By December, Mumbai’s dining calendar starts to look like a highlight reel. Reservations are simply harder to land and certain restaurants become the talk of the town and you have only two choices— either book a table at the earliest or live with what we like to call, the fear of missing out. And soon, it’s all about keeping up with everything that’s got the city talking. From casual cafés that became everyday go-tos to high-stake tables that turned dinners into events, this year, Mumbai’s restaurant scene boomed more than ever before.
If there’s one thing Mumbai does better than most cities, it’s turning food into conversation. A good opening doesn’t just fill seats—it fuels Instagram stories, sparks debates, and decides where birthdays, meet ups, and long-overdue catch-ups happen next!
Here is a comprehensive list of all the places that took the city by storm and gave us plenty to eat, talk about, and go back to again and again.
Papa’s
This 12-seater restaurant, nestled inside Veronica’s, was on everyone’s minds and wishes this year. And why shouldn’t it? Papa’s even earned a spot on TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places For 2025!
Papa’s is a reservation-only omakase counter, limited to just a handful of seats, where the experience unfolds slowly and deliberately. The menu changes constantly, guided and curated exclusively by Chef Hussain Shahzad, which means each time you visit, you never know what to expect! There’s no rush, no background noise competing for attention, just Chef Hussain, the counter, and a carefully-choreographed progression of plates. You know how good it is? So much that even Dua Lipa sat for a meal at Papa’s after her concert.
The cosy, dimly-lit hotspot has become the place everyone wants to get into—and ironically, the very place no one can get into without a serious plan. On the first of every month, at 11 am sharp, reservations for the next month go live on their webiste. That’s your one and only window. Spend time blinking an eye, and you’ll regret it as seats disappear in under 60 seconds. The fastest finger first wins!
In 2025, Papa’s Bombay became one of the city’s most coveted dining experiences—their food is truly scandalously good, and the wildly competitive marathon for getting a rez speaks for itself!
Address: 3R3G+JMX Veronica’s, Waroda Rd, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050
Timings: Wednesday to Saturday (8 pm–12:30 am)
Price for two: INR 14,000
Gaijin
Helmed by Chef Anand Morwani, Gaijin leans into the spirit of a Tokyo izakaya, fully and wholeheartedly. The spot offers a high-energy, modern interpretation—dim lights, industrial accents, vinyl spinning in the background, and a crowd that feels equally dressed for cocktails as for comfort food. The space is fun, buzzy, and designed for long evenings that move effortlessly from dinner to drinks.
The menu is what really brings out the best of Gaijin. Expect deeply satisfying plates like lamb ribs, bone marrow with cashew miso, crab udon, tuna akami, chutoro temaki, and spinach cream cheese gyoza. Their sandwich-style katsu, umami-heavy small plates, sushi, and indulgent rice bowls have quickly become crowd favourites. Their Japanese whisky-forward cocktail list cemented Gaijin’s reputation as much a drinking destination as a food one. It’s the kind of place where ordering “just one more dish” is inevitable!
In a year crowded with Japanese menus and pan-Asian concepts, Gaijin is that of playful experimentation and lots of what you’ve never had before. The result? A restaurant that felt instantly embedded into Mumbai’s dining circuit—proof that when done right, comfort food (even Japanese) will always win the city over!
Address: Ground Floor, Linking Rd, opp. Citi Bank, Khar, Khar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400052
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday (12–3 pm, 7:30 pm–1:30 am)
Price for two: INR 3,500
Masque
If there was one restaurant that defined fine dining in India in 2025, it was Masque. Already a heavyweight on the country’s culinary map, Masque reached a new peak this year after being named “The Best Restaurant in India 2025” as part of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list.
Led by chef Varun Totlani and restaurateur Aditi Dugar, Masque has long championed ingredient-driven Indian cooking. The restaurant’s seasonal tasting menu—often spanning 10 or more courses—reads like a love letter to Indian produce, agricultural cycles, and forgotten techniques, all interpreted through a contemporary lens.
Some of the best dishes included charcoal-grilled asparagus with miso and aged cheese, fermented rice pancakes with house-made butter and pickles, and a crab dish paired with indigenous greens. Each preparation showcases how far Indian fine dining has come from heavy-handed reinterpretations of “traditional” food. Desserts, too, stood out for their intelligence rather than excess, often spotlighting seasonal fruits, grains, and dairy in unique ways.
Address: Masque, Unit G3, Shree Laxmi Woollen Mills, Shakti Mills Ln, off Doctor Elijah Moses Road, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018
Timings: Tuesday to Saturday (7–11:30 pm), Sunday (12:30–3:30 pm, 7 pm–12 am)
Price for two: INR 13,000
The Table
If you’re lucky enough to fight and fend for your life to get a reservation here, you’re in for one of the best meals of your life! The moment you step inside, with its chic black-and-white floors, soaring ceilings, and effortlessly stylish crowd, you instantly understand why Mumbai refuses to stop fighting for a seat at The Table. And that’s exactly why this gem has even made it into the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Founded by restaurateur duo Jay Yousuf and Gauri Devidayal, The Table has always resisted being boxed into a single cuisine. Its menu draws from European and global influences. Dishes evolve frequently, but certain signatures have become integral to the restaurant’s identity.
These include burrata with seasonal accompaniments like fruits, vegetables, and/or nuts. It remains one of the most ordered starters in the city. Handmade pastas like agnolotti or gnocchi, finished with carefully-balanced sauces, show off the kitchen’s technical finesse without ever feeling heavy-handed. Heartier mains such as slow-cooked lamb, roast chicken, or seafood prepared with minimal intervention keep the focus squarely on produce and technique rather than theatrics. If you ask talk about their dessert, the house tiramisu is one that everyone who has dined at The Table will recommend. And I do too!
In a city that’s constantly hungry for the next big thing, The Table is an OG that has consistenlty stayed at the top.
Address: Ground Floor, opposite Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001
Timings: Monday to Sunday (12–4 pm, 7 pm–12:30 am)
Price for two: INR 5,000
O Pedro
Opened by Hunger Inc. Hospitality and led by Chef Hussain Shahzad, O Pedro approaches Goan cuisine with a remarkable confidence and finesse. It doesn’t attempt to be nostalgic or overly experimental but reinterprets familiar flavours with precision. After being recognised among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list of Best Restaurants in Mumbai 2025, we all know that this is one of the city’s best!
Some of the widely loved dishes on the menu include the prawn balchão, beef croquettes, and chorizo pao. Seafood preparations, coconut-forward gravies, and vinegar-laced sauces remain central. Each plate at O Pedro carefully balances Goan comfort with a more universal palate.
The bar programme plays just as big a role in O Pedro’s appeal. Kokum-based cocktails, feni-forward drinks, and spirit-led classics with Goan accents have made it one of Mumbai’s most reliable spots, for a meal that hits close to India’s favourite coastal destination.
The space itself reflects the restaurant’s personality: warm, unfussy, and quietly stylish. Earthy tones, open sightlines, and an easygoing layout make O Pedro feel equally right for a long lunch, a celebratory dinner, or a casual midweek meal. There’s no pressure to dress up or perform but definitely to eat well!
Address: Jet Airways, 2, Godrej BKC, Plot No C-68, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
Timings: Monday to Sunday (12 pm–1 am)
Price for two: INR 3,500
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