48 Hours of Drinking in Mumbai

Aer is the Four Seasons Mumbai 34th-floor rooftop with sunset views over the Arabian Sea — Mumbai's most-photographed rooftop programme and a serious cocktail b Drop bags. Find a hotel-adjacent bar within a five-minute walk. Order something simple to anchor yourself to the city.

Aer at Four Seasons draws a steady local crowd in Worli. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. The polished room you'd take a first date to. Sit at the bar. Talk to the bartender. Stay one drink — you're scouting, not committing.

The Irish House draws a steady local crowd in Lower Parel. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Walk into the city's drinking quarter (the heart of the night, not the tourist version). Two drinks, two rooms. Pace yourself — Saturday is the long day.

Americano draws a steady local crowd in Kala Ghoda. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Sunset. Find a rooftop. Order whatever the house specials around sundown. Take photos but don't lose 90 minutes to your phone.

Aroma Rooftop draws a steady local crowd in Mahalaxmi. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Eat somewhere with serious bartending built in. The right room is one you order both your dinner and your nightcap from.

Asilo Rooftop at St Regis draws a steady local crowd in Lower Parel. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. The bar that made you book the trip. The pre-research one. Reservation-only ideally. Stay until last call.

Bastian draws a steady local crowd in Bandra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Mary, Mimosa, or whatever low-ABV house play the room runs. Eat. Pay. Walk.

Bawri is the Khar modern Indian-themed cocktail bar — a serious Indian-spirit programme with celebrated regional-cocktail innovation. Find the hotel bar at your departure airport equivalent — somewhere quiet, low-volume, well-staffed. End the trip on a martini and a clean conversation.