Let’s cut to the chase right away, I had a spare day in Bombay. Mumbai, if you prefer, though most of the folks I met seemed to lean towards Bombay. I have been to this city a bunch of times in my childhood, so the usual tourist spots had zero appeal. So, I decided to take inspiration from my Hyderabad trip and explore the legends. Places that have stood the test of time, the true icons.
My research began with a little chat with ChatGPT and as expected it was way faster than relying on Google. Of course, I had to do some tweaking to refine my itinerary but I had a list of must-visit gems fairly quickly and here’s where I ended up –
Noor Mohammadi Hotel
Address – 181-183 I R Road, Abdul Hakim, Noor Mohammadi Chowk, Bhendi Bazaar, Mumbai 400003
More Info – https://www.instagram.com/noormohammadihotelmumbai
Established – 1923
What I had – Chicken Sanju Baba and Tandoori Roti
The legendary Chicken ‘Sanju Baba’. Come on, who could resist? The story goes that it’s somehow connected to Bollywood’s original Baba Sanjay Dutt. Intriguing, right? (And yes, it was tasty)
Suleman Usman Mithaiwala
Address – 167 Ibrahim Merchant Road, Below Minara Masjid, Mumbai 400003
Website – https://www.sulemanusmanmithaiwala.com/
Established – 1936
What I had – Aflatoon
This is a specialty sweet with a strange name. Got Aflatoon packed for home too. It’s definitely unique and I wouldn’t mind revisiting.
Yazdani Bakery
Address – 11A, Cawasji Patel Rd, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai 400001
More Info – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazdani_Bakery
Established – 1953
What I had – Sadly, nothing.
Two reasons for not having anything here – They accept only cash and they have no seating area. I was really hoping for some Pee Loon vibes, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe next time, with cash in hand.
I then took a break at the nearby Starbucks. My usual is an Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea without sugar. Perfect for combating the December heat in Bombay. Yes, you read that right. December. Heat. Winter? What’s winter?
Kitab Khana
Address – Somaiya Bhavan 45/47 MG Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001
Website – https://kitabkhana.online/
Established – 2010
What I had – Books! (Not food, just to clarify)
This bookstore/library was my absolute favorite spot on this trip. Although the store was founded in 2010, it is situated in a 150-year-old building and has a very distinct old world charm. It reminded me of one of the bookstores I have been to in London (Foyles, I think?).
Bonus – Subko
Address – Inside Kitab Khana
Website – https://www.subko.coffee/
This wasn’t on my original list, but since it was part of Kitab Khana, I had to check it out. A pretty unique place. Has its own vibes that match with brands that are trying to make desi ‘cool’.
Bademiya
Address – Bademiya, Tulloch Rd, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai 400039
More Info – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bademiya
Established – 1946
What I had – Rolls and Kebabs
This was a non-negotiable. I had actually been here on my last Bombay trip, but at 3:30 AM! This time, I wanted to experience it at a respectable dinner time. Both takeaways and seating is available although at a little distance. You will figure it out.
K Rustom & Co.
Address – Brabourne Stadium, 86, Veer Nariman Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020
More Info – https://www.slurrp.com/article/k-rustom-origin-of-mumbais-oldest-legacy-ice-cream-parlour-1690094147160
Established – 1953
What I had – Ice Cream Sandwich
This place was packed. A massive, disorganized queue. Not something I wanted to be a part of. I also didn’t know if they accepted UPI or just cash. So I casually asked someone about it and he told me it was cash only. Then, sensing my out-of-towner status, this incredibly kind gentleman offered to act as my ATM and gave his number for me to make a UPI transfer. Not just that since he was getting ice cream sandwiches for his friends, he didn’t even mind getting into the queue for me. Talk about Bombay hospitality! So, thanks to this awesome human, I got my ice cream sandwich!
As I savored that delicious ice cream sandwich in the cab back to my hotel, I thought about the crowds at K Rustom. Honestly, it was good, but was it queue-worthy? Debatable. But it did remind me why these legendary spots matter. They might not be the trendiest, but they’ve seen the history unfold. They have weathered the storms. They are worth visiting maybe even more than the usual tourist attractions. If it doesn’t sound too dramatic, these are your chance at a taste of Bombay’s soul – one legendary bite at a time.
