True to its reputation, Mumbai loves to go out. The fast lifestyle lends to plenty of places scattered around the city you can catch a drink at but only a select few end up becoming staples. Here are some which are always poppin’ on the weekend.

London Taxi Gastropub, Lower Parel

The area around Kamla Mills is usually buzzing with activity. London Taxi Gastropub, however, stands out with its red and yellow exteriors (inspired by the iconic London taxi). 

The menu is a varied mix of Asian and British with some Indian flavours thrown in. There’s no dearth of liquor choices: Craft beers, single malts, tequilas, Champagnes, wines and American whiskeys.

Carter Road Social, Bandra

The number of Socials in the city is consistently growing, and even though the one on Carter Road is a more recent addition to their branch roster, we’d give it to this one based on its ambience and location. With a view of the sea on Carter Road that’s perfect for an evening out as well as getting some work done in the day, Carter Road Social is one of the places you need to visit if you’re around.

WTF, Versova

If you’ve been  on the Andheri side on a weekend evening, there’s a good chance you’ve hopped on to this one at least once.
A tiny place with more of a ‘pub’ vibe than other places on this list, WTF Versova wins on the cosy factor. It’s a great place to catch up at with a few friends, make new ones or bump into old ones. The menu features everything that you’re used to like chicken lollipop, sandwiches and naans, as well as an assortment of spirits and cocktails.

Doolally Taproom, Bandra

What originally started as one of the first craft breweries in the city now boasts of a chain of breweries, each one offering something more than the last. When it comes to Doolally, there’s simply not a lot that can go wrong, and we’d recommend the Bandra Reclamation outlet to get the true vibe of the place.

With a lively atmosphere, a varied food menu and quite a few drinks on the tap – like English Brown Ale and Mango Cider - to justify their name, Doolally is one place you need to visit in Mumbai if you’re visiting.

Woodside Inn, Colaba

Some people would say that South Bombay is going out of style in favour of areas north to the city, though we’d disagree. 

Woodside Inn is a cosy place that’s both an old timer’s favourite as well as still one of the hippest bars in town for a weekend night. It always manages to leave us satisfied with what it has to offer. The service is amazing, and even if it’s rather tiny than the newer places in the suburbs, we’re still not complaining, as the vibe makes up for it.

Bonobo, Bandra

Another one for the memories, Bonobo on Linking Road in Bandra remains a favourite haunt for drinking or – for certain days of the month – events like gigs or movie screenings. Our favourites are their jazz gigs, as the ambience just goes with jazz.Other than their relatively huge rooftop area, there’s plenty of space to chill in. The food is typical bar food and the cocktails are generic yet well blended. This one’s great for groups.

Café Mondegar, Colaba

Café Mondegar in Colaba is not just a popular bar and café, but also sort of a landmark (literally too).

With quirky art by artists from across the country and a rather elaborate food and drinks menu, we’d recommend trying everything here whenever you visit. Just guzzle down some pitchers and top them off with dinner at Bade Miyan nearby.

The Elbo Room, Bandra

Elbo Room in Bandra makes for a nice pre-drinking spot. Unlike what the name suggests, they have quite a bit of room if you’re heading there in a group, especially compared to other pubs and bars in the area.

As for the menu, there’s quite a bit of food on the cards, including many healthy options. The bar menu has a lot to offer, too, so make sure to plan your evening accordingly.

Tap, Andheri

For the folks in the suburbs, Tap in Lokhandwala, Andheri has been a great option for a night out for quite some time now. Conveniently located right on the New Link Road, it makes for an easily-accessible, fairly spacious option for anyone who wants to visit from a bit afar, as well.

The bar menu is extensive, but more on the lines of old school bar menus than anything on this list. That’s not to say it’s boring, they still do the classics better than most, especially the cocktails. The food is good too, and does the job of complementing the alcohol quite well.