best bars in mumbai (2026)

tldr: my top 5 bars in mumbai are aer (best rooftop), bastian (best all-round, bandra), the bar stock exchange (most fun concept), bonobo (best garden bar), and the bombay canteen (best cocktails). mumbai’s bar scene is expensive but genuinely world-class.

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every time i’m in mumbai, at least one evening turns into a “let’s just go for one drink” that becomes four drinks and a rs 3,000 tab. mumbai does that to you. the city has more bars per neighborhood than most indian cities have in total, and the quality ranges from gokul’s rs 100 beers to aer’s rs 1,200 cocktails.

a friend who lives in bandra once told me “the best bar in mumbai is whichever one you can get into on a saturday night without a reservation.” he’s not wrong. mumbai’s popular bars have queues, cover charges, and door policies. weeknight drinking is genuinely better here - same bars, no crowds, sometimes cheaper.

this list covers everything from rooftop luxury to craft beer spots to honest dive bars. most of these i’ve been to during mumbai trips; a few are from friends whose drinking opinions i trust (meaning they prioritize the actual drink over the instagram story).

pair this with my restaurants guide for dinner-to-drinks planning. or check the brunch guide if you prefer your drinking before noon.

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the full list

#	bar	area	type	beer price	cocktail price	my rating
1	aer	worli (four seasons)	rooftop	rs 600	rs 800-1,200	9/10
2	bastian	bandra	bar + restaurant	rs 500	rs 700-1,000	9/10
3	the bar stock exchange	fort	concept bar	rs 99-400	rs 200-600	8.5/10
4	bonobo	bandra	garden bar	rs 400	rs 600-900	8.5/10
5	the bombay canteen	lower parel	cocktail bar	rs 500	rs 600-900	8.5/10
6	woodside inn	colaba, bandra	craft beer	rs 300-450	rs 500-700	8.5/10
7	toit taproom	bkc	brewery	rs 300-400	rs 500-700	8/10
8	social	multiple	casual bar	rs 200-350	rs 350-600	8/10
9	the tap room	bandra	craft beer	rs 350-450	rs 500-700	8/10
10	the irish house	multiple	pub	rs 300-400	rs 450-650	7.5/10
11	asilo	lower parel (st. regis)	rooftop	rs 700	rs 1,000-1,500	8/10
12	the table	colaba	bar + restaurant	rs 500	rs 700-1,000	8/10
13	gokul	colaba	dive bar	rs 100-150	rs 200-350	7.5/10
14	cafe zoe	lower parel	bar + cafe	rs 350	rs 500-700	7.5/10
15	the daily bar & kitchen	bandra	casual bar	rs 300	rs 450-650	7.5/10
16	raasta	khar	reggae bar	rs 300	rs 400-600	7/10
17	wink	taj mahal palace	hotel bar	rs 700	rs 1,000-1,500	8/10
18	harbour bar	taj mahal palace	hotel bar	rs 600	rs 900-1,200	8/10

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the premium bars (rs 800+ cocktails, worth every rupee)

1. aer

four seasons, worli / cocktails rs 800-1,200 / 9/10

34th floor. open air. 360-degree views of the mumbai skyline. the bandra-worli sea link glowing below you. the arabian sea stretching to the horizon. and a cocktail that costs more than most people’s lunch.

aer is the most spectacular drinking experience in mumbai. last time i was here, a friend visiting from bangalore said “this is why people pay mumbai rent.” from this height, the city looks beautiful instead of chaotic. the cocktails are excellent - the bartenders are skilled and the menu changes seasonally.

the catch: it’s not cheap. two cocktails and some bar snacks will set you back rs 3,000-4,000. there’s often a queue on weekends. dress code is enforced (no shorts, no flip flops). but for a special occasion or impressing visitors? nothing in mumbai competes.

best time to go: weeknight sunset. arrive by 6pm, grab a seat facing west, and watch the sky turn gold over the sea. rs 800 for a cocktail with a view that’s worth ten times that.

verdict: best rooftop bar in mumbai. possibly best in india. the view justifies everything.

11. asilo

st. regis, lower parel / cocktails rs 1,000-1,500 / 8/10

the other premium rooftop. asilo is on the 38th floor of the st. regis, so technically higher than aer. the interiors are more polished - italian-inspired design, marble bar, elegant furniture. the crowd is slightly older and more corporate than aer.

the cocktails are excellent but the mark-up is steep. the food is good though - the pizza and pasta are genuinely well-made, which is rare for a rooftop bar. djs on weekends.

verdict: aer’s more refined sibling. go when aer is too crowded or when you want a slightly calmer vibe.

17. wink

taj mahal palace, colaba / cocktails rs 1,000-1,500 / 8/10

drinking in the taj mahal palace hotel feels like a privilege. wink is the taj’s cocktail bar - intimate, dimly lit, with creative cocktails using indian ingredients. the cardamom old fashioned is the best i’ve had in india.

the crowd is a mix of hotel guests, tourists, and mumbai’s old-money crowd. the service is taj-level impeccable. the prices are taj-level eye-watering.

verdict: most elegant bar in mumbai. for when you want to feel like you’re in a wes anderson film.

18. harbour bar

taj mahal palace, colaba / cocktails rs 900-1,200 / 8/10

the historic bar inside the taj. harbour bar has been serving drinks since 1903. the gateway of india is literally visible from the window. the leather chairs, the wood paneling, the old photographs - everything here has history.

the cocktails are classic. no molecular gastronomy, no smoking guns. just well-made drinks in a room with more character than most bars in the country combined.

verdict: most historic bar in mumbai. drink where the city’s history happened.

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bandra (where the party lives)

2. bastian

bandra / cocktails rs 700-1,000 / 9/10

bastian works as both a restaurant and a bar. the cocktail menu is creative - the bartender here experiments with indian flavors in ways that actually work (tamarind margarita, kokum gimlet). the seafood is covered in my restaurants guide and it’s exceptional.

the vibe is bandra at its best. casual enough that you can show up in jeans, stylish enough that you notice what people are wearing. the outdoor section is great for groups. celebrity sightings are common.

the sunday brunch transitions into sunday drinks seamlessly. covered in the brunch guide too.

what to drink: tamarind margarita, the seasonal cocktail, or a classic gin and tonic (they use fever tree) verdict: best all-round bar in bandra. the food-to-drinks ratio is perfect.

4. bonobo

bandra / cocktails rs 600-900 / 8.5/10

bonobo has one of the best outdoor spaces in mumbai’s bar scene. a garden setting in the middle of bandra’s concrete jungle. fairy lights, live music on weekends, good gin cocktails, and a crowd that’s creative without being pretentious.

the drinks are well-made. the gin selection is the best in bandra. the food is passable but not the reason you’re here. the live music nights (usually friday-saturday) feature excellent indie bands.

what to drink: gin cocktails (they have 20+ gins), the negroni, or craft beer verdict: best garden bar in mumbai. go for the vibe, stay for the gin.

9. the tap room

bandra / craft beer rs 350-450, cocktails rs 500-700 / 8/10

bandra’s best craft beer bar. the tap room does rotating taps from breweries across india. the selection changes regularly, so you’re always trying something new. the bartenders actually know their beer and can recommend based on your preferences.

the space is small but well-designed. good music. the food is pub-standard but decent - the loaded fries are good. weeknight crowds are manageable.

what to drink: whatever’s on tap. ask the bartender what’s new. verdict: best craft beer experience in bandra. for beer nerds, this is your spot.

15. the daily bar & kitchen

bandra / cocktails rs 450-650 / 7.5/10

the reliable bandra neighborhood bar. good cocktails, reasonable prices (by bandra standards), decent food, and no pretension. the kind of place where you go on a tuesday because you don’t want to cook dinner.

what to drink: old fashioned, moscow mule, or the daily special verdict: your everyday bandra bar. not flashy, just consistently good.

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craft beer and casual spots

6. woodside inn

colaba + bandra / craft beer rs 300-450, cocktails rs 500-700 / 8.5/10

woodside is one of mumbai’s oldest craft beer bars and it still holds up. the colaba location has more character (exposed brick, wooden bar, narrow space). the bandra location is bigger and better for groups.

the burger is arguably the best in mumbai. the beer selection is solid - local craft breweries on tap plus imported bottles. the atmosphere is dive bar meets craft beer, which is a combination that works perfectly.

what to drink: whatever local craft beer is on tap, paired with the classic burger verdict: best pub experience in mumbai. the burger + beer combo is elite.

7. toit taproom

bkc / craft beer rs 300-400, cocktails rs 500-700 / 8/10

toit from bangalore opens in mumbai and it’s exactly what you’d expect. brewed-in-house beers, the same quality-controlled taps, the reliable menu. the bkc location is spacious - much bigger than most bangalore toit outlets.

the toit weiss (wheat beer) and basmati blonde are my go-tos. the food menu is extensive - the nachos are reliable. the weekend crowds can be intense because the bkc corporate crowd descends after work on fridays.

what to drink: toit weiss, basmati blonde, or the seasonal brew verdict: bangalore’s favorite brewery in mumbai. reliable, familiar, well-executed.

8. social

multiple locations / beer rs 200-350, cocktails rs 350-600 / 8/10

social is the millennial chain that figured out the formula: industrial decor, long tables, power outlets, good wifi, decent food, cheap drinks, and a crowd that’s half-working, half-drinking. the lower parel and bandra locations are the best.

the LIIT is the value play (rs 350 for a long island iced tea that’s actually strong). happy hours are real happy hours here - 50% off select drinks. the food is better than it needs to be for a bar this cheap.

by evening, the crowd shifts from laptops to cocktails. the transition is seamless. social understood that the coworking-to-bar pipeline is real.

what to drink: LIIT during happy hour, craft cocktails at regular price verdict: best value bar in mumbai. the happy hour deals are genuinely good.

10. the irish house

multiple locations / beer rs 300-400, cocktails rs 450-650 / 7.5/10

the reliable pub chain. every mumbai neighborhood seems to have an irish house, and they’re all consistently decent. the beer selection is good, the food is pub-standard (fish and chips, burgers, nachos), and the screens always show the cricket match.

nothing exceptional, nothing disappointing. it’s the bar you default to when nobody can agree on anything else.

what to drink: draught beer, whiskey sour, or whatever’s on special verdict: mumbai’s most reliable pub chain. always there, always fine.

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the unique ones

3. the bar stock exchange

fort / beer rs 99-400, cocktails rs 200-600 / 8.5/10

the most fun concept in mumbai’s bar scene. prices fluctuate based on demand, like a stock market. screens on the wall show real-time drink prices going up and down. a beer that costs rs 300 might crash to rs 99 if nobody’s ordering it. popular cocktails surge in price.

the crashes are announced with alarms and the entire bar cheers. it’s engineered to be fun and it works. the actual drinks are decent (not exceptional, but decent). you’re here for the game as much as the alcohol.

what to drink: whatever just crashed. check the screens. verdict: most fun bar concept in mumbai. great for groups, great for a first date that isn’t boring.

13. gokul

colaba / beer rs 100-150, cocktails rs 200-350 / 7.5/10

gokul is mumbai’s most famous dive bar. it’s ugly, it’s cramped, the fluorescent lighting is unflattering, and the crowd is a beautiful mix of college students, tourists, office workers, and people who’ve been drinking here since 1962.

a beer costs rs 100-150. that’s it. that’s the pitch. in colaba, where everything is overpriced, gokul offers rs 100 beers with no judgment. the snacks are basic (dry chicken, masala papad). nobody comes here for the food.

what to drink: kingfisher. nothing fancy. verdict: mumbai’s best dive bar. the rs 100 beer is a public service.

16. raasta

khar / cocktails rs 400-600 / 7/10

reggae-themed bar in khar. the interiors are jamaican-inspired (bob marley everywhere), the cocktails are tropical, and the vibe is deliberately chill in a city that doesn’t do chill. live music nights feature reggae and ska bands.

the drinks are average. the food is forgettable. but if you want a different vibe from the typical bandra scene, raasta offers it. the outdoor seating is nice.

verdict: go for the vibe if you’re tired of standard mumbai bars.

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the cocktail spots

5. the bombay canteen

lower parel / cocktails rs 600-900 / 8.5/10

the bombay canteen has the best cocktail program in mumbai. the bartenders here use indian ingredients - kokum, gondhoraj lime, jamun, amla - in ways that are creative without being gimmicky. the kokum margarita is the best cocktail i’ve had in mumbai.

the food is covered in my restaurants guide. the combination of the cocktails and the modern indian food makes this the best dinner-to-drinks spot in lower parel.

what to drink: kokum margarita, gondhoraj gimlet, or the seasonal cocktail verdict: best cocktail program in mumbai. the bartenders here are artists.

12. the table

colaba / cocktails rs 700-1,000 / 8/10

the table’s bar is an extension of its restaurant, and both are excellent. the craft cocktails are innovative, the bartender is personable, and the space is intimate enough for conversation.

covered in the restaurants guide for food. for drinks, the house g&t and the seasonal cocktails are the way to go.

what to drink: house g&t, seasonal cocktail, or wine verdict: best bar-restaurant combo in colaba.

14. cafe zoe

lower parel / cocktails rs 500-700 / 7.5/10

cafe zoe transitions from brunch cafe to evening bar seamlessly. the space is industrial-chic (lower parel aesthetic). the cocktails are well-made and reasonably priced for the area. the crowd is young professionals from the nearby offices.

good for casual weeknight drinks. the food is decent - the flatbreads are good.

what to drink: mojito, g&t, or craft beer verdict: good transitional space in lower parel. cafe by day, bar by night.

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quick pick: what are you looking for?

• rooftop with a view? aer (four seasons, worli)
• craft beer? woodside inn (colaba/bandra) or toit (bkc)
• cheapest beer? gokul (colaba, rs 100)
• best cocktails? the bombay canteen (lower parel)
• bandra night out? bastian > bonobo > the tap room
• fun group activity? the bar stock exchange (fort)
• date night? wink at the taj or bonobo’s garden
• casual weeknight drink? social (happy hour) or the daily
• after-dinner drinks in colaba? woodside inn or the table

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more on rahul.biz

pair the drinks with food: best restaurants in mumbai (25 picks), best street food (the complete trail), and best brunch spots (drinking before noon is valid).

for the next morning’s recovery: best cafes for working (13 tested spots with good coffee).

other cities: pune nightlife and lucknow restaurants for when mumbai’s bar tab gets too high.