The Insider's Guide to Mumbai's Food Scene. 10 Must-Visit Restaurants in Mumbai and 3 Quirky Cafes that Strike Close to Your Heart.

Mumbai is truly an enchanting place for not just those of us ambitious and aspiring for big dreams, but also foodies. The city offers a diverse culture and culinary richness with countless flavours from Parsi, Maharashtrian, South Indian, Gujarati and from other regions. In Mumbai, we are spoilt for choice with the quality and breadth of dining options available. Be it non-vegetarian or vegetarian, Mumbai boasts of cuisines that is rich in taste with impressive flavours. The city offers much more than just the traditional gastronomy. Teeming with award-winning restaurants, European bistros and world-class chefs, the metropolis is home to a wealth of remarkable fine dining options. Scroll through to read more about the best restaurants in this culturally diverse city of Mumbai.

Ziya housed in the luxurious Oberoi Hotel is a Michelin-starred restaurant, an ultimate hallmark for fine dining. The classic dishes are reinvented at Ziya with a renewed perspective and to go with it, is the views of Marine Drive that is simply breath-taking. Chef Vineet Bhatia along with his team ensure that guests enjoy a ritzy dining experience with their curated Indian cuisine which is a feast to your senses and palate. The glass partitions at the restaurants will give you a glimpse of the chefs whipping up their culinary masterpieces right from where you are seated. The handpicked menu is sure to satiate your palate and the presentation is so innovative that you will look forward to it. They have a dress code for men. They need to wear closed shoes and full-length trousers. Children below 8 years are allowed to dine only until 8.00 pm. If you are looking for a unique dining experience, then Ziya is just perfect!

One of the hidden gems located in the suburbs of Mumbai is known for its delectable buffet spreads. The bar menu is also varied and exhaustive. The elegant décor with a well-spread seating arrangement offers ample privacy to diners. The buffet spread with an array of Indian and International dishes will make your taste buds leap in delight! There is plenty of lip-smacking options for vegetarians too. Starters, salads, soups, Indian, Pan Asian and the global fare is sure to awaken your appetite. Miso Roast Lamb with Honey is a must-try dish. The lavish dessert spread deserves a special mention here. The ‘Sunday Brunch’ with live music and additional live counters are highly recommended and worth every penny.

The sprawling eatery, ‘San Qi’ at Four Seasons Hotel is a contemporary Pan-Asian restaurant that features an open-style kitchen where you can explore abundant flavours from teppanyaki grill, tandoor kitchen and wok station. Spread over two levels, you can watch San Qi chefs whirling food as diners watch on. The dramatic staircase connecting the two floors is lined with impressive wine racks that feature the best of new and old wineries. You can choose from a list of International and Indian wines that will go perfectly with the exotic food. The restaurant pulsates the Asian spirit offering a vibrant dining experience that takes diners on an extensive culinary adventure.

Recognized as one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Asia by San Pelligrino, Wasabi by Morimoto offers authentic Japanese cuisine to diners. Housed in Taj-Mahal Palace the décor displays an illuminated installation of cherry blossom and offers superb vistas of the Arabian Sea. The ingredients required to prepare contemporary dishes come specially from Japan. The varied range of food and service is simply mind-blowing. Without any doubt, this is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the country. Try subtle and delicate Chilean Sea Bass, Black Cod in Miso, Oyster Foie Grass and the delicious Maki & Nigiri Sushi. There is a delectable and outstanding veggie menu too. Spinach Tempura, Japanese Pizza, Veg Sushi are some dishes that vegetarians can try. If you love authentic Japanese cuisine then look no further than Wasabi by Morimoto.

Perhaps the first restaurant in the country boasting authentic Californian Cuisine. The upmarket and elegant restaurant is nestled in Colaba and is voted as the best for its Global/European Cuisine. The menu was originally created by Chef Alex Sanchez and consists of the main course, sides and multifarious snacks that suit everyone’s palate. The concepts such as farm to table and small and large plates has made the dining experience at The Table unique. The inventive menu is crafted beautifully and the high-quality and fresh ingredients impart pure flavours to the dishes. Grilled calamari, zucchini spaghetti, baby eggplant with baba ganoush are some awesome dishes that you must try here. End your meal with the delectable banana bread pudding.

Dum Pukht is a cooking process that involves slow-cooling. This allows the ingredients to cook in their own delightful juices bringing out the intense aroma, flavours and lavishness to the food. The richness of this kind of cooking distinguishes the 200-year-old legacy from other cooking processes. Dum Pukht housed in ITC Maratha has revived the grand cuisine of Awadhi Nawabs in a setting that suits its royal origin. The imperial décor imbued with silver and deep sapphire blues takes us to the bygone era of Nawabi charm. Some of the signature dishes that you must try include Dudiya Kabab, Dum Pukht Biryani and Shahi Nehari. If you crave authentic flavours of Awadhi cuisine then just drive down to ITC Maratha’s Dum Pukht.

Bombay Canteen was started in 2015 by Chef Thomas Zacharias (Top Chef Masters Season 3 winner) that serves seasonal food inspired by regional and traditional flavours across India. This is the most sincere good food that you can relish in Mumbai without any gimmick like molecular gastronomy etc. etc. The restaurant celebrates diversity, richness and variety of the regional ingredients that are innovatively incorporated into the designer menu suiting every palate. Black Pepper head-on Prawns, Arbi Tuk, Roasted Fish wrapped in Banana Leaf, Tamil Kothu Roti, Tandoori Pork Spare Ribs are some of the best culinary innovations that you must try in Bombay Canteen.

Gaylord was started more than 60 years back by Igbal Ghair and Pishori Lal Lamba, the two Delhi-based food entrepreneurs. This iconic landmark restaurant has been serving its patrons' delightful food for generations. It was also one of the first places in the city to serve multi-cuisine food – Continental, Indian and European. Eating here is a unique experience and the food is affordable and delectable, which is one of the reasons why Gaylord has become a popular hangout place attracting even the young crowd. The interiors have a vintage European touch with huge paintings that enhance the appeal of the overall setting. The garden cafeteria, old-fashioned comfortable furniture, welcoming atmosphere and unique surroundings make Gaylord an interesting place to dine.

Kofuku means ‘Happiness’ and the restaurant quite lives up to its name. The restaurant is famed for using the highest quality ingredients hoping to bring moments of joy and happiness while dining here. Kofuku is one of the fine additions to the restaurant scene in Mumbai. The fine décor with plain wooden chairs and tables highlight the minimalist concept that is popular in Japan. The place is perfect for a date night. The delicious food and courteous and efficient services make this Japanese restaurant a delightful place to visit. Popular dishes that you can try here are – Hokkaido Milk Waffles, Zuke Don, Salmon Ikura and Tonkatsu Curry Rice. You will also love their cocktails and sake selection. Vegetarians will not be left out as they have plenty of choices like Veg Sushi, Yaki Udon Noodles, Teppan Yaki Fried rice, Miso Nasu Shigiyaki, Rock Corn Tempura etc.

Khyber is an exemplary restaurant located in the heritage city of Mumbai. The iconic place is frequented by distinguished personalities and celebrities from all walks of life. For many, the visit to Mumbai is not complete without relishing the meals here. The restaurant is synonymous with warm hospitality and robust food. The place exudes old-world charm with warm vibes and classy décor. The exposed bricks, huge urns, embellished Mughal wall art and antique oil lanterns add to the charm of the place. Their signature dishes include Reshmi Kebab Masala, a chicken dish and Raan, slow-cooked lamb dish. A foodie’s delight, Khyber is famous for tandoori items and fruit wines. The dimly-lit restaurant is perfect for those long languid dining experiences.

On lazy days, when you wish to snuggle up with a book in hand and a hot piping beverage then you must definitely head towards Leaping Windows Café. This is a gorgeous café located in Versova. It is spread over a cosy basement and two floors. The basement has a reading room with massive collection from Marvel to Tinkle and Tintin. The charges to use this room is minimal. If you are a bookworm then visit this café and don’t miss out the American and European munchies. On lazy days, when you wish to snuggle up with a book in hand and a hot piping beverage head towards Leaping Windows Café. This is a gorgeous café located in Versova. It is spread over a cosy basement and two floors. The basement has a reading room with massive collection from Marvel to Tinkle and Tintin. The charges to use this room is minimal. If you are a bookworm then visit this café and don’t miss out the American and European munchies.

India’s very own cat café is finally here in Mumbai. Located in Andheri, the Café is an interesting place where cats can blissfully roam around and take a nap. You can unwind in the company of these furry creatures while sipping freshly brewed coffee. The cats are up for adoption too.

Located in South Mumbai, Creed Board Games Café is a warm and friendly place where you can try out the most popular board games in the world with a superb company. They charge Rs. 120 per hour and the café also sells board games. There are 200 board games at the café sourced from different parts of the world. While enjoying your game, you can relish on some tasty snacks, desserts or beverages. It is a great place to unwind with friends in a comforting atmosphere.

Mumbai is a smorgasbord of varied cultures, lifestyles and traditions, all of which bring their own culinary treats to the city. The hunger pangs of the many have given birth to many dishes that are unique to the city. Without much ado, here are the top street foods of Mumbai.