Since its earliest days as a Portuguese trading colony, Mumbai's contemporary culinary scene has reflected the diversity of its population and the increasingly demanding palates of its gourmets. Visitors might not find the internationally renowned restaurants of Hong Kong or Shanghai, but they'll still be spoiled for choice. Main meals cost $150-$250 a head.
Khyber
145 Mahatma Gandhi Road
Considered one of the leading Indian restaurants in the city (if not the whole of India), Khyber is a magnet for Mumbai's high society, attracted as much by the venue's spice-laden curries as its groovy top-floor nightclub. Discreetly lit and with murals by artists Anjolie Ela Menon and M.F. Husain, Khyber remains faithful to its name, serving mostly Mughlai dishes from the country's northern states and what is now Pakistan. Emphasising butter-based, creamy curries such as chicken masala or palik paneer (pureed spinach and cottage cheese), this acclaimed eatery also honours its Muslim heritage with richly spiced lamb kebabs.
Later, if you're still able to move, head upstairs to the Red Light Club for cocktails and dancing to the resident DJ's house and trance. The bodies gyrating on the dance floor are mostly male, although the odd Bollywood actress and her entourage will sometimes make an appearance.
Masala Kraft
Taj Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder