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City Guide - Mumbai - Nightlife | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nightlife Café Bars: The party animal will not be disappointed by Mumbai; the city reckons itself as the capital of Indian nightlife. Certainly, the bars and clubs offer enough variety to satisfy even the most jaded palate. The latest fashion in the city is for English-style pubs, which compete with each other to reproduce the most authentic ambience, although the results might be thought to bear little resemblance to the reality of the contemporary English pub. Many of the best bars are located in Colaba and along Marine Drive. The prevailing atmosphere is informal - a jacket and tie is almost never required - but Mumbaikers like to be well turned-out and the feel of some establishments is decidedly chic. Many bars and clubs operate a couples-only policy, for members and non-members alike, and charge an entrance fee. The most popular drinks are beer and spirits - particularly whisky - rather than wine, which is relatively expensive in India and often of indifferent quality. Licensing hours are 1130-2330 and the legal minimum drinking age is 21 years. Five-star hotels have an extension to enable them to sell alcohol until 2430 and many of the larger international hotels have a nightclub on the premises as well. Bars: Indigo bar-restaurant, Mandlik Road, Apollo Bunder, is the latest place to be seen - Chelsea Clinton had a drink here recently while in Mumbai with her father. Its minimalist decor attracts a smartly turned-out set: noisy and crowded. The Ghetto, 30 B Desai Road, Mahalaxmi, is a laid-back drinking den, which owes its inspiration to the 1960s - drinkers are looked down upon by murals of Jim Morrison and Dylan - and the walls are bedecked with more or less profound graffiti. Three Flights Up, 39 Chatrapati Shivaji Marg, Apollo Bunder, has the longest bar in the city and is very popular. Geoffrey's, Hotel Marine Plaza, is the best-known English-style pub in Mumbai; go there in the early evening to drink with the after-work crowd. Copa Cabaana, Dariya Vihar, Chowpatty, offers exciting cocktails in a friendly atmosphere and is worth a visit. Casinos: There are no casinos in Mumbai, as gambling - except on the racecourse - is illegal in India. Clubs: Head Quarters (opposite the Regal Cinema, Colaba) runs a ladies' night on Wednesday. This club is very popular with the younger crowd and admission is free. Fire and Ice, Phoenix Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Road, Lower Parel, is the latest hotspot to sweep onto the Mumbai scene; it has a mezzanine dance floor and a dazzling light show. Live music: Jazz by the Bay, Soona Mahal, Marine Drive, is a good place for live music in the middle of the city. |
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