The best restaurants for date night in Mumbai

What is it? A jazzy salon serving flavours of the American South, as well as French delicacies with a caviar-laden focal point.

Why we love it: A horns-section wall installation. Chicken Paillard with a dollop of caviar. Lighting that doesn’t scream IKEA, thanks to the curation from legacy interior tastemakers Essajees Atelier. What’s not to love? No one’s really doing French cuisine alongside American soul food. And, yes it’ll impress your date. The place is fancy – after all, it’s right at Marine Drive inside the InterContinental.  

Time Out tip: Reservations are encouraged. Request for a table for two by the window. Dress well and don’t expect it to be easy on the wallet. 

Address: Ground Floor, Intercontinental, Marine Drive, Churchgate, Mumbai 20

Expect to pay: ₹8,000 for two without alcohol

What is it? A winding, scarlet brick road journey to a cosy Bandra bungalow wrapped in a massive bow. 

Why we love it: This is a great chance to walk your date to the restaurant or drop them back after to the main road. Your Uber or car may not be able to squeeze into a parking spot – and maybe that’s a romantic opportunity to jump at. Jokes apart, the tangled lanes of Pali village make for a quaint stroll to the restaurant. The red door stands out in the age of quiet luxury, and inside, candles, baroque artwork and old-school lamps amp up the date night vibe. They’ve also unveiled a brand new variety of stuff on the menu. 

Time Out tip: Ask for a table in the chalet-style ‘attic’ section. Pick up a little takeaway from their retail space and also explore their cheese bar. Perhaps a charcuterie platter to extend date night?  

Address: Red Bungalow, 3, Pali Rd, opposite Yellow Rose Building, Pali Village, Bandra West, Mumbai 50

Expect to pay: ₹5,000 for two without alcohol

What is it? A choice between clean or velvet-touched interiors with a menu that keeps food simple and drinks thoughtful.   

Why we love it: The Rose Room is where you want to be seated with your paramour, drinking cocktails that feel balanced in this world of over-savoury and tediously sweet ones. Wind down for the night by filling up on well-plated food as you dive through the many fresh drink choices, while lounge music takes over. 

Time Out tip: Keep room for dessert: they’ve got a fab array of fruit-based, baked, and chocolatey ones. 

Address: Garden Chalet, 4/6, Mandlik Rd, near Regal Cinema, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai 01

Expect to pay: ₹5,000 for two without alcohol

What is it? A cosy space with great carpaccio and sushi – and a hotspot for celebrity spotting. 

Why we love it: The perennially elegant space doubles up as the perfect restaurant for both first dates and milestone anniversary dinners. The chic interiors aren’t overwhelmingly vintage nor too modern, and the ground floor, especially, which houses the reception, is built singularly for Instagram photos. 

Drinks are smooth and will be crafted to your specific poison on request. Cuisine, ambience and cocktails coalesce into side characters here and will not pull focus away from your date. This is a good thing, we promise!  

Time Out tip: Reservations are recommended. Skip dessert, walk over to the many ice cream or gelato parlours in the neighbourhood if you’d like to extend date night.  

Expect to pay: ₹4,000 for two without alcohol 

Address: Supreme Headquarters, 14th Road, Off Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 

What is it? A low-lit, mirror-laden kebab convention and biryani retreat for when you're after good North Indian food

Why we love it: Pali Bhavan's recently reopened at the iconic Eros Cinema building, this time featuring a horizontally-striped curved red entryway and a pair of Art Deco doors. There aren't many restaurants in Mumbai that do Awadhi food justice, but this one does. Tasteful lighting, vintage photographs, mellow music and exemplary service make dal makhani and biryani sexy again. 

Time Out tip: Bit of a hot favourite for families and large friend groups too so don't expect a couples-only ambience at all times.

Address: Cambata Building, Eros Cinema, Churchgate, Mumbai 20

Expect to pay: ₹4,000 for two without alcohol

What is it? A maximalist haven for a colonial-esque ambience and authentic Mughlai. 

Why we love it: Ever fancied reliving the Jungle Book à la Rudyard Kipling style and dining under a hunting tent? Well, now’s your chance. Don’t let the interiors intimidate you. Lean into the royal treatment, enjoy the Khansaama-style curries and tikkas, and vegetarians needn’t worry, because the menu’s vast enough to accommodate them. Desserts are very Indian and very very decadent. 

Time Out tip: This is for when you and your date have voracious appetites and want to be spoiled in the most daawat-esque way possible. Expect family and business co-diners, but don’t let that distract you.The Kulfi-Falooda made with slow-cooked condensed milk (instead of the usual mawa-style Bombay version) is a real indicator of how well they deliver on North Indian cuisine. 

Expect to pay: ₹7,000 for two without alcohol

Address: Level 9M, The St. Regis, Lower Parel, Mumbai 13

What is it? One of the city’s oldest and most bonafide romantic spots. An opportunity to have a mid-week dance date. A reliable venue for Mediterranean and Italian fare. 

Why we love it: When you’re out of ideas, Olive serves well to recreate romantic memories or make new ones. It’s time-tested, trusted, and a bit of a relief in how unselfconsciously it does the Santorini/Mykonos vibe. It also features one of the longest-running Thursday DJ nights, which sort of still is a well-kept secret.

Time Out tip: Head to the after-hours ‘secret’ bar-within-a-bar for more intimate drinks and small plates at Call Me Sofia (inside Olive’s premises), an Italian-style aperitivo bar. Spare a budget for the cocktails. 

Expect to pay: ₹5,000 for two without alcohol 

Address: 14, Nargis Dutt Rd, Union Park, Khar West, Mumbai 52

What is it? A sophisticated dinner date venue till evening and a ravey dancefloor on weekend nights. 

Why we love it: Not many bars in the city can transition from romantic rendezvous to club-ready energy, but Slink & Bardot does it with ease. The food doesn’t disappoint either,  and vegetarians won’t feel left out – one of their star dishes is, indeed, all-veggie (the charred asparagus and crispy okra potato). The cocktails are some of the best in Mumbai, with non-negotiables like the Bergamot Margarita and Paanch, their take on the 5-ingredient punch. 

Time Out tip: Don’t expect any chance of intimate conversation on weekends. If you want that sort of thing, head here on the weekday – Friday and Saturday nights are hectic (which, of course, is its own kind of date night).  

Expect to pay: ₹5,000 for two without alcohol 

Address: Shop 329/A, Thadani House, Worli, Mumbai 30

What is it? One of the highest rooftop bars in Mumbai with a sublime skyline view, specialising in grilled bites, seafood tapas, and the city’s best bellinis. 

Why we love it: Views, sea breeze and fruity concoctions light as air come together at this rooftop lounge. Make your way here with your date for some of the best sunset views Mumbai has to offer. The menu doesn’t feel too experimental and has more than enough options for vegetarians despite a proclivity towards the pescatarian diet with European and Asian flavours.   

Time Out tip: Watch out for shellfish allergies. Asilo’s best for sunset drinks and appetisers – if you’re looking for richer dinner options, go on to The Sahib Room and Kipling Bar, situated in the same hotel. 

Expect to pay: ₹6,500 for two without alcohol 

Address: 40th Floor, The St. Regis, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 13

What is it? The award-winning restaurant that rewrote fine dining in the culinary landscape, complete with a seasonal tasting menu and a minimalist Instagrammable feast that challenges the palate. 

Why we love it: Everything here is a conversation starter, right from the ambience and decor to the sophisticated plates. If your date and you are feeling audacious, head here for reinvented Indian food where local produce is the main star. Food foraging through a farmer network and seasonal ingredients keep things interesting. If nothing else, it’ll inspire your date and you to experiment more yourself. We mean in the kitchen. 

Time Out tip: Make a reservation for the tasting menu, and specify for wine or cocktail pairings that are priced separately.

Expect to pay: ₹14,000 for two without alcohol

Address: Unit G3, Shree Laxmi Woollen Mills, Shakti Mills Lane, off Doctor Elijah Moses Road, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai 18

What is it? AnIndian-influenced Japanese restaurant that enables comfortable conversation. 

Why we love it: This is an easy choice. It makes you and your date feel at home without the daunting minimalism or maximalism that some places embrace, plus it pulls off the fusion remarkably well. Pani puri and bhel come in Asian flavours, the drinks experiment with gold dust and peanut butter, and the miso caramel tres leches is worth coming back for more. 

Time Out tip: This is great for a first date or a catch-up date night. It’s not intimate enough for a special occasion so don’t book your anniversary dinner here. 

Expect to pay: ₹4,000 for two without alcohol

Address: Ground Floor, Ascent Worli, Sudam Kalu Ahire Marg, Worli, Mumbai 30