How does a bar that serves a complimentary welcome shot sound to you? Good, thought so, welcome to Bombay Daak, a 30 seater bar in Bandra. This bar lit up Instagram with its new concept to bar designs and its interesting take on the traditional indian daary-chakna culture. Naturally our team decided to make a pitstop and check the place out. We wanted to understand what made Bombay Daak click.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Walking in we were greeted by a dim ambience, western yet modern interiors and a large collection of old Indian liquor bottles set up on display across the bar. What set it apart were the 80s and 90s Bollywood music that really set the vibe. It makes you feel nostalgic about old hindi music whilst sitting in a predominantly western interior bar sampling food and drinks from a menu inspired by the Indian daaru-chakna culture. For a bar with just 30 seats, it certainly knew how to create a lively setting.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
The menu also had an interesting design with the front being red and saying “daaru” once you flipped it the menu was white and read “ chakna”. It proved that the tiny details really matter. Before we made up our minds on what to order, we were served a complimentary shot called, Bird’s Eye Chilli Wine Shot, a pleasant surprise and a very thoughtful gesture. It’s not everyday you get greeted with a welcome shot.
Curious about Sixteen33 Bandra's cocktails? Explore the menu, prices, and best drinks worth trying.
For our first cocktail, we ordered Molly's Mix, a combination of mezcal and rum priced at INR 850. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the price. To us, it tasted more like an INR 450 cocktail than something costing nearly twice as much.
Our first cocktail was the Molly Mix, a combination of mezcal and rum priced at INR 850. Although it didn’t quite justify the price it was still a very refreshing concoction. Our next drink was the Santra Season priced at INR 900, people say presentation matters, they served it to us in the most filmy way possible, which suited the music and Bollywood inspired vibe.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
The inspiration was the menu was nostalgic Indian cuisines and familiar bar snacks, we started with the Zanzanit Kakdi, Pork & Smoke and Maskra Bread, each portraying a different interpretation of a traditional chakna experience.
Here's what we ordered:
Interestingly enough, the staff got a sense that we didn’t have the time there and they decided to not only waive our food bill but also served us a delicious custard pudding, bathed in fire before we left. It was a thoughtful gesture that definitely improved the experience.
Are these bars in Bandra among the most luxurious cocktail bars in Mumbai? Discover what sets them apart.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeUFpFhhNd1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&vrfl=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Having visited Bombay Daak, I found its take on the traditional Indian daaru-chakna culture quite interesting. The nostalgic Bollywood music, creative cocktails, and attention to small details make the place stand out. While not everything lived up to the hype, the overall atmosphere and hospitality made it a memorable experience.
With an interesting concept, beautiful interiors and a nostalgic feeling that transports you back to the 80s and 90s, they found a way to showcase a classic Indian concept in the most youthful manner possible. While the Instagram hype didn't encapsulate our experience, it still left us in awe of a bar with a good concept and incredible hospitality.
.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
