the best places to visit in mumbai according to deepti dadlani from the palladium hotel
TRANSCRIPT
THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MUMBAI ACCORDING TO DEEPTI
DADLANI FROM THE PALLADIUM HOTEL
First came the Mall with its hallowed Foodhall, then funny-chain The Comedy Store
(now Canvas Laugh Factory) and Chanel. Now enticing Maximum City in equal
measure is the Hotel. Yes, I‟m talking about Palladium that started off as a mall and
the success of which sparked the namesake Hotel. Either way, the two together
began to convince us why phrases like „dynamic duo‟ exist. And that led us to the
obvious- who better to ask what to do when in Mumbai. You might be wondering why
step out at all in the first place. But it takes a real expert to create and curate a list of
the city‟s finest. Which is why, we went on to speak with Deepti Dadlani, Director of
Marketing & Communications and find you Mumbai‟s best.
“As someone who sincerely and unabashedly loves the „Good Life‟ and lives to Eat,
Shop and Party, these are my top picks of „Luxury Far From the Madding Crowd.‟”
Dine in Style:
“Indigo has long been a personal favorite with its fine Modern European fare (best
Lobster Bisque in town) and ambiance.” We concur. Rahul Akerkar‟s iconic fine-dine,
famous for its heritage-villa like appeal is what one might call a gastronomic no-
brainer on our list. Mekong, the highest and award-winning Asian restaurant, at
Palladium Hotel “has in recent times proved to be the perfect spot for a thorough
luxurious dining experience.” Likely named after the trans-boundary river, it offers
food and views that could, in all probability, benefit from the same adjective. “Can it
get better than dining on the 37th floor in the city?” Doubt it.
Art galore:
“A walk around the art galleries of Colaba like Volte, Chemould Prescott Road
Gallery, Tasveer, Chatterjee & Lal and my personal favorite, Galerie Mirchandani +
Steinruecke.” Trust the art aficionado in Deepti to comment on emergent
contemporary art culture in India and the galleries, by extension. She also advises
not to miss the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, “clearly a sight for sore eyes, with its
Palladian edifice.” According to her, after many years of careful restoration, the
museum now houses some of the finest works in history and culture. “To know
Mumbai, a visit to BDLM is mandatory.” Then there‟s, of course, Jehangir Art
Gallery, one of the oldest in the city and also, home to Samovar, “a cafeteria and
now- institute popular for its simple fare and history.”
For the love of the arts:
Art gets an extension. Everyone who is anyone that lives in Mumbai understands
The National Centre of Performing Arts deserves a special mention. Such
understanding no doubt has seen its fair share of ripple effect and NCPA receives
countrywide patronage. “(It) is a haven with international film screenings, dance and
musical performances, etc., on a daily basis. The cold coffee and chicken
sandwiches are plain nostalgia.” So there‟s your insider tip if you‟re making your first
visit. Needless to say its sweet Nariman Point spot means trickling over to the
famous strip that juts into the water and has seen many a filmy moments. It was
reclaimed from the sea along with the surrounding land that‟s now dons the role of a
swanky business district.
Sky High:
Next up, Asilo. Meaning sanctuary in Greek, this bar is indeed the perfect sanctuary
for (much needed) post-work tippling. Or the place to get sky high, figuratively, as
well as literally! Nestled on Palladium Hotel‟s 38th Floor, it offers unrivaled views of
the metropolis. “With its Mediterranean ambiance, classic cocktails like the El
Presidente (my personal favorite) and appetizers like the Baked Brie and Scallop
wrapped in Prosciutto, Asilo makes for the perfect setting for a casual get together or
a celebration.”
Luxury sightings:
“No visit to Mumbai shall be deemed complete without visiting Kala Ghoda and
Horniman Circle – both now the center of luxury shopping and some really edgy
boutiques. Standouts: Obataimu at Kala Ghoda for designer wear; Christian
Louboutin at Horniman Circle; Filter at Kala Ghoda for some lovely curated
stationary and other designs; La Folie for the finest French pastries; Kala Ghoda
Café for some me-time with its lovely coffee and dark chocolate cake.” We also think
the waffles at KGC are out of this world! As is Nico Bombay‟s décor!
Just next door, the restaurant reportedly boasts a head chef of Alinea fame. That
would probably explain our excellent goat cheese, caramelized onion and sour
cream puff, and corn soup from this past December. “Head to the Asiatic Library and
spend a few minutes sitting on the whitewashed staircase outside – take a selfie and
watch this dual-faced city speed by. Make your way north to Lower Parel‟s sprawling
luxury shopping center, Palladium Mall where you can find fine luxury brands like
Burberry, Canali, Jimmy Choo, Bottega Veneta and many more.”
Haute Living
And there‟re only two words for this- Le Mill. According to Deepti, this „Home Fashion
Décor‟ abode located at Mazgaon is ideal “for the most exquisite furniture and home
décor items”. So we decided to do a little digging and discovered some great Indo-
European treasures at this rice-mill turned concept boutique. The industrial spunk of
the sprawling 15,000 sq. ft. space is only fitting for all the edgy labels it houses. By
which we mean, Price On Request „Industrial Playground‟ products to the award
winning, 10,000 Rupee „Menu‟ carving and serving set.
Party like a Star:
For a city with “maximum” in its moniker, Mumbai‟s party options sure have been
minimal. But with the entry of EXO at Palladium Hotel, the trend seems to be fast
changing. “With Osler Chandeliers and handcrafted cocktails, EXO – the highest
club in the city – is undoubtedly the decadent choice for some weekend partying.”
The two-floor bar and nightclub also serves up in-house infusions and whisky
selection to match besides, of course, rad music. “Swish, thumping and riveting
easily describes the space and with Madoc spinning away Big Room House tunes,
dancing the night away has never been more fun.”
Relax and rejuvenate:
“I love a good spa just as much as the next person. After trying out just about every
Spa in the city, I keep finding my way back to Jean Claude Biguine for their excellent
facials, manicure and pedicure treatments”. The Spa at the Palladium Hotel is just
as expertly indulgent. Situated in the Hotel‟s dedicated Level 10 Wellness Floor, it is
the ideal destination for some mid-shopping cooling of heels or just a great reason
for seeking relaxation. Deepti recommends the Aroma Nodal Massage or as she
likes to call it, “a 60-minute treatment of pure bliss.”
All aboard:
“Offbeat and Mumbai go hand-in-hand and there is no better way to experience the
Sea than to sail away or enjoy some bubbly aboard a luxury yacht.” Well put. For
someone who believes „Luxury‟ in Mumbai is a lot rawer, edgier and grunge than
sophisticated and polished, Deepti suggests renting a yacht at the Gateway of India
is the coolest way to enjoy Mumbai. “In Maximum City, how „luxurious‟ something is
considered is directly correlated to how it makes one feel.” And we‟re guessing yacht
and bubbly are already plenty ingredient-some in the recipe for a great experience.
Deepti Dadlani is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Palladium Hotel,
the tallest luxury hotel in the city, which is currently proving to be the city‟s choice for
fine dining, entertainment and luxury. She is heading the marketing and event
innovations at the award-winning restaurants and bars like Seven Kitchens,
Mekong, EXO & Li Bai, as well as the luxurious Wellness Floor and new upcoming
signature restaurants.