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Mumbai, the city of dreams, never sleeps. Or so they say. When the sun sets, the city takes off its grey work garb and dons the colours of the evening. The sea breeze makes every single evening here magical, regardless of what the day was like. But it is also a competitive city. One where money speaks volumes and the higher you rise (or the higher your high rise), the more you can live it up.
Isn’t it logical then, to enjoy the beauty of the city from the top of the world? Here is a round-up of the best four Sky Bars that you should head to, whenever the next special occasion comes by.
Dome
Ruling the South Bombay skies, Dome is ethereal. Period.
There is no other word that could probably encapsulate the beauty of this terrace sky bar. Housed on the 8th floor of Intercontinental Hotel at Churchgate, Dome is the stuff that dreams are made of.
Plush white sofas to sink into as you snuggle up, glass walls and a view of the vast Arabian Ocean and a gorgeous dome lit with warm lights makes this an exceptionally romantic lounge.
Breathe in the salty sea breeze as it plays games with your hair and gaze at your loved one in the candle light.
The Garlic Prawns were succulent and tossed with cilantro and sundried tomatoes. The garlic perfectly offset the tangy sundried tomatoes.
However, the Pulled Pork Buns, though fairly decent, left much to be desired especially when compared with other restaurants in the city. The kebabs are avoidable and the menu also offers a range of delicious and fresh sushi.
The mixologist is renowned for shaking up some great cocktails; I recommend the Caprioska which is perfectly balanced.
Tuesdays and Thursdays witness live saxophone performances here. It is a good idea to reach early so that you can get a seat next to the swimming pool or right next to the glass walls and enjoy the magnificent views.
Indoor seating is available as well, but the charm of the place is in the al fresco seating. Perfect for a romantic evening with someone special.
Meal for 2: Rs 3,500
Aer
Aer, in comparison to the charming Dome, is modern and futuristic. This edgy terrace bar on the 34th floor of Four Seasons Hotel, Worli, has contemporary seating and glass walls which offer views of the city below and the sea beyond.
A saucer shaped bar takes centre-stage where the bartender accepts requests and mixes some heady cocktails. If you’re feeling adventurous, try Fired Up, a fantastic cocktail with whiskey, mint, jalapeños and pineapple.
The food, unfortunately, does not delight the palate.
Though this is a rooftop bar, the lounge is not very spacious and intimate evenings can be ruined due to lack of privacy.
The lounge opens at 5.30 pm and offers happy hours till 8 pm. The DJ plays retro music as well as jazz, funk, club and house.
A cover charge is applicable on weekends and smart casual dress code is expected. This chic open-air lounge is upbeat and a great place to meet friends.
Pricier than other sky bars, go here for the ambience and the music.
Meal for 2: Rs 5,000
Asilo
The sophisticated Palladium Hotel whispers exclusivity and the finer things in life. Asilo is the embodiment of all that and more.
This open-air lounge in Lower Parel is the city’s latest and thankfully is not seasonal. You can enjoy breezy winter evenings on the 40th floor under the starry sky or be in air conditioned comfort during summers when the retractable roof is pulled out.
Get here early so that you can grab a sofa next to the glass walls else you may need to sit on the staid tables in the middle (with uncomfortable straight back chairs).
The menu has an extensive wine list and they make very interesting cocktails as well (with a bit of molecular gastronomy thrown in).
The food fails to enamour.
I tried the salad which lacked basic seasoning though the Scallops wrapped in Prosciutto were delicious.
If you come in a bigger group, you can opt for one of the semi-private cabana corners.
Asilo is a great option for those who want a relaxing drink with colleagues after work.
Meal for 2: Rs 3,000
Skky
The central suburbs are often ignored and all the action moves towards SoBo. Skky changes all that and is a welcome addition to the night life of Powai.
The restro-lounge is on the terrace of Ramada Hotel and has lovely views of green hills, a rarity in Mumbai.
Unfortunately, there is no sofa seating and meals are served on tables with chairs, a dampener for romantic evenings.
Skky keeps having promotions and special nights dedicated to occasions like Halloween, etc. The 510 sq ft long bar is one of the longest in the city and the bar stools a great place for an informal chat.
Fancy elements have been included like the fact that you are presented a tablet menu where you can see the dishes and their ingredients. Do try the pizzas, they are absolutely divine.
A great place for a family meal or to watch the game on the large open air screen.
Meal for 2: Rs 3,000
Photographs: Harnoor Channi Tiwary