Mumbai/Western Suburbs

The Western Suburbs of Mumbai consists of Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, Juhu, Vile Parle, Andheri and Jogeshwari, which are some of the oldest suburbs of the city. In particular, Bandra (वांद्रे Vāndre), also known as the Queen of the Suburbs, had existed as a separate town for almost as long as Mumbai.

The district started its history as a bunch of fishing villages. Then it became home to a Christian population that set up its churches, orphanages, and monasteries. It later turned into a place where Mumbai's beautiful people live, a status that it holds to this day. It is a very cosmopolitan place and does not have the rundown look of the other suburbs. It still has a lot of old bungalows. These suburbs can get extremely crowded in the evenings, with nightmarish traffic snarls.

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and most of the budget hotels of the city are also in this district. Many software and BPO companies have their offices in and around SEEPZ, Andheri.

Mumbai's only river, the Mithi River, flows through this district and also serves as a sewage line.

By train
The Western Line has stops at Bandra, Khar Road, Santacruz, Vile Parle, Andheri and Jogeshwari.

By bus
Bus services are very good. Generally, BEST's "200 & 300" series serves the Western Suburbs.

By car
The Western Express Highway (WEH) runs through the district, as does SV Road (Swami Vivekananda Road). The Bandra–Worli Sea Link provides high-speed connectivity from the city centre. Connectivity from the Central and Harbour Suburbs is poor. Getting in from Sion or Kurla is a pain but with the development of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR). It is now a breeze to get in via Powai.

Do

 * Bullseye, Santacruz, just after subway (underpass) near S.V. Road and Western Express Highway.
 * Movies — There are many movie theatres that offer movies for ₹100- ₹300. They generally have food like popcorn, samosa, sandwiches, etc. for ₹25- ₹100. There are many good theatres like Big Cinemas, Fame Adlabs, PVR, Inox, IMAX etc.
 * Pool Halls — there are many pool halls in the suburbs. Cheap (generally ₹50) for 15 to 30 minutes. Billiards is around ₹100. Many of these are not always on main roads. You can just ask someone on the street and they will probably know. Most of these places also have air conditioning.
 * Movies — There are many movie theatres that offer movies for ₹100- ₹300. They generally have food like popcorn, samosa, sandwiches, etc. for ₹25- ₹100. There are many good theatres like Big Cinemas, Fame Adlabs, PVR, Inox, IMAX etc.
 * Pool Halls — there are many pool halls in the suburbs. Cheap (generally ₹50) for 15 to 30 minutes. Billiards is around ₹100. Many of these are not always on main roads. You can just ask someone on the street and they will probably know. Most of these places also have air conditioning.
 * Movies — There are many movie theatres that offer movies for ₹100- ₹300. They generally have food like popcorn, samosa, sandwiches, etc. for ₹25- ₹100. There are many good theatres like Big Cinemas, Fame Adlabs, PVR, Inox, IMAX etc.
 * Pool Halls — there are many pool halls in the suburbs. Cheap (generally ₹50) for 15 to 30 minutes. Billiards is around ₹100. Many of these are not always on main roads. You can just ask someone on the street and they will probably know. Most of these places also have air conditioning.

Learn

 * Cooking - From "A Bombay Tiffin"...learn authentic home-style Indian cooking in Bandra (W). Spend an afternoon learning to cook and then enjoying the meal after.

Eat
Chains can be found throughout Bandra, such as Mocha, Barista, McDonalds, KFC, and Cafe Coffee Day. Lots of new restaurants and themes keep popping up on Turner Road, Gaspar Enclave, and Union Park.

Bandra and Juhu are packed with eateries, with new ones opening every day it seems. Most are reasonably priced with decent food, but ask for a menu before you sit.



Budget
For street food, quite a few good vendors exist around Bandra. A bloke called Karachi Sweets on Hill Road does a good job. For the pani puri though, Karachi Sweets on Hill Road and Punjab Sweets on Pali Naka are strongly recommended. For a great Bhel Puri and Sev Puri, you must visit the Bhel Puri Bhaiya on Pali Hill.

There are a lot of Udipi and Punjabi Restaurants too. For non-vegetarian tandoor you could try Jai Javan at Linking Road opp National College.

You can find a ton of street stalls of questionable hygiene standards. If you don't have a cast-iron stomach, look for one that uses bottled water, with servers wearing plastic gloves.


 * Dcosta Bakery 'Bazaar Road, Bandra west. They serve burgers, rolls, veg & non veg, freshly baked biscuits. The prices are cheap around ₹15 for burgers. tel# 9892363346
 * Jay Sandwich, 200m from RD National College, Bandra. Serves sandwiches of all kinds. A popular hangout spot for college students.
 * Elco, Hill Road. Serves an extensive menu of chaats and other fast food. Has an AC section (or you can eat like the locals do it standing around the pani puri walla). Their hygiene standards are decent (they use bottled water in their chaats), although they are not dirt cheap (₹ 50-100 for a chaat) by Bombay standards.
 * Gajalee', Malvani coastal seafood restaurant at VileParle (East). Good food, but there's usually a wait for seating. Try the Bombil (bombay duck, and not really a duck at all).
 * Hearsch and Co., Hill Road. Bandra is a hole in the wall food joint that is an institute. Over the last 25 years or more, it has been making and selling breads, sandwiches, cakes, rolls, and such-like, with the chicken roll and plum cake being particularly good. If you are looking for non vegetarian baked items here, the chilly chicken croissant is tender and succulent.
 * Shiv Sagar, Juhu. A fast-food chain where you can find excellent Pav Bhaji and great South Indian dishes, such as dosas.
 * Vow Snax, 16th Road. Their servings are very big. They provide free delivery as well.
 * Vow Snax, 16th Road. Their servings are very big. They provide free delivery as well.

Mid-range

 * A-1 and American Express Bakery have excellent varieties of bread and takeaway.
 * Andora serves fast food opposite St. Andrews School.
 * Bombay Blue Serves a smattering of all sorts of favourite Bombay food, including chole bhature, onion rings, and sizzling brownies.
 * Camy Wafers — Wafers, savories, and farsan.
 * Candies  — Has excellent desserts, mini meals, sandwiches, and snacks at Pali and Bandra Reclamation.
 * Hersh — Serves bread, goan sweets, fast food, and snacks near Holy Family Hospital.
 * Highway Gomantak serves excellent Konkani and Goan food.
 * Lucky — SV Road is famous for its biryani.
 * Lucky Star serves great Mughlai food at Bandra Bazar Road.
 * McCraig, serves nice fast food, mini meals, and snacks at Gaspar enclave, Bandra.
 * Only Parathas, Linking Road. Serves chaat in addition to parathas (thick Indian rotis stuffed with all sorts of delicious things).
 * Persia Dabar, Linking Road, Bandra (Next to Shoppers Stop). Indian and Chinese food. Their Tandoori Naan and crispy veg. is killer. It's a cheap, clean, and friendly place.
 * Only Parathas, Linking Road. Serves chaat in addition to parathas (thick Indian rotis stuffed with all sorts of delicious things).
 * Persia Dabar, Linking Road, Bandra (Next to Shoppers Stop). Indian and Chinese food. Their Tandoori Naan and crispy veg. is killer. It's a cheap, clean, and friendly place.

Splurge
All the airport hotels have excellent quality restaurants, particularly those at ITC (a hotel chain well known for its restaurants, like the world famous Bukhara in Delhi).


 * Celini Grand Hyatt, Kalina, 24 hours. Home to Bombay's most beloved paper-thin pizza. Even South Bombay kids make it over to this side at 2AM for a post-clubbing pizza and tiramisu.
 * China House, Grand Hyatt, Kalina. One of the best, most expensive Chinese eateries in the city. Try their excellent Peking Duck. Go on a weekend and stick around until the China House club picks up (post 11PM) for a taste of the posh Bombay partying scene
 * Dakshin, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton. Fantastic South Indian food.
 * Dum Pukht, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton. Traditional Indian cuisine (a mix of Awadi, Luckhnawi food)
 * Global Fusion, off Linking Rd. On the top floor of a nondescript, avoidable mall. Nice ambiance, but can get very crowded. Does a good Oriental buffet for ₹ 800. Includes decent sushi, lots of different kinds of dumplings, and dessert. Skip the main course (very ordinary) and stuff yourself on their starters. Or go eat at Olive or China House for the same price.
 * Olive (off Carter Road). A beautiful, classy restaurant that's extremely popular with Bombay's socialite set. All their food is amazing (try the pizzas and kebabs), at ₹ 800~ or so for an entree. A nice place to go for a long, booze-fueled dinner.
 * Pan Asian, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton. Oriental food.
 * Peshawri, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton. Among the best North Indian food in the city. They have a one-page menu with some 12 items, each a culinary masterpiece. Expect traditional Indian style dining (no cutlery) at international prices (up to ₹ 1000 per dish). Hours : noon - 2:45PM; 7:30PM - 11:45PM
 * Seijo and the soul dish, Bandra, has an interesting oriental menu.
 * Shatranj Napoli is okay for the price.
 * Soma also at The Grand Hyatt, does good Indian food.
 * Taj Lands End has a good range of expensive, but quality restaurants.
 * West View, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton. Go for sublime, marinated kebabs and grills.
 * West View, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton. Go for sublime, marinated kebabs and grills.

Drink
Bandra is also known as the 'Restaurant and Pub district' of Mumbai with many options for different budgets and taste


 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.
 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.
 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.
 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.
 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.
 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.
 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.
 * Toto's is the closest you will ever come to a Western bar. The place fires up every single night throughout the week, the beer is great, and the place is packed with locals and the occasional tourist. But don't go in expecting a seat. The tables are hard to get even if they're empty. They are parked with 'reserved' signs unless you are a party of four or six.

Sleep
Despite being home to most of the budget hotels in Mumbai, it is a tough job to get such hotels in the Western Suburbs, especially the ones close to Mumbai Airport. If you can, you should choose a hotel farther away to avoid paying through your nose. If money is no object and you want to stay close to the airport, see Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Mid-range

 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.
 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.
 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.
 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.
 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.
 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.
 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.
 * Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu Beach.

Splurge

 * Centaur, Juhu Tara Rd, Juhu 26113040.