Snapshots
The world's 100 best culinary towns have been revealed by the esteemed TasteAtlas, a premier resource for restaurants and cuisine. Napoli, Milan, Bologna, and Florence, four Italian cities, top the list. A city in India ranks fifth, a testament to the increasing popularity of Indian food around the world. This cuisine is renowned for its wide variety of flavours, spices, and cultural influences.
Mumbai ranks 5th in the Top 5 Best Food Cities
The streets of Mumbai are the heart of the city's lively culinary culture. The city's ordinary flavours are its proudest chefs, from the acidic bite of bhelpuri with chowpattis to the buttery richness of pav bhaji at midnight food booths. Mumbai is renowned worldwide for its delectable cuisine, in part due to its iconic dishes, including vada pav, steamed modaks, and nostalgic ragda pattice. In addition, TasteAtlas featured other legendary eateries that are doing their part to keep the city's traditional cuisine alive and well. If you're looking for some real Mumbai flavour, you should definitely check out Ram Ashraya, Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, Cafe Madras, Nawab Saheb, and Baba Falooda.
Famous street dishes like vada pav, pav bhaji, bhel puri, and ragda pattice are an essential part of any trip to the city. Notable restaurants in the city have been around for a long time and are renowned for their exceptional cuisine. Historic Colaba's Leopold Café and Matunga's Ram Ashraya are both well-known for serving delicious, traditional South Indian breakfasts. Nawab Saheb provides an exquisite dining experience with rich Indian cuisine, and a visit to Baba Falooda is obligatory for dessert.
Pav bhaji, vada pav, modak, ragda pattice, Bombay biryani, ice halwa, bombil fry, Bombay sandwich, amba, and bhelpuri were some of the Mumbai specialities featured in Taste Atlas. Leopold Cafe, Ram Ashraya, Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, Nawab Saheb, Cafe Madras, Baba Falooda, The Bombay Canteen, Gurukripa, Khyber, and Namak are just a few of the famous eateries that the platform recommends. These places highlight the rich culinary culture of Mumbai.
Several other Indian cities make it to the list as well!
In addition to Mumbai, a number of other Indian cities have been named among the world's 100 best culinary cities. The city of Amritsar, known for its kulchas and lassi, comes in at number 43. At number 45, we have New Delhi, another city beloved by foodies for its delicious street cuisine and Mughlai specialties. Ranking 50th is Hyderabad, known for its biryani, while 71st is Kolkata, known for its tasty snacks and sweets. The 75th slot goes to Chennai, a city famous for its South Indian classics.
The hearty Punjabi cuisine in Amritsar, which is ranked 48th, is still highly acclaimed. Its culinary character is defined by dishes such as sarson ka saag, palak paneer, dal makhani, and Amritsari kulcha. Many people still frequent the legendary Kesar da Dhaba and Bharawan da Dhaba for their delicious food.
Traditional New Delhi fare, such as butter chicken, chole bhature, pakoras, and gulab jamun, helped propel the city to position 53. Among the many suggested eateries are Dum Pukht, Bukhara, Saravana Bhavan, and The Potbelly Rooftop Cafe.
Representing Nizami cuisine, Hyderabad came in 54th with dishes including chicken 65, haleem, and Hyderabadi biryani. The city's culinary traditions are preserved at Shah Ghouse Cafe, Karachi Bakery, Jewel of Nizam, and Dakshin.
Kolkata, renowned for its harmonious blend of sweet and savoury flavours, ranked 73rd. The most popular rolls among customers are rasgulla, roshmalai, mishti doi, and kathi. Restaurants with a rich history, like Peter Cat and Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar, still have devoted customers.
Basics like Dosa, Idli, Chicken 65, Rumali Roti, and Sambar continue to make this southern Indian city a favourite around the world. Annalakshmi, Peshawri, Bombay Lassi, Shree Mithai, and Smith Field Bakery are some of the well-known names.
If you had 24 hours in Mumbai, where should you eat?
Grab a plate of iconic South Indian breakfast at Ram Ashraya, Matunga
Are you asking why, in western India, we should start with South Indian cuisine? The reason being, it's also a popular pastime among locals. This unassuming eatery is always bustling with activity, making it the ideal place to start your day like a local Mumbaikar. Among the world's 150 most legendary restaurants, Ram Ashraya was recognised in 2023 by Taste Atlas. However, most city dwellers don't need such recognition. The consistently good quality and affordable costs of the cuisine are enough to warrant a recommendation. Idli, Mysore dosa, rava dosa, goli bhajji, pineapple sheera, filter coffee—these are the dishes we propose.
Get your fix of Marathi cuisine at Shakahari Prakash Dadar Upaya Kendra
You should visit Prakash in Dadar if you're craving Maharashtrian cuisine. Once again, this is a no-frills business that has managed to attract regulars for over 30 years. Here are several dishes we suggest: vada pav, sabudana vada, poha, and misal pav.
Enjoy luxury cuisine at its finest at Taj Palace Hotel, Colaba
Among Mumbai's most famous hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace has a rich history that mirrors the city's own development. It is home to numerous highly esteemed eateries, such as the world-famous Shamiana and the critically praised Wasabi by Morimoto. A dinner at any of these places would be a great indulgence. There is a direct line between the hotel and the Gateway of India.
Enjoy coffee and culture at Cafe Leopold
Head on down to Leopold Cafe for a laid-back lunch and some cocktails if that sounds good to you. This eatery has been there through the city's ups and downs since it opened in 1871. The 26/11 terror strikes also targeted this location. Traditional dishes from India and around the world are available. Many visitors come to admire the unique furnishings that evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era.
Bite into history at Kyani and Co
Discover a wide variety of speciality foods in Mumbai. It would be a shame not to stop by one of its Iranian cafes. There may be others, but Kyani & Co. comes highly recommended. Traditional Iranian fare such as Bun/Pav Maska, Bhurji, Akuri, puffs, and more go wonderfully with Irani chai. Its furnishings will take you on a journey through time, as it is housed in a structure that dates back to the colonial era.
Don’t miss the iconic Vada Pav at Aaram Vada Pav
Travelling back home would be incomplete without sampling the world-famous vada pav from Mumbai. At Aram Vada Pav, across from CSMT, you may satisfy your craving for Maharashtrian food during teatime, in case you skipped out on breakfast. Take one to go if you can't find a spot at one of the few tables inside; the locals typically do this on their lunch breaks or before taking the train home. If you haven't already, use the selfie spot in front of CSMT.