Eat, drink, listen: Blackstratblues’ guide to going out in Mumbai

Start the day in a place where the air smells like curry leaves and filter coffee. Among the myriad of South Indian spots popping up around the city, Dakshinayan’s (the OG) the spot for Warren: bustling, reliable, no-nonsense. Get the medu vada and dosa, followed by their hand-churned ice cream. 

The soundtrack: Love and Understanding by John McLaughlin

Blackstrat’s tip: After you’ve had your fill, amble along Juhu Beach to clear your head (and digest what’s in your stomach). 

Address: Gandhigram Rd, opp. Isckon temple, Jukarwadi, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400049

Cross over to Bandra for a mid-morning carb fix. Whether it’s a flaky croissant from A1 Bakery or a sweet treat from American Express, this is fuel you need for a day in the suburbs. And old-school Bandra charm has always been fuel for Warren. His discography is enough to confirm that.

The soundtrack: Tush by ZZ Top

Address: Villa Sushma, Plot No 87, Hill Rd, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050 (American Express); 89 B, Hill Rd, near Holy Family Hospital, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050 (A1 Bakery)

When it comes to proper lunch, Warren heads straight to the junction of SV Road and Hill Road. At Lucky Hotel, which is as historic as it’s aromatic, the biryani is king but the secret is in the starch. ‘I like extra potatoes in my biryani,’ he admits, a true mark of a connoisseur – and judged by the crowds, many seem to agree.

The soundtrack: Angel (Footsteps) by Jeff Beck.

Address: 9, Hill Rd, S.V. Road, Santosh Nagar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

As the sun sets and the humidity dips, the map moves further south to Shivaji Park. For Warren, dinner is about nostalgia, found most often in specific, cross-cultural knits, and Indo-Chinese is one of the best ones. Gypsy in Dadar is his go-to for a sit-down meal. It’s the kind of place that represents what he calls the ‘talented chaos’ of the city, refined enough for a post-gig wind-down, but rooted in the bold, spicy flavors of the streets.

The soundtrack: Declan by Jeff Beck

Blackstrat tip: You don't end the meal inside. Head to the stall right out of Gypsy for a Sitaphal (custard apple) Kulfi. 

Address: Dadar West, Dadar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400014

If you ask Warren for his ‘hall of fame’ restaurants, two names stand tall: O Pedro for its modern Goan flair, and Ling’s Pavillion, specifically for the spare ribs and sweet corn crab soup

Outside of the world-class dining, there’s still four things he misses dearly when away from Mumbai: misal pav, kathi rolls, seekh rolls, and, of course, Bombay-style Chinese food.

Mumbai’s music scene is defined by its players: talented musicians who balance commercial Bollywood gigs with their own independent soul. Warren’s choice of venues are naturally milestones of his own.

The legend: Rang Bhavan. His parents took him there to see The Police, and he later played his first independent song on that very stage.

The modern classics: NMACC (Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre) and antiSOCIAL.

The nostalgia: He played his farewell gig with his band Zero at Bonobo. And, like every Mumbai musician, he’s eagerly waiting for the return of Blue Frog.

When the city finally slows down and the streetlights reflect off the wet asphalt, these are Warren’s top five tracks for a drive through the night:

Nocturne by Pentagram

Nadia by Jeff Beck

Going to California by Led Zeppelin

Julia by The Beatles

Bridge of Sighs by Robert Trower