It’s that time of the year, when the buzz of celebration really grips the city air. Mumbai is at its most sociable, with everyone looking for the next cool party or gig to hit — whether that’s the hottest new restaurant or an immersive art experience. The maximum city offers something for everyone, if you just know where to look. Here are the best things to do in Mumbai throughout November and December.

Art and culture

Hermès Heritage In Motion

When: 11 – 20 November 2022
Where: IF.BE Gallery, 10-12 Calicut Road, Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
How much: Free admission

As one of the world’s most iconic and oldest fashion houses, the history of Hermès is a rich one. The Hermès Heritage touring exhibition makes a pitstop in Mumbai in November, in the city’s current favourite multi-disciplinary gallery space, IF.BE – a 144-year-old former ice factory. The exhibit is inspired by the House’s spirit of travel, and presents several objects from the Émile Hermès collection, the archives, the Hermès Conservatoire of Creations, and contemporary pieces. Patrons can look out for the very first Hermès scarf, the Flâneur d’Hermès bicycle, the Bolide picnic bag, the Pippa writing desk and more.

Happy In The Hippocampus by Rohan Joglekar

When: 10 November – 4 December 2022
Where: Method, 86 Nagindas Master Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
How much: Free, RSVP required

For his debut solo show at contemporary art gallery, Method, artist Rohan Joglekar stays true to his surrealist approach, inviting the audience into his fantastical world of make-believe characters, places, and scenarios. The entire exhibit is a nod to the dream-inducing centre of the brain, the hippocampus, and a reminder to embrace imagination in our everyday lives. Take in his paintings on the ground floor, and then make your way to the first floor for an immersive installation of his digital works.

Find your creative spirit at Art and Charlie

When: Throughout November
Where: 71A Pali Village, New Red House, Pali Mala Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050
How much: Workshops start at 499 INR

Bandra’s newest cultural hub Art and Charlie, which houses an art gallery, performance venue, gift shop and cafe under the roof of one charming bright red bungalow, is quickly becoming a go-to for the city’s culture seekers. Catch the opening show, Kal, which explores the transience of time, or sign up for one of their many events such as art performances by Jagrut Raval, stand-up comedy by The Grin Revolution, a comic writing workshop with Rohan Joshi, and a voiceover art workshop by Malaika Choudhary. Don’t forget to grab a coffee from the Subko window (a ‘down the rabbit hole’ ode in this Alice in Wonderland-inspired space) as you head in.

Attend Asia’s largest spoken word festival

When: 19 and 20 November 2022
Where: Jio World Garden, BKC, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
How much: Tickets start at 899 INR

Creative collective Kommune’s Spoken Fest brings back the human connections we all so crave in this hyper-digital world. As Asia’s largest spoken word festival, it’s dubbed as a ‘party for your soul’ with an immersive weekend of music, poetry and stories. The stellar line-up includes some of the country’s coolest creatives such as comedian Vir Das, musicians Anumita Nadesan and When Chai Met Toast, Instagram star Kareema Barry and more than 60 other acts you don’t want to miss.

Food and drink happenings

Dine at Juhu’s newest restaurant The Conservatory

When: Open every day
Where: The Conservatory, NO 549,  5 AB Nair Road, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400049
How much: 1,000 INR approximately

Juhu gets a new restaurant with this breezy, glasshouse outpost by Suren Joshi (who is also behind Bandra’s Joshi House). Dotted with pot plants, wooden furniture and white curtains, the airy space instantly transports you to a holiday mindset, making for the perfect brunch spot. The menu is inspired by South-East Asian cuisine combined with European tapas and sourdough pizzas. The 22 ft bar whips up delicious cocktails to help you wind down into that getaway state of mind.
The Conservatory No. 549, Shop no G-9 -A& B CTS, 5, AB Nair Road, Juhu, Mumbai

Sip on pisco sours on the 37th floor of St. Regis Mumbai

When: Open Wednesday to Sunday
Where: St Regis Mumbai, 462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013
How much: 3,000 INR approximately

For a glamorous night out, head to the Penthouse at St. Regis Mumbai, which is now home to the city’s sexiest new bar, Koi, for a taste of pisco cocktails paired with delectable Peruvian tapas. The bar menu (which runs to 15 pages) is a sensory experience centred on a Ginza-style whisky selection, modern Japanese-inspired mixology, and an exclusive Peruvian pisco bar.

A new tasting menu at Noon

When: Open through the week
Where: One BKC, Ground Floor, Tower B, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
How much: 1,500 INR approximately

Rightly listed as one of our best bars in Mumbai, Noon is also the first ingredient-forward restaurant in the commercial district of Bandra Kurla Complex. Helmed by Vanika Choudhary of farm-to-table restaurant Sequel, Noon adopts a seasonal approach while tapping into Choudhary’s Kashmiri roots. The new tasting menu features Noon classics with some innovative new dishes that highlight the chef’s culinary heritage. For example, dastuk, a traditional Ladakhi porridge, has been reimagined with a chana dal miso with curry leaves, lotus root and calamari, while Mumbai’s beloved mawa cake has been recreated with syah (a wild rose variety that Choudhary foraged in Ladakh), kosnyot (wild Himalayan caraway) and a nolen gur glaze, baked inside a turmeric leaf.

Book a table at Virat Kohli’s one8 Commune

When: Open through the week
Where: 18/B, Juhu Tara Road, Shivaji Nagr, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400054
How much: 1,000 INR approximately

Housed in the late cinematic legend Kishore Kumar’s bungalow in the suburbs of Mumbai is a restaurant from another legend – this one from the cricketing world. Virat Kohli brings his culinary venture, a casual dining and bar called one8 Commune, to Mumbai. The premises are more sizeable than most city outposts, which often have to jostle for space with neighbouring restaurants. The menu is flavoured with global fare and comfort classics, and the vibe is laid back but always up for a good time. The restaurant is already pulling in the celebrity set, and gives Juhu’s restaurant-scape a much-needed new lease of life.

A new fashion showcase

Lovebirds Studio collaborates with NorBlack NorWhite

When: Only available in November
Where: Lovebirds, Wesley Church, 62 BEST Marg, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005
How much: Prices start at 10,000 INR

When two of the coolest contemporary Indian labels come together, the result is a collection you definitely want to get your hands on. Lovebirds Studio — known for its minimal aesthetic and clean lines — has collaborated with champion of dopamine dressing NorBlack NorWhite to create a limited edition capsule collection that brings together the brands’ shared spirit. The limited line includes co-ord sets, shirt dresses and trousers in tailored cuts and bold hues that are perfect for the festive season and beyond. The collection is on display at Lovebirds Studio’s unique Mumbai store that is housed within the premises of Wesley Church.

Continue your tour of Mumbai with a guide to the city’s live music scene.