Things to Do in Mumbai

If you're a local, you'll know how fond Mumbaikars are of art. The city's proud of its art galleries – more so than its museums, one might even say, and the culture of hanging out at one of them is pretty firmly embedded into society.  Not only are Mumbai's art galleries a haven for art lovers, of course, but they're also supremely accessible. They're a chance to look at Mumbai through the lens of her trysts with contemporary artists, but they're also a chance to wander through quiet spaces uninterrupted, or strike up a conversation where otherwise, you'd have to rely on a dating app.  While its roots stretch back to the 1850s, back when she was still called Bombay, the art scene has since flowered into a tree laden with low-hanging fruit. There are art galleries older than your ma, and galleries that seem to have sprung up overnight – and they've all got something for everyone. Here are some of the best. I promise they'll change how you view the city – even just a little bit. The best art galleries in Mumbai at a glance:  

Museum meandering is probably my favourite activity to do in any city I’m in. It’s the perfect entry point to becoming a true metropolitan: wired headphones, a book, and iced coffee that I will NOT put inside my tote-bag (acquired from another museum from another metropolitan city) to show the world I am cultured, caffeinated, and deserve to be staring at this painting for 10 minutes straight, blocking everyone else’s view. Jokes (or not?) aside, I think the museum scene in Mumbai is prominent, but still emerging. Of course we have art galleries like Jehangir Art Gallery and NGMA that are at the forefront of the art zeitgeist in India. But, I still think museums go underappreciated in Mumbai. Maybe because the whole city’s kind of like a walking museum, with gothic architecture, art-deco promenades, street art and antique markets on every corner.  Here are some of my top recommendations for museums in the city. Some are infamous must-visits for a reason, while others deserve to be shown a little more love. The best museums in Mumbai at a glance The best museum for art: Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum The best museum for history: CSMVS The best museum for kids: Paradox Museum  

Few things in life are as great a unifier as live music. One moment, you're standing next to a complete stranger, awkwardly waiting for the set to roll out. The next moment, you're headbanging in sync with them to a godly guitar riff. By the end of the night, you're probably a) drunk and b) have made a new friend.The live music scene in Mumbai is, admirably, pretty diverse. If going nuts in a mosh pit isn't your idea of a good time, acoustic gigs can be the chatty friend that introduces you to other introverts. Hindustani jugalbandis are often doorways to great conversation about the dying art of Indian classical music, and jazz nights almost always end up doing for you what the latest dating app failed miserably at.  So whether you fancy discovering a new singer flying under the radar, a heated debate on Kishore Kumar versus Mohammed Rafi, or watching a bragging competition play out on stage between a drummer and saxophonist, Mumbai's got it all. In this guide, I've put together the greatest venues in the city that host the best gigs and, mercifully, back up the whole show with world-class sound systems. 

Somewhere between the spectacular rise of OTT, the death and revival of theatre-going, and the horror-inducing void that was the pandemic, film clubs blossomed. In Mumbai – city of cinephiles and all that – this meant serious business.  Folks here are passionate about the movie experience, and film clubs range from being an excuse to party to nail-biting post-screening discussions about what you’ve just watched. Films screened vary: you’ve got clubs that only do comfort classics that are best enjoyed in a group. You’ve also got clubs that will track down stuff you’d never find online no matter how many subscriptions you snag.  I’ve attended loads of screenings organised by loads of different film clubs – some of which I found poorly managed, and some that I found delivered every time. Here’s the best of the best. 

OTT platforms have carved a dent into going to the theatre, it’s true. But the flip side is that going to the movies feels much more like a social event, and one that HAS to live up to the apparent comfort of watching films in bed. And Mumbai’s got no trouble filling up seats at theatres. Cinema nuts cling to the old norms, like arriving at the hall 10 minutes early, even if they’re subjected to half an hour of ads. For all those reasons, Mumbai’s also home to the very best – and most historic – theatres in India. Forget multiplexes. You’d find those anywhere. This guide’s rounded up the most unique haunts to catch a flick.   

Back in the 1920s, Mumbai and Art Deco had what you’d call, in today’s terms, a meet-cute. Mumbai was at its grandest then, some would say – a bustling trade centre and an irresistible magnet for expats. As folks flocked to the city, they brought along little bits and bobs of influence from around the world. Art Deco was one of them, and the city's architects fell hook, line, and sinker for it when they began planning more construction. Suddenly, it was everywhere: cinemas, restaurants, and sports clubs began sporting the typical stylised stuff the style is known for – tropical flora, curved balconies, ziggurat towers, lots of geometry. In fact, I don't think too many people know that Mumbai's home to the largest collection of the Art Deco style in India – some say there's at least 200 such buildings. Today's Bombay Deco survives rather well to tell that tale. Lotus flowers and Hindi lettering have replaced some of the French motifs, but most buildings still wear their monsoon-aged zig-zags and candy-coloured geometric patterns with pride, and back in 2018, UNESCO recognised 76 such structures as World Heritage Sites. Being a long-time admirer of the architectural style in my city, I've put together this guide on some of the best Art Deco buildings in Mumbai. 

A relaxed bar that treats music like a religion.

The gallery houses a vast, varied curations across five floors.

Strangers House Gallery, oddly enough, feels kind of like visiting your grandma's house.

Inside, you'll find regular exhibitions that spotlight furniture, ceramics, textiles, and functional design.

When you come to the Opera House, you’re paying for the performance and the place.