From an invite-only bar by Bollywood’s favourite interior designer, to a pizzeria that will transport you to the bylanes of a quaint town in Italy, the dining scene in Mumbai is only looking better this January
These are Mumbai's newest must-try spots for January 2026! (Credits: @oju.india & @ammakai.mumbai)
Mumbai’s dining scene is bursting with new ideas. In the city’s busiest neighbourhoods, there’s always something fresh to try—fancy dosas, regional favourites, restaurants that transform into clubs by the time the sun sets, and plenty of microbreweries. Every part of Mumbai offers something new, unique, or totally unexpected.
And it’s just when you think you’ve experienced all that the city has in store for you that it finds a way to surprise you. The start of 2026 is especially exciting, with new openings going beyond chasing trends. They focus on slowing down, deliberately adopting niche approaches, and giving equal attention to design, storytelling, and what’s on the plate or in the glass.
Chefs spotlight personal influences, and bars prioritise exclusivity, reflecting the city’s shifting demand toward authenticity and nuanced dining experiences.
Here are Mumbai’s trendsetting places that are shaping the city’s current dining scene. If January is any indication, 2026 is poised to be a groundbreaking year for food lovers!
Fielia
Fielia in Mumbai sits inside the famous Mahalaxmi Race Course, and is unlike any of your usual bars. Called a Cocktail Cinema, it was created by Afsana Verma, Amit Verma, and Dhaval Udeshi, with designer Gauri Khan shaping its look.
What makes Fielia unique is how it blends classic aperitivo traditions with immersive, theatrical elements—here, each cocktail is paired with a story, mood lighting, and visual storytelling, creating a cinema-like atmosphere that turns every drink into an experience.
The invite-only bar where cocktails aren’t just drinks—they’re a whole theatrical performance. (Credits: felia.in)
From the moment you enter, the space is a stage, with dress-circle seating and mezzanine galleries facing the central bar, the room’s focal point. And each drink plays its own role in the show. The invite-only policy heightens exclusivity—encouraging you to take your seat, watch your drink being created, and let the night unfold.
Think aperitivo culture, an Italian social ritual and pre-dinner drink where flavour, presentation, and space come together to create a narrative like no other. In a city full of bars, Fielia turns drinking into a show that you would want to experience over and over again.
Next, we move to Ammakai—meaning “mother’s hand”—a new Bandra restaurant from Bastian Hospitality that brings Mangalorean home cooking to Mumbai. The restaurant replaces Bastian Bandra and features a cosy, coastal-inspired look. Its menu draws on recipes straight from Mangaluru’s kitchens. Their chefs visited villages across the city to learn traditional techniques and flavours, aiming to serve authentic food.
Ammakai brings a slice of Mangaluru to Mumbai (Credits: @ammakai.mumbai)
The focus here is on comfort food that feels familiar, highlighting coastal Karnataka’s signature use of coconut, tamarind, and spices. Some of their signature dishes include a yummy, soft Mutton Khara Boti, a Coastal Stew, and the family-style Ammakai Dosa meant for shared meals. The best part is that guests are even encouraged to eat with their hands to fully connect with the cuisine’s homestyle character.
The bar at Ammakai also maintains a regional focus, offering cocktails inspired by South Indian pantry ingredients and carefully curated combinations. Desserts, such as Filter Kaapi soft serve, continue the theme of comfort and culinary memory.
More than just another restaurant in Bandra, Ammakai offers a taste of Karnataka’s coastal culinary identity, presented in a contemporary, accessible way, making it a standout among Mumbai’s recent openings.
Address: B/1, Kamal Building, New Link Rd, Khar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050
Timings: Monday to Sunday (11 am–1 am)
Price for two: INR 5,000
Oju by Neuma
Oju by Neuma is a standout Japanese-leaning, cocktail-forward spot atop Neuma in Colaba. Created by the team behind Neuma—co-owned by Karan Johar and Truepalate Hospitality—it reinterprets Japanese techniques through a global lens.
Colaba’s new Japanese favourite. (Credits: @oju.india)
The menu balances classic and experimental dishes. Notable starters include silken Tofu Carpaccio dressed with yuzu kosho vinaigrette, Hamachi draped in bright ponzu, and lightly-seared Tuna Tataki finished with a zesty lime wafu. The sushi and maki list features indulgent otoro, fresh hamachi, delicate hotate, and inventive rolls like crisp Prawn Tempura Maki with spicy yuzu kosho mayo, and Spicy Tuna Maki glazed with sweet chilli sauce.
From the robata grill, savour caramelised Miso Black Cod and tender Hokkaido Scallops enveloped in lime soy butter, while rich Mushroom Donabe arrives with aromatic seaweed butter. Signature cocktails include earthy Beet & Miso, toasty Genmaicha, Piccolo, and refreshing highballs.
Oju by Neuma stands out as a high-energy, contemporary Japanese spot in Mumbai.
Address: 1st Floor, Garden Chalet 4/6, Mandlik Rd, near Regal Cinema, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Timings: Monday to Thursday (7 pm–1 am), Friday to Sunday (12–4 pm, 7 pm–1 am)
Price for two: INR 5,000
Positano Pizzeria
Positano is a new hidden-corner pizzeria in Bandra West’s Ranwar Village, bringing slices of Italy to Mumbai’s dining map with a focused, well-executed Italian menu. Locals are already calling it a must-save hidden spot for authentic, delicious, and well-made pizza and pasta.
Bandra’s latest hole-in-the-wall pizzeria that will transport you right to Positano!
The focus is on comfort food with Karnataka’s hallmark use of coconut, tamarind, and spices. Notable dishes include tender Mutton Khara Boti, a vibrant coastal stew, and the communal Ammakai Dosa. Guests are encouraged to eat with their hands and experience the cuisine’s homestyle spirit.
The Ammakai bar emphasizes regional identity, serving cocktails crafted from South-Indian pantry staples and inventive pairings. Desserts like Filter Kaapi soft serve extend the comfortable and nostalgic theme.
More than just another Bandra restaurant, Ammakai captures Karnataka’s culinary essence in a contemporary, approachable manner, distinguishing itself among Mumbai’s recent additions.
Address: B/1, Kamal Building, New Link Rd, Khar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050
Timings: Monday to Sunday (11 am–1 am)
Price for two: INR 5,000
Bare
Hidden behind an art-forward façade in Worli’s Raheja Altimus, Bare is a new hybrid destination where food, cocktails, coffee, and art blend. It was conceived as a space to be “uncovered rather than announced,” and it combines a minimal, modern aesthetic with discovery.
Bare, Mumbai, is everything you don’t expect a café or a bar to be—it’s the best of both worlds! (Credits: @bare.bombay)
The spot is an intimate 11-seater Chef’s Table. Menus evolve, and globally inspired small plates are paired with narrative-driven drinks to offer consumers a one-of-a-kind experience. Daytime at Bare is all about sipping coffee at the Boojee Cafe espresso bar and enjoying delicious, irreplaceable desserts. In the evenings, the atmosphere shifts into a moody, immersive cocktail experience.
Focusing on collaboration and creativity, Bare doesn’t just serve food and drinks—it offers inventive small plates, a rotating culinary lineup, and playful cocktails. These enrich the experience, making Bare ideal for those seeking something different.
Address: Gate No.3, Altimus, Dr GM Bhosale Marg, B Wing, BDD Chawls Worli, Worli, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018
