The best restaurants in Fort and Colaba, South Mumbai

Although much action has moved northwards to Bandra and the other suburbs, Mumbai’s cultural heart continues to beat in the south. The heritage precinct of Fort, named after the 18th-century Fort George built by the British East India Company, is best explored on foot, and is home to museums and high-end fashion boutiques, while its enclave Kala Ghoda is home to many of Mumbai’s best art galleries, shops and lively bars. Nearby, Colaba, which takes its name from the earliest settlements of the local Koli fishing community has some of the city’s most stunning landmarks in The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel overlooking the Gateway of India monument, facing out to the Arabian Sea.

In between these unmissable experiences, you can sample some of the finest cuisines in the city, many of which are considered the best restaurants in Mumbai. From fine-dining restaurants offering global cuisines to relaxed casual spots inspired by local flavours, there’s always something to eat – not to mention the countless stalls offering superlative Mumbai’s street food. We have tried and tasted all of the entries included below to offer you the ultimate guide to eating out in South Mumbai.

Araku

Best for: Experimental fare made with indigenous ingredients
Address: 1, Sunny House, Mandlik Road, behind The Taj Mahal Palace, Apollo Bunder, Colaba
Price: mains start from 500 INR / 6 USD

Named for the biodynamic coffee plantations of Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, Araku is known for its terroir-mapped organic coffee and focus on regenerative agriculture. The restaurant functions around the same philosophy with an emphasis on hyperlocal ingredients sourced from farms across the country. The menu has a few surprises: a beetroot brûlée treated in three inventive ways, an okra risotto prepared with indigenous kalanamak rice, a dry-aged fish poached in ghee, and a delicious miso banana ice cream made with native elaichi (cardamom-scented) bananas. Of course, try the coffee and grab a bag of beans to take home on your way out.

Wasabi by Morimoto at The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

Best for: Contemporary Japanese fare with views of the iconic Gateway of India
Address: The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Colaba
Price: 20th anniversary special omakase (on 24 hrs prior request) starts from 20,000 INR / 239 USD

You can watch the ferries dock by the Gateway of India as you prepare for an exquisite omakase experience designed by New York-based Japanese chef Masaharu Morimoto. Over the past two decades, the restaurant has set the standards for contemporary Japanese cuisine with elevated twists keeping the Indian palate in mind. The tuna and uni (sea urchin) are flown in from Tsukiji market in Tokyo, and the melons are sourced from Shizuoka. Guests return for the black cod miso, whitefish carpaccio, toro tartare and the Chilean sea bass with yuzu kosho ponzu. The hassun offers a selection of flavourful treats complete with artistic plating, and remains a highlight from the seasonal omakase menu.

The Table

Best for: Globally inspired food using farm-fresh local produce
Address: Kalapesi Trust Building, opposite Dhanraj Building, Apollo Bunder, Colaba
Price: mains from 1,300 INR / 15.50 USD

Restaurateur Gauri Devidayal is best known for introducing the farm-to-table dining experience to Mumbai. In 2011, she launched The Table, now a Colaba institution, along with her husband Jay Yousuf, behind the majestic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The food takes inspiration from San Francisco-style cuisine, and is reflective of the couple’s long association with the city. The flavours are interpreted using fresh, local produce that they grow themselves on their farm across the bay in Alibaug. Dig into the warm brioche followed by a delicately smooth duck liver mousse that comes with a jammy sour cherry on top (you cannot miss the cute duck-shaped toastie). The SoBo Salad has been a crowd favourite for nearly a decade. The parma ham is a riff on the classic appetiser and served with locally grown sweet papaya. Don’t leave without indulging in the Jersey crème caramel fittingly drenched in amaro.

Burma Burma Restaurant & Tea Room

Best for: Vegetarian Burmese food
Address: Kothari House, Allana Centre lane, opposite Mumbai University, Kala Ghoda, Fort
Price: from 400 INR / 4.80 USD

For a country obsessed with pan Asian cuisine, Burmese food is rather hard to come by in the Maximum City, yet Burma Burma ticks all the boxes with a unique vegetarian menu that goes beyond the usual khowsuey (a coconut-based noodle soup). The recipes are inspired by co-founder Ankit Gupta’s mother’s time in Burma (now Myanmar), as well as the team’s extensive trips exploring the cuisines of the country. Dig into the street-food favourite samuza hincho, a refined take on a samosa soup packed with vegetables and spiced chickpeas, followed by a punchy Mohinga noodle soup infused with fresh lemongrass. The thoke (salads) are a must, especially a flavourful laphet that is tossed with pickled tea leaves, toasted sesame seeds and fried garlic. Get the khowsuey as well, of course.

Ekaa

Best for: Tasting menus in a heritage setting; world-renowned restaurant
Address: 1st floor, Kitab Mahal, Azad Maidan, Fort
Price: tasting menus from 5,000 INR / 60 USD

Chef Niyati Rao’s culinary philosophy borrows from India’s hyperlocal produce and food wisdom perfected over generations by everyday home cooks. Ekaa is rightfully considered one of the best restaurants in Mumbai and all of Asia and Rao passionately champions ingredients that are otherwise overlooked in the urban dining scene. Trout roe from Kashmir, red weaver ants from Chhattisgarh and Indian seaweed are some of her favourites to cook with. Her current Tasting Menu 5.0 pays homage to the food heritage of some of the most influential dynasties of the world, including the tzars, pharaohs, Qing and Aztecs. Sample stories of Egyptian afterlife in the form of an exceptional 110 per cent hydration bread studded with coriander seeds and served with hand-churned white butter and date palm jaggery. Take your seat under the skylight and feel free to interact with the chefs in the open kitchen.

Bharat Excellensea

Best for: Seafood specialities from coastal India
Address: Bharat House, 317 Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Ballard Estate, Fort
Price: mains from 600 INR / 7.15 USD

Restaurateur Suraj Salian vets the catch every morning at the wharf, so what you get at Bharat Excellensea are only the best pomfrets, crabs, lobsters, seer fish and prawns available in Mumbai. The flavours borrow from India’s spicy coastal cuisines, and the recipes use housemade blends. The crabs prepared in a Malabar style and the Mangalorean gassi (coconut-based curry) are often a sellout. Our favourites include a tangy prawn curry cooked with raw mango, rawas masala fry (pan-fried Indian salmon), a Moplah-style seafood biryani from Kerala and the legendary crab ghee roast. Pair the curries with lacy neer dosa or appams (rice and coconut hoppers).

Folk

Best for: Home-style regional Indian fare
Address: 14 New Bake House, Maharashtra Chambers, Kala Ghoda, Fort
Price: appetisers from 300 INR / 3.60 USD

Walking around the alleys of Fort offers endless encounters with food from different regional communities of India. But if there’s a restaurant that represents all the diverse flavours and cooking styles under one roof, it has to be Folk. Don’t miss a moreish rajma chawal (kidney bean stew and rice) from Jammu, a Kashmiri Hindu-style roganjosh (without the onion and garlic of the Muslim style), slow-cooked kebabs and butter chicken, and the most luscious Bengali prawn malaikari (prawns cooked with coconut milk). Vegans can dig into jackfruit biryani, an excellent Amritsari chole kulcha (spiced chickpeas with traditional bread) or khichdi (rice and dal) that arrives with crisp alu tuk (fried potato) and mango pickle.

Ling’s Pavilion

Best for: Some of the best Cantonese cooking in Mumbai
Address: 19/21 Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, near Regal Cinema, Colaba
Price: appetisers from 300 INR / 3.60 USD

Chinese food may be everywhere in Mumbai, but no one does it quite like Ling’s. This is where both locals and tourists – the Chinese included – return time and again for a taste of Cantonese cooking. Owned by a third-generation family that migrated from Canton province in the 1930s, the food is a far cry from the typically greasy, sauce-laden Indian-Chinese fare found elsewhere in the city. Always ask for the day’s specials, and start with the Nanking-style fried prawns and Ling’s special siu mai (steamed dumplings) – the juicy pork dumplings are also a must. For mains, go for the pan-fried noodles, mixed meat fried rice, pork belly that comes with boiled eggs, and stewed pork with pickled greens. Time your souvenir shopping at Colaba Causeway just before your meal – the market is right outside.

Jimmy Boy

Best for: Traditional Parsi wedding feast
Address: 11, Vikas Building, Bank Street, near Horniman Circle, Fort
Price: starters from 300 INR / 2.60 USD

Chequered tablecloths, bentwood chairs, giant frames of the Zoroastrian prophet and low-hanging ceiling fans — welcome to Jimmy Boy. Walking into this century-old Parsi restaurant is like stepping back in time and in good measure. You cannot leave without eating the Lagan nu Bhonu, a delicious wedding spread featuring patra ni machi (steamed fish), salli marghi (chicken curry topped with potato straws), chicken or mutton dhansak dal, and a decadent lagan nu custard. Old-timers swear by the kheema (minced meat) pav, and berry pulao (chicken, mutton or vegetarian) that comes with generous bites of Zereshk berries. Wash everything down with Pallonji’s raspberry soda or a cup of sweet Irani chai.

Woodside Inn

Best for: Casual catch-ups
Address: Indian Mercantile Mansion, Wodehouse Road, opposite Regal Cinema, Colaba
Price: mains from 625 INR / 7.45 USD

Woodside Inn is one of the best bars in Mumbai, and has been wooing patrons with its English pub vibe since 2007. Housed in a 134-year-old heritage building, the black stone facade, arched doorway and wooden stairs exude charm. A friendly and laidback spirit, and an emphasis on fresh brews on tap and good food makes it even more special. The bar programme includes some of the best names on the Indian craft beer scene. The burgers are on point – almost everyone talks about the double cheddar tenderloin burger. Whether you are catching up with friends or simply passing by after a day of sightseeing, walk in for a few pints and nibbles.

Kala Ghoda Cafe

Best for: Gluten-free bakes and freshly brewed coffee
Address: 10 Rope Walk lane, Kala Ghoda, Fort
Price: mains from 300 INR / 3.60 USD

This South Mumbai institution is divided into three sections – a coffee shop, dining room and a cosy wine bar that plays groovy music on weekends. The food leans on the healthier side with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. We almost always get the chef’s salad, roast chicken sandwich, ginger cake, and akuri (Parsi-style breakfast eggs). The coffee is sourced from plantations across southern India. Clean ingredients, quick service and an easy atmosphere make KGC a neighbourhood favourite. Weekends can get unusually packed, so plan your visit accordingly.

Lalit Refreshment – Taste of Kerala

Best for: Sunday special banana leaf meal
Address: Prospect Chamber Annex, Pitha St, opposite Citibank, Fort
Price: sadya from 300 INR / 3.60 USD

If you’re keen to try the Keralan tradition of eating off a banana leaf, head straight to Taste of Kerala. The traditional sadya (celebratory feast) puts up a show with a selection of vegetarian items typically cooked with coconut in every form. The theatrics lie in the lip-smacking accompaniments that include chutneys, pickles, papadams, rasam (tangy spiced soup) and buttermilk, served one after another. You can always request extra helpings of rice to mop off your sambhar (spiced dal cooked with vegetables). The menu is exhaustive and also lists fried fish, chicken and mutton specialities. The space is modest and the service is quick. Eat with your hands for the complete experience.

Americano

Best for: Creative cocktails and tiramisu in a fun neighbourhood setting
Address: 121/123 Radha Bhavan, Nagindas Master Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort
Price: mains from 600 INR / 7.15 USD

The indigo facade is hard to miss at Americano, and so is the abstract installation hanging from the towering ceiling indoors. Tucked inside a gridlocked lane in Kala Ghoda, this is where South Bombay folks catch up over Neapolitan-style pizzas, pastas that honour tradition, and the most divine tiramisu. Helmed by Culinary Institute of America alumnus and San Francisco-bred chef Alex Sanchez and his partner Mallyeka Watsa, Americano bagged a spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024. The cocktails are a hit and offer a modern spin on classics, taking inspiration from the city and elsewhere and employing local ingredients. The pastas are filling, and the pizzas work well if you are a big group. Don’t miss the legendary corn ribs. Weekends get super busy, so make sure to book in advance.

Chetana

Best for: All-you-can-eat vegetarian thali
Address: 34, K Dubash Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort
Price: thalis from 500 INR / 6 USD

Want to test how much you can eat in one meal? Let Chetana show you the way with its generously portioned thalis – an assortment of vegetarian dishes served on a steel plate with sides of pickles, chutneys, farsan (Gujarati snacks), dal, and a deliciously sweet and tangy kadhi (yoghurt, chickpea flour and spices). If this isn’t enough, wait until you are mollycoddled into extra rotis and khichdi with dollops of homemade ghee. The jaljeera (cumin-spiced drink) and buttermilk are freshly made.