Lifestyle and Shopping in Mumbai
Nightlife in Mumbai
Mumbai’s social scene is deceptively big and pumping parties can be found most nights of the week. With the Bollywood scene based in and around the city, don’t be surprised if you bump into your local film stars at one of the city’s trendy nightclubs or bars.For a rip roaring night out on the town expats can opt for a cocktail on any of the many rooftop bars that overlook the Arabian Sea, an evening stroll on the bustling Colaba Causeway, some hearty head banging at the dance clubs and hard music in Churchgate or Juhu, or a sophisticated glass of wine in the chic and stylish Bandra area - where looking good and being seen is all in a day’s work. On the dancefloor, expect bhangra and R&B and even some Hindi house music for good measure.
Don’t forget to take in a Bollywood movie or two as this is all part of being a Mumbai local.
Shopping in Mumbai
Mumbai is a shopaholic’s dream-come-true, and with everything from quaint little markets to shopping malls to haute couture around almost every corner, Mumbai’s a great place to spend a lot of time and, if not careful, a lot of money.
If you’re looking for clothing, M Ghandi Road is the place to start, while department stores like Shopper’s Stop and Globus are good bets too. The markets are the place to exercise your haggling skills so visit Chor Bazaar and the silversmith's bazaar to pick up jewellery, while Crawford market is a good place to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables.
Shops are generally open from Monday to Saturday from 10am till 8pm, but markets and street vendors often open earlier
For the expat who prefers a one stop shop rather than the experience of sifting through stalls, most of Mumbai’s malls have hypermarket chains like Big Bazar, Hypercity, Star India Bazar, and more.
Hypermarkets make shopping for groceries and fresh produce much easier for expats when compared to visiting small grocery stores and the local markets. These hypermarkets are similar to the stores in foreign countries, thus making shopping a more relaxed experience, without one having to haggle or communicate extensively. Payments can also be made using a credit card, which also does away with the problems of local currency, tendering exact change etc.
Some of the best areas for convenient shopping are South Mumbai; the western suburbs (Bandra, Andheri, Borivili Malad); and Navi Mumbai.
