grab a drink. The palazzo-style interiors will lasso you in, but it’s the watermelon-infused clear negroni (The Wildlings) and the Bellini with a berry cameo (Ring The Bell) you’ll stay for. 

Time Out tip: It’s worth it to plan cocktail hour alongside a meal, because the food’s perfectly curated for wining and dining. The European fare’s hearty, wholesome, and beautifully plated. 

Price: ₹1,000 for signature & low-ABV cocktails, ₹1,800 and above for fine cocktails 

Timings: Daily. 12 noon-4pm and 6.30pm-1am

Address: Ground, Ins Tower, Unit 1 & 2, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400098

What is it? A hotspot for international bar takeovers, a refuge for all savoury cocktail fiends, and a well-lit, winding end to another South Mumbai Mills compound.  

Why we love it: How do you nail an avant garde picante? What makes aperol foam tick? Why does umeshu – Japanese plum wine – make craft gin pop? This Lower Parel bar answers all these questions to satisfaction, and more. No better place to start than peachy tequila-based Breakfast in Bed. Umami lovers will find refuge in the lemongrass-infused Happy Accidents or the nori and ginger shrub-flavoured Main Character Energy. Beware: lovers of sweet cocktails may be disappointed. 

Time Out tip: Tables are hard to come by, so remember to reserve one well in time. The golf cart can come pick you up if you’re in uncomfortably high heels – again, request for this in advance. 

Price: ₹850-1,050 per cocktail 

Timings: 7pm-1am from Wed-Fri. 12 noon-4pm and 7pm-1am on Sat & Sun. Mon & Tue closed.

Address: Mathuradas Mill Compound, 126, Sitaram Jadhav Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013

What is it? An open-air rooftop bar with a stellar sunset view.

Why we love it: You’ve ticked off a big ticket Mumbai must-do item if you’ve polished off a couple gimlets here during golden hour. None of us necessarily needs an excuse to head over to the 33rd floor of the Four Seasons – the mezcal, basil, and almond-based Nautical Collins calls out in dulcet tones. The Prosecco, oolong and passionfruit creation that is the Golden Zephyr, too, is best enjoyed over a plate of sushi as you admire the skyline. 

Time Out tip: Reservations are encouraged. You could book a group outing at the Yacht Club section. For a table for two, the Gimlet Garden section has the cosiest spots. 

Price: ₹1,500 per cocktail

Timings: Daily. 5.30pm-1am

Address: 34th Floor, 1/136, Dr Elijah Moses Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Upper Worli, Worli, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018

What is it? India’s first bar dedicated to Mahua – an indigenous spirit made from the Mahura flower – and Bandra mecca for secret DJ sets. Also, the only spot for Catholic cuisine staples in Mumbai (and probably India). 

Why we love it: Helmed by Gresham Fernandes, former culinary director of Impresario, the pop-up-turned-restaurant isn’t afraid to get messy, is still in awe of the classics, and is a crash course on what it means to grow up Catholic in Bandra. Scarlet kiss-stained cocktail napkins beckon you in, the less-is-more concoctions come embellished with just one signature flourish – a berry, a leaf, a peal – and gastronomic experiments feature Anglo-Indian and East-Indian overtones. The devil’s clearly in the details. 

Time Out tip: Ordering off the Mahua menu’s a must. The Six Brothers Small Batch Mahura, a clear spirit, shapeshifts effortlessly from solid negronis and elderflower highballs (Phool Me Twice) to creamy Coladas and lemonades with a twist (Kadak Nimbu Sharbat). 

Price: Rs. 750 -1000 per cocktail 

Timings: Daily. 12 noon-1.30am and 7pm-1am

Address: Rose Minar, 87, Chapel Rd, Annexe, Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

What is it? A capacious space in a South Mumbai heritage building, sunlit by qasi-French windows with a maximalist cocktail menu to backdrop every vintage corner.  

Why we love it: Desi spices and herbs intermingle with coriander, khus and cumin as the main stars across off-kilter classics. The Mehfil-E-Sips curation – their in-house liqueurs made in small batches – can be deployed as infusions, or enjoyed over ice. Not to mention that there’s homegrown Limoncello and Orange Bailey’s calling. 

Time Out tip: Highly recommended for day drinking, or at least while the sun is out to soak in the gothic architectural views of CST and the BMC building as the breeze bristles by the tall windows. 

Price: ₹1,000 per cocktail 

Timings: Daily. 11am-4pm and 6.30pm-1am

Address:1st Floor, Shop, NO-2, Kitab Mahal, Azad Maidan, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

What is it? A Latin-inspired bar with cocktails that nail presentation. The space is dominated by low-lit tables set against vibrant textures, with an endearing cat mascot that shows up everywhere.

Why we love it: You know how picky drinkers will ask servers whether the cocktail they’re ordering is sweet, spicy, or aromatic? Yeah, no need to do that here – the folks at House of Paloma have already tripartitioned the menu for user ease. True to its Latin inspiration, there’s plenty of Patrón to go around in every shape and form. Seasoned or novice, tequila drinkers will will feel right at home. 

Time Out tip: If you’re not a tequila drinker, maybe sit this one out.

Price: ₹750-950 per cocktail

Timings: 12.30pm-1.30am from Tue-Sun. 5pm-1.30pm on Mon.

Address: 545 Excel Entertainment Ground Floor 33rd Road Near McDonald’s Linking Road Bandra, Pali Village, Khar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400052

What is it? The spot you take your overseas friend for a taste of desi thekas with a side of finesse. 

Why we love it: Bombay Daak’s a bar that could be a house party. It’s specificity embodied in eclectic, indigenous ingredients, mixed to an even more eclectic playlist.

Elevated this, elevated that. Buzzwords aside, not many bars can say they’ve upheld their throughline after the launch excitement’s fizzled out. Big talk and small shows’ the name of the game in Bandra, but at Bombay Daak, you get to travel the length and breadth of the country in spirit (pun absolutely intended). Noonchai, rasam, besan ghee, pickle, malvani masala – all to drink, not eat! Do not forgo the Parangi Malu with bird’s eye chilli wine and gin. And somewhere enroute to general tipsiness, the duck puff and bombil will make sure you’ve lined that stomach. 

Time Out tip: There’s only 30 seats, so book before you head. Once you get there, you’ll admire the botanical tiles much more once you know that they’re handpainted. 

Price: ₹850-950 per cocktail. ₹2,000 per Swadesh Sip cocktail. 

Timings: Daily. 6pm-1.30am

Address: Shop No - 5 / 21, ONGC Complex, HIG Colony, Nityanand Nagar, Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

What is it? An alfresco bar in south Mumbai’s office district, with cocktails named after Indian textiles – think Raw Silk, Banarasi, Muslin and Kantha. 

Why we love it: There’s ACTUALLY a passcode to get in. And drinking under the Mumbai sky in this economy? Sounds impossible but they’ve actually got room for 80 people in their open-air seating section. Their menu is cocktail-forward and each drink comes with garnishes so well curated, you wish you could recreate them for the next party you host.  Paired with easy dining choices, PCO’s an easy pick when you’re in a spot. 

Time Out tip: Did you think we’d just spill the beans on the pass code? Look up their digits, make a call, and ask for it! 

Price: ₹850-950 per cocktail

Timings: Daily. 5pm-1.30am.

Address: NRK House, next to Kamala Mills gate, 1, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013