Mumbai is known as the financial capital of India, but it is also known for its night life. In Mumbai, Bandra is probably one of the easiest places to plan a proper night out. It sits in that sweet spot between South Bombay and the suburbs, so getting the whole gang together is slightly less painful than deciding to meet in Colaba when half the group lives in Andheri. And once you're in Bandra, you don't really need to keep jumping into cabs.
The area still has plenty of old-school bars where drinks are affordable, alongside newer pubs, karaoke spots and places where the night eventually turns into dancing. So, if you're planning a Bandra bar crawl, don't start with the expensive cocktails. Start cheap, get a little loud, sing something embarrassing and save the dancing for later. Here is the route I'd actually take.
Start the evening at Janta Bar & Restaurant in Pali Hill. This is not the place to dress up and take 25 pictures before ordering your first drink. Janta has been a Bandra institution for years, and the whole appeal is that it feels like a proper local bar.
The place is small, usually busy and deliberately no-frills. Drinks are considerably easier on the pocket than at many newer Bandra bars, which makes it perfect for the first round. Grab a beer or a basic spirit and some bar food, let everyone arrive and don't rush.
Address: 78/A, Dr B R Ambedkar Road, Pali Mala Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Approx. cost: INR 900 for two with alcohol
Timings: Around 11 AM to 1 AM
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This is another old-school Bandra drinking spot and, honestly, exactly the kind of place you want on a bar crawl. It isn't trying to be a cocktail destination. You come here, order a drink, eat something greasy and carry on talking over the noise.
Yacht has been described as one of Mumbai's dive-bar favorites, with its Hill Road location making it an easy stop after Janta. Don't spend too long here. This is your second drink, not your final destination.
Address: 29, Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Approx. cost: INR 1,100 for two
Timings: 10 AM to midnight
Head to Road House Bluez on Hill Road for karaoke. This is the point in the crawl where everyone who was being shy at Janta suddenly thinks they can sing.
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The Bandra outlet has multiple floors with different moods, including karaoke and DJ spaces. Road House only has English karaoke and they also have another space in Andheri.
Address: Surve Shetty Palace, Santosh Nagar, Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Approx. cost: Budget around INR 1,000 to INR 1,500 per person for drinks and snacks
Timings: From around 6 PM, subject to the day's schedule
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Soul Fry has been part of Bandra's nightlife for decades and still has that slightly chaotic, homely feeling that newer restaurants try very hard to recreate. It is known for Goan food, seafood, drinks and, most importantly for this crawl, karaoke and music nights. They sometimes allow you to sneak in a few Bollywood songs.
This is where I'd order some food. Try the seafood, get another drink and let the night build a little before heading to the dance floor.
Address: 1 & 2, Silver Croft, Pali Mala Road, Opposite Pali Market, Pali Hill, Bandra West, Mumbai
Approx. cost: INR 1,200 for two without alcohol
Timings: 12:30 –3:30 PM, 7 PM–1 AM
Raasta in Khar is a good final stop if the group wants music, DJs and a dance floor rather than another sit-down drink. It is slightly outside Bandra proper, but Khar is close enough that it makes sense as the final leg of a Bandra-Khar crawl.
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Address: 4th & 5th Floor, Rohan Plaza, 5th Road, Near Union Bank, Khar, Mumbai
Approx. cost: INR 2,500 for two without alcohol
Timings: Around 12 noon to midnight, with late-night events extending later
If Raasta isn't your vibe, head to The Little Easy on Linking Road.
This one is more of a gastro-pub setup, but it has a dance floor, DJs, live entertainment and a proper nightlife crowd. This place plays banger Bollywood music, so if you wanna dance to some desi tunes, Little Easy is for you.
Address: 231 A, Link Corner, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Approx. cost: INR 2,000 for two without alcohol
Timings: 12 noon to 1:30 AM
Also Read: This Is The Only Way To Spend A Friday Night In Mumbai As A Bollywood Fan!
The trick is to not spend too much at the beginning. Janta and Yacht are there to keep the first half of the night affordable. Road House Bluez gives you the karaoke chaos, Soul Fry gives you food and music, and then you finish with dancing. You can also check out this alternate bar crawl below.
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Also, don't try to do every stop in one hour. That defeats the whole point. Give each place around 45 minutes to an hour, walk wherever possible and use a cab only when you need to.
I've always thought Bandra works particularly well for this kind of night because it doesn't force you into one particular crowd or price bracket. You can start at a tiny old-school bar, end up singing karaoke with strangers and then spend the last couple of hours dancing to Bollywood. That mix of old Bandra and new Bandra is what makes the crawl fun in the first place.
Just check the venue's event schedule on the day, especially for karaoke and DJ nights, because those can change. And obviously, if you're drinking, sort out a cab or a designated driver before the last round, Cheers!
