Tanvi Chakravarty

Considering we're already almost halfway through the month, May is flitting by alarmingly fast. I take it as a good sign – we're too busy having fun! What's striking about our calendar this month is that a lot of the events run throughout May, giving you a chance to make up for a missed opportunity at Kanan Gill's latest show, Omakase at one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city, and some incredible art and theatre among other things.  This week's standout is an exciting musical collaboration between Rajasthani folk and Italian opera at the NMACC featuring the Folk Orchestra of Rajasthan by Mame Khan and Natalie Di Luccio.  Everyone must experience the highs and lows that is partying on a Sunday and showing up to work terribly hungover on Monday morning. Kaos garden, a carnival featuring some great electronic DJs does exactly that. 

Chef Rijul Gulati’s hospitality knows no bounds. He is fun. Full of josh. And of course, a massive foodie. In other words, he’s the quintessential Delhi Boy. So you might understand my slightly prejudiced (I’m a Mumbaikar) surprise when I notice there is zero arrogance in the man when he chats to me about the changing currents in the culinary world and what Indian Accent Mumbai has in store. Despite finding towering success at a relatively young age, Rijul is still fuelled purely by passion and expertise. The picture of humility. There is absolutely zero room for Delhi tropes here.  But, at the risk of invoking a cliché, you can take the boy out of Delhi, but you can’t take Delhi out of the boy. After nearly a decade at Indian Accent in the capital, Rijul moved to Mumbai in 2023 to helm the restaurant’s brand new NMACC outpost. Mumbai can’t ever replace home, but it’s come with its own sense of community. Celebrity chefs Prateek Sadhu (NAAR) and Varun Totlani (Masque) are ‘dear brothers’, he says, while he remains tight with Manish Mehrotra, founding chef of Indian Accent, as well as Himanshu Saini of Michelin-starred Trèsind Studio fame.  But where does he go when the Delhi foodie in him starts to itch? ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport,’ he says with a grin. Jokes apart, in the three years he’s been in Mumbai – a city not always known for getting North Indian food right – he’s found a handful of places that come close. Here’s his guide to Punjabi comfort classics i

Here's a fun fact about Mumbai, despite the richy-rich reputation. The city rewards you at every price point for food, if you know where to look. And who better to prove that than someone whose entire career is built on precision and taste? Nooresha Kably is the city's official expert on all things Japanese cuisine: literally. Like, appointed by the Japanese government as 'goodwill ambassador for the promotion of Japanese cuisine' official. Trained at the Tokyo Sushi Academy (on a whim, of all things), her restaurant Izumi in Bandra has done some pretty successful promoting, and sits comfortably at #12 on Condé Nast's Top 50 Restaurants of 2025. Her latest venture, Idoru, is one of the city's finest vinyl bars, with a unique spin on Japanese cocktails and bar snacks. So yes, obviously, she knows her food. But here's the thing – when I asked her for recommendations, she laughed and said, ‘I don't eat Japanese food too often on my time off.’  It turns out she eats across Mumbai, seriously and enthusiastically, from ₹550 thalis to 24-karat gold-plated khichidi. Here, ordered by how much they'll set one person each back, is where she's spending her time off duty.

Picture this. It is a sweltering May evening. It’s been a long week. You’ve just rewarded yourself with a hefty lunch and mangoes in three different forms; fruit, lassi and ice cream to ‘cool off’ and now you don’t know what to do with the rest of the weekend. As tiring as it is attending plans, making them can be even harder in weather that makes you crave a literal brain-freeze. So instead let us make plans for you because no heat is stopping this month from being a stacked one.  Perhaps the most exciting thing we have this month is Ye in India and Mochakk’s multicity India debut tour. IPL quite literally heats up with some beloved rivalries in action at Wankhede Stadium. Musicland is finally here after months of delays to celebrate local hip hop like no other.  A Time Out favourite, Art Night Thursday, is back on the list, among some other cool museum exhibits, festivals and galleries worth checking out. Bandra remains the trendiest neighbourhood with a one-of-a-kind gourmet night market and the opening of a new theatre space featuring some cool comedians. You would be remiss not to attend one of the many live gigs, International Jazz Day celebrations and EDM parties happening around the city. It seems like Mumbai sure knows how to keep up with the soaring temperatures. 

April has always been a coveted month for me. A light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the last month before summer officially begins. Mango season is arriving. The torture that is Mumbai's May heat is yet to arrive. No rain, clear skies and lots of sunshine. And there's another reason why my disposition is annoyingly cheerful this month – just look at how many things there are to do! April kicks off with some incredibly cool art festivals, a very boozy cocktail festival (right up my alley) and a brand new event that has piqued my curiosity and should yours as well – Bombil Bassline, a 140bpm exclusive night featuring crazy cool local artists. Speaking of, Mumbai sure knows how to celebrate as an underground niche and mainstream international stage. Calvin Harris finally touches down in the city this month. The hype has been building for many months now. The same goes for Circoloco, which makes its India debut on the 19th.  We’ve also got some more refined and classical concerts at the NMACC Grand Theatre this month with Oscar nominated film composer and pianist Max Richter and Kathak-contemporary duo Aditi Mangaldas & Aakash Odedra. The Royal Opera House is also hosting a stirring night of Sufi music by the KM Sufi Ensemble. For old school rock lovers, legends Scorpions close out the month with their Mumbai show of the Coming Home Tour.  The other fun bit: IPL in full swing, with an exciting home match in our dearly beloved Wankhede Stadium! Lil Flea also returns this month fo

March is finally here, marking the arrival of a very Mumbai spring – aka sweltering heat and humidity. But the good news is that March somehow manages to outperform February, with an exciting lineup of events, plays, concerts, and lots and lots of music festivals.  It’s safe to say that after years of neglect, artists are finally recognising India as a major international stage. Tap into the electronic music scene, with gigs and acts like Keinemusik, and Anjunadeep to look forward to.  Apart from a ton of international artists performing this month, we also have some of India’s biggest names on tour. You can see Yo Yo Honey Singh, Sonu Nigam and Shreya Goshal live in Mumbai. March is also an ode to the growing rap and hip-hop culture in the city, with not one but two music festivals showcasing the country’s best rap and hip-hop acts.  If there’s a theme for March, it’s certainly enjoying the open air, drink in hand, and enjoying a live musical act. It’s an official end to 22-degree winters (freezing for Mumbaikars), and we’re kicking off a month less left until summer with a bang. Here’s everything exciting happening this March. 

February’s usually when the productivity panic starts to kick in. After all, it’s time for the post-January festive blues to come to an end. Never mind about the New Year resolutions that never made it past the 30-day trial run. Year after year, Mumbai runs on high-speed autopilot through January, what with Lollapalooza, but February is just as action-packed this year, and here’s everything worth checking out. It’s perhaps one of the best months for music: we have the Symphony Orchestra of India’s Spring 2026 season for western classical music lovers; John Mayer performing live; not one but TWO jazz festivals, among other really cool DJ sets, folk recitals, and of course, the Mahindra Blues Fest returning to Mumbai. Tickets are selling out faster than Labubus, but fear not if you don’t get ‘em – there’s plenty of other live music that Mumbai has on offer through the year. It’s also a big time for the artsy-fartsy. We’re kicking off the month with the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival from January 31 to February, followed by the annual All India Arts Exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery and exciting exhibits coming to NGMA, CSMVS and the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum.Theatre’s alive and kicking: a slew of shows are scheduled, from the Primetime Theatre Company to Spoken Fest 2026. Stand-up comedy shows through the month, of course, and how could I mention stand-up without talking about the BIG TICKET ITEM! Gianmarco Soresi’s touring India for the first time! Another big event to top it all of

The CSMVS is Mumbai’s biggest, and arguably, the best museum. The grand, massive Indo-Saracenic building – built in 1922 and now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – as impressive as what’s housed inside, with a unique blend of Indian, Persian and British architectural styles that echo the rest of Mumbai.  Visiting Mumbai and don’t have a plan or friends to catch up with? The museum boasts a mammoth collection of over 70,000 works, and therefore makes it my personal pick for the loiterers of the museum world. You could easily spend the better part of a day here pondering, sketching, or journaling.  Displays inside cover the broader history of the subcontinent through a largely archaeological lens: the terracotta structures of the ancient Harappan civilisation; Buddhist sculptures dating 1-500 CE showcasing early Chinese and Japanese society; impressively preserved sculptures dating to early Hindu dynasties. Other displays include Victorian paintings, rare textiles, and a Natural History gallery showcasing taxidermied birds and mammals. What’s more – this is a museum that one can keep returning to, because they also host a series of highly curated exhibitions throughout the year, mostly focused on explorations of Indian art, culture, identity and history through various mediums.  Time Out tip: Make sure to save time for a quick detour within the grounds to check out the Exhibition Gallery within the Children’s Museum, often showcasing acclaimed artist works. Also enclosed

Gaggan Anand wears many hats. The most notable being a chef’s hat. I use the word chef loosely because Gaggan Anand is more akin to a mad food scientist. His penchant for culinary theatre and gastronomical dining has made him a frequent collaborator with one of the city’s best fine dining restaurants, and Masque's known specialising in the same.  This month, from May 18-22, Gaggan will be reuniting with Masque Head Chef Varun Totlani at the 1,250 square foot Masque Lab, launched by the Masque team in 2020 as a space to experiment, research and develop new recipes.  The five-day takeover consists of an exclusive 14 seater space offering an intimate glimpse of the five-time ‘Best Restaurant in Asia’ winner hard at work. The collaboration comes right after Varun himself did an Indo-Thai takeover at Gaggan’s namesake award-winning 14-seater restaurant in Bangkok. Gaggan’s Masque Lab residency builds on that collaboration with an elaborate and meticulously crafted 20-course test kitchen to dining experience. Details of the menu remain a mystery – all will be revealed to the lucky diners. Timings: The lab is hosting two seatings each evening, one at 6pm and the other at 9pm  Price: ₹35,000 per person including one cocktail or zero-proof pairing  Bookings: Reservations can be booked via the restaurant directly over the phone or WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can book a spot through Swiggy Scenes Contact: Phone/WhatsApp: +91 98190 69222 Address: The Masque Lab, Gala 2, Shree Laxmi Wool

After a massively successful debut in Mumbai last year, Sunburn Festival is coming back to the heart of the city. Equivalent to Asia’s Coachella, the official festival Instagram account announced the dates for the second edition of their electronic music festival – on the weekend of December 18-20 this year! What's more – pre-sales for tickets start as early as this week! More on that below.  What is Sunburn Festival?  What started as a beach festival almost 20 years ago in Goa has evolved into India’s foremost electronic music festival. It’s a multi-day affair with a lineup of some of the biggest international and local artists. Past headliners boast Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta and more.  While Sunburn 2025 took place at Infiniti Bay, Sewri, it was announced that for this year, the venue had been changed to the Mahalaxmi Race Course via social media. No reasons were explicitly stated for the change except a desire to be 'be in the heart of the city' in a venue 'that has witnessed some of the city’s most defining live music nights'.  Tickets  Tickets go live in several phases. You can register for the pre-sale on BookMyShow.  Here's the full schedule: Thursday, May 14 for RuPay credit card holders at 12pm.Saturday, May 16 for those who register on BookMyShow at 12pm.Monday, May 18 is when general sales open at 12pm.  Price Prices for tickets vary from ₹5,000 to ₹16,000. Here’s a break-down:   RuPay PresaleGeneral Admission: ₹5,000VIP: ₹10,000Fan pit: ₹12,000 R

Mango season is upon us, and honestly, seems to be the only advantage of the brutal heat that Mumbaikars are clinging onto. 'Well, at least we have mangoes,' we say as the harsh afternoon sun forces perspiration down our brows.  But unfortunately, and somewhat uncommonly, mango production seems to be suffering this year.  The fact that India's famously the world's largest mango producer is a source of great pride; so much so that we tend to gatekeep the fruit to a certain extent – despite producing 40-50% of the world's mangoes, less than 1% is exported. The rest is gobbled up in-house. That's why the fact that this year's mango yield is expected to reach barely 15% is a knife to the heart for so many Indians.  A sizeable drop The drop is projected to be as bad as 50-90% less yield!  Reasons are mostly weather related: erratic weather patterns, extreme heat and rainfall shocks have disrupted mango harvesting in the Konkan region (Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka). Farmers of the beloved Ratnagiri mangoes are claiming immense financial distress, due to the low yield, the likes of which many haven't ever witnessed.  In Karnataka, the annual Mango Mela in Dharwad has been cancelled due to the sharp decline in the region's yield of premium Alphonso mangoes! Erratic weather could also be partly due to the Super El Niño. the exceptionally intense El Niño event – which will hit India in its entirety later in the year – is characterised by a rare, extreme rise in temperature in the tr

After a debut that packed out arenas and flooded timelines, HYROX is making its way back to Mumbai for its second race of the season, and if the first round was anything to go by, this one’s expected to be bigger, louder, and even more competitive. The global fitness race, which has steadily built a cult following among both serious athletes and everyday gym-goers, has quickly carved out space in the city’s ever-evolving workout culture – somewhere between a sporting event and a full-blown spectator spectacle. Registrations for the Master’s Union HYROX Mumbai will go live on the official HYROX India website on Friday, May 7 at 3pm IST, with multiple categories open depending on how hard you’re willing to go. Ticket prices per person vary depending on level of participation: Spectators: ₹395 - ₹700 Relay: ₹3,478 - ₹5,500 Doubles: ₹6,392 - ₹8,000 Singles (Open/Pro): ₹8,000 - ₹9,000 The event will take place on the weekend of September 18-20 at the NESCO Centre, Goregaon East.  What is Hyrox? A race combining running and functional strength workouts. Being dubbed as the ‘marathon’ for gym bros and girls, it was conceptualised back in 2017 in Germany. Now, Hyrox has more than 90 global races and more than 3,00,000 participants. People train for months for a timed race in a massive exhibition hall consisting of 8 rounds of running 1km, followed by a strength exercise. Exercises include  1000m SKiErg  50m sled push 80m burpee broad jumps  1000m rowing  200m farmers carry  100m san

What was meant to be an exciting first week of May has turned into major disappointment for many music fans. Two concerts that were meant to take place this weekend have been postponed: Musicland, a hip hop festival headlined by artists like Badshah, Chaar Deewari and Seedhe Maut, as well as Brazilian house DJ Mochakk’s India debut. Mochakk, who made waves with his set at Coachella earlier this year, was set to do multiple shows across the country in Mumbai, Delhi, Goa and Bangalore, which have all been cancelled. No official reasons have been cited for the postponement of both events.  Why was Musicland cancelled? The music festival took to their official Instagram page to announce the news, stating 'circumstances beyond our control' on Monday, just five days before the event was slated to take place. The news comes after the concert had already been postponed from March to May. The post further described the announcement as 'one of the hardest messages we’ve had to write', saying 'we truly feel the weight of letting you down…we will come back stronger, bigger and better.'  All tickets will be fully refunded via District within 10-12 business days. No alternative date for the concert has been announced as of now.  Mochakk's mystery cancellation As for Mochakk's tour, no official confirmation has been given yet by organisers or promoters, but multiple prominent and reliable sources in the electronic music space took to Instagram to announce that 'due to unforeseen circumst

Maharashtra is known for many things – mangoes, Mumbai, misal pav, among others. But stars? Not particularly. However, in a bid to develop tourism in the state, the state government has plans to expand Maharashtra into an astrotourism hub. Eleven spots around the state have been marked as key development areas for curated astro-tourism experiences, such as stargazing sessions, meteor shower viewings, and night sky photography workshops.  Why astrotourism?  Maharashtra already has many  ‘dark-sky areas’, untouched by light pollution and ideal for spotting stars, meteors and more. Tackling light pollution from cities and dark-sky conservation is an identified sub-policy under the Maharashtra government’s 2024 Tourism policy. It’s part of a major tourism project initiative known as Vikasit Maharashtra 2047, a bid to make the state an economic powerhouse by 2047.  What are the 11 assigned sites?  Among isolated areas in the Sahyadri ranges, forest belts and remote hinterlands, some of the 11 marked sites include;  Pench Tiger Reserve Lonar Crater Lake  Harihareshwar in Raigad  Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve  Toranmal Hill Station, Nandurbar Bhandardara dam, Ahilyanagar Udmal Tribal Village, Nashik  Bhimashankar, Pune District  Melghat, Amravati Yawal East Range, Jalgaon What can we expect? Once development is complete, astro-tourism infrastructure in the mentioned sites will include: Observatories  Eco-friendly stay and accommodation  Telescope viewing stations  Astronomy inter

International Jazz Day is, in my opinion, a vastly underrated day. Celebrated annually on April 30, UNESCO proclaimed in 2011, with jazz legend Herbie Hancock by their side, that jazz has played a vital role in fostering peace, building community and promoting freedom of expression. In a time where physical third spaces are wearing thin and internet discourse is replacing real conversations, it is a sacred thing to be able to witness jazz, live, in all its glory.  Luckily, Mumbai seems to finally be catching on, and has a series of jazz performances to celebrate 15 years of this very special day. Some note-worthy events include: Bombay Jazz Club live at 8ish Jazz night at Nariman point’s newest groovy bar, 8ish.Date: Wednesday, April 29, 8.30pm Address:  8ish, Ground Floor, Express Towers, Plot A, Ramnath Goenka Marg, next to HDFC Bank, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021Price: Free entry  Alemay Fernandez live at NCPA The sultry vocalist is the only Asian jazz singer to have Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Joined by acclaimed pianist Sharik Hassan for a soulful jazzy evening at the Tata Theatre, NCPA.Date: Thursday, April 30, 7pm Address: Tata Theatre, NCPA WRG9+6J4, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Rd, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021Price:  ₹900 onwards The Latination live at NMACC Indian jazz collective The Latination will be giving a special performance of live latin jazz and afro-Cuban jazz. It’s rhythm and

Regular commuters will agree that it's beyond high time that the Mumbai-Pune Expressway got a long-awaited upgrade. Seven years after construction first began, the ‘Missing Link’ bridge is set to on Friday, May 1 – initially, though, only to Phase 1 vehicles. The great news is that the new route will reportedly reduce commute times by 25 to 30 minutes on one of Maharashtra’s busiest transport routes.  What is it?  The bridge is a 13.3 km stretch constructed to ease travel for the more than 1.5 lakh vehicles using the Mumbai-Pune expressway daily. Described as an ‘engineering marvel’ by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the ‘Missing Link’ connects Khopoli to Kusgaon, circumventing  the accident-prone Bhor Ghat (or Khandala Ghat). It replaces the current 19 km stretch of sharp turns and traffic bottlenecks  by almost 6 km, cutting through the Sahyadri range with two eight-lane tunnels and viaducts.  A notable characteristic of the ‘Missing Link’ is its new 650-metre tall viaduct, making it India’s tallest road cable-stayed bridge. The entire project cost ₹6,695 crores to build, and will be inaugurated on the first of the month after seven years of construction.  Who can use it?  Starting from May 1, only light motor vehicles can use the ‘Missing Link’ as part of Phase 1 of the opening. That includes cars, SUVs, passenger buses, and other passenger-only transport vehicles. Until the end of Phase 1, slated to be October 31, 2026, two-wheelers are not allowed on the

The Maharashtra Government is planning to implement a groundbreaking single-window clearance system for live gigs and concerts in the city, as reported by The Free Press Journal. The new system, is reportedly being drafted by a newly constituted 25 member panel, can redefine concert organisation in Mumbai, streamlining it to be much more efficient and better planned. The current situation Right now, the clearance system for events in Mumbai requires up to 10-15 separate clearances from the government, leaving scope for errors such as rejected licenses. This has, in many ways, perhaps  led to the cancellation of some major international events of late, like Circoloco, which was scheduled for late April. The show ended up being cancelled just hours before it was set to begin, with several performers having already been flown in before learning of the cancellation last-minute.  What changes The new single-window system, if implemented, could slated to cover all necessary permissions in one go. This could massively boost the concert scene in Mumbai, as the scale and number of events taking place would have the capacity to increase.  The panel in charge of simplifying the clearance process will be headed by the Principal Secretary and Director General of information and Public Relations (DGIPR). The panel, including event organiser representatives, the Director General of Police and more, are in charge of developing industry compatible detailed standard operating procedure (SOPs).

Brazilian DJ Pedro Maia, aka Mochakk, has quickly become a global phenomenon. After breaking out with his 2022 old-school deep house track Da Fonk featuring Joni, Mochakk has cemented his place at the forefront of today’s dance music scene. More recently, his 2026 Coachella set has been making waves, with many dubbing him one of the standout acts of the festival. After travelling the world and performing at some of the biggest international stages – including an upcoming residency at Circoloco Ibiza – Mochakk is now headed to India for his debut tour, with stops in Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru and Delhi NCR. Mochakk has carved out a unique, refreshing sound that continues to captivate audiences. Tracks like Jealous and False Need stand out for their high-energy, eclectic style, reflecting a deep and wide-ranging love for music. Expect thrilling sets featuring the DJ’s characteristic sampling of ’80s and ’90s vocals, blended into genre-bending house music that’s guaranteed to get the whole city moving. Tickets are available on District, so you might want to book soon. Goa: Thursday, May 7 at RROV, Vagator  Mumbai:  Friday, May 8 at Bayview Gardens  Delhi NCR: Saturday, May 9 (venue TBA) Bengaluru: Sunday, May 10 at District Arena @ Terraform  Timing: Gates open at 4pm Price: ₹2,500 onwards 

In a shocking twist of fate, what was supposed to be one of the most anticipated nights in Mumbai for those in the electronic music scene turned out to be a major damp squib. Fans were left severely disappointed after the sudden announcement that Circoloco was cancelled, with the news coming just hours before the event was scheduled to take place at Jio World Garden on Sunday, April 19. The lineup included huge international artists like Mau P, Chris Stussy, Michel Bibi, and more – many had already flown into Mumbai only to learn that the event was cancelled. Fans travelling from all over India were also quick to take to social media to express their disappointment.  The announcement came late at night. At 2 am, in an Instagram post through District, the official event organisers dropped the news saying: 'In light of recent developments and updated regulatory protocols for large-scale outdoor events, we are unable to proceed, as the required permissions have not been granted. As organisers, we fully respect and must adhere to all government guidelines and decisions.'  So what really happened? Rumours are swirling. A popular one is that final alcohol licenses were revoked for the event, forcing organisers to shut down due to the significant losses they would face. When it comes to who takes responsibility for the cancellation, organisers heavily point to a lack of government compliance. However police officials made a statement suggesting otherwise, stating: 'We served three n

So you’ve impulsively booked your tickets for Circoloco Mumbai after hearing that the legendary Ibiza rave scene is making it to your city. Outfits have been planned months in advance, the pregame has been coordinated and everyone's excited. But you might've missed a couple details. Who’s actually playing, where and when to get there, what are some things that might get you in trouble, and more. Here’s everything you need to know before the event that might come in clutch!  Where and when?  The event is taking place on Sunday, April 19 at Jio World Garden, BKC. Yes this is an outdoor event taking place in peak afternoon sun so be sure to have your rave bro headscarves and fans handy. Free water stations are also available so you can stay hydrated throughout the evening. Food and beverage stalls are also available at the venue, but expect some hefty price tags.  Nearest railway station: Bandra (Western Line) and Kurla (Central and Harbour Line)Nearest metro station: Bandra Kurla ComplexNearest bus station: Bank of Baroda (BKC)Limited paid parking is available but public transport and taxi services are the best recommended way to get to the venue.  The event starts at 2pm and ends at 10pm. Gates open at 1:30 pm, which is the recommended arrival time so you can enter before the show starts. Expect a reasonable queue. Wristbands and a valid 18+ ID are required for entry so we recommend collecting them from the Box Office a day prior to avoid chaos. Re-entry is not permitted once