Mumbai is home to some of the best chefs and restaurants in the country and 2017 was a great year for both. There were lots of restaurant openings and closings with many outposts expanding across the city (and country). When it comes to eating out, you can’t blame us for choosing restaurants where we can enjoy delicious food paired with interesting décor. With Friendship Day around the corner, we got to thinking about the most stylish spots in the city where we could enjoy a meal with our dearest pals. Here are our favourites, from South Mumbai and Bandra. Masque

Designed by Ashiesh Shah Masque has transformed the dining scene in Mumbai. The first restaurant of its kind, Masque offers set menus of 3, 6 and 9 courses. The icing on the cake: every ingredient, from the olive oil to the tomatoes, is from India. Masque seeks to glorify Indian ingredients and does so exceedingly well. Shah drew his inspiration from the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, of finding perfection in the imperfect. Upon entering the non-descript building that the restaurant is housed in, your eye is immediately drawn to artist Rathin Barman’s towering metallic installation and the modern, sleek design of the space. The restaurant features high ceilings and minimalist décor that plays with form and volume in a way that is quite unlike anything we have seen before. This is a great place for a leisurely dinner with close friends, or to celebrate a special occasion.



Kitchen Garden

Created by the team behind Suzette, Kitchen Garden is the newest entrant to the healthy eating category that has taken Mumbai by storm. The café is tucked away in a small lane in Bandra, a few doors down from its older sister, Suzette. Offering indoor and outdoor seating, organic produce and homemade sourdough bread, it’s easy to understand why models and celebrities are adding Kitchen Garden to their list of favourites.

The clean, vibrant menu fits in perfectly with the simple yet charming décor. Bathed in natural light, the small restaurant has a salad bar, a few tables and a banana tree. Their coffee is furnished by Blue Tokai and the menu has a long list of salads, sandwiches, breakfast items and freshly pressed juices. There is a takeaway counter that is usually half empty post lunchtime where you can pick up healthy snacks to grab and go, something we need more of in this city. It's our pick for a post-workout snack or meal, with your bestie!



Kitchen Garden

Masalabar

Lit up completely with candles, Zorawar Kalra’s latest venture is not only edgy and innovative but has views that span Carter Road and the Arabian Sea. Featuring a menu of modern Indian dishes and molecular style cocktails, Masalabar is perfect for cocktails while watching the sun dip over the ocean. The restaurant features lots of glass and wrought iron, in the form of art-deco inspired mirrors, candle stands and windows. The glow of hundreds of candles adds to the glamour of this restaurant. Pick this for a pit-stop during a dressy ladies' night out on the town.



Masalabar

The Clearing House

Housed in an old ice factory (Asia’s oldest, we’re told), The Clearing House has brought respite to all those Ballard Estate residents and employees who hadn’t seen a new restaurant open in the area for years. With a menu created by ex-Indigo chef Nitin Kulkarni, The Clearing House offers quality fare in a chic setting. Sprawled across 4,000 square feet, The Clearing House has kept a few remnants of the ice factory while upgrading the space to look like a picture out of New York’s meatpacking district. Floor to ceiling windows and tiled flooring give the first room, The Foyer, a light, casual feeling while The Chamber, which opens up at 7 pm is best enjoyed with a long-stemmed glass of pinot noir. Choose this eatery for a fun brunch with your best friends, or for a quieter dinner if you're looking to catch up with an old pal.



The Clearing House

