Sassoon Dock Fish Market is a seafood restaurant in Colaba, Mumbai.
Sassoon Dock Fish Market in Mumbai: market room. Mumbai's oldest wet dock (1875) hides at the southern tip of Colaba; the koli morning sees only.
Why locals love it: Mumbai's oldest wet dock (1875) hides at the southern tip of Colaba; the koli morning sees only locals and a handful of curious eaters at 05:00.
Tip: Arrive between 05:00 and 07:00; cash and a cooler bag for the catch.
Address: Sassoon Dock Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005
Yazdani Bakery in Mumbai: Tucked in a tiny Fort alley off Akbar Ally, no signage, easy to miss; the wood-fired oven has stayed lit for six decades.
Why locals love it: Tucked in a tiny Fort alley off Akbar Ally, no signage, easy to miss; the wood-fired oven has stayed lit for six decades.
Tip: Brun maska with Irani chai is the order; closed Sundays. Cash and card both accepted.
Bohri Mohalla Kebab Lane is a bohri street food room in Mohammed Ali Road. Smoked mutton with kheema pav is the order; Ramadan iftar is busiest.
Why locals love it: Bohri Mohalla sits off the main Mohammed Ali Road; the kebab lane only fires up at sundown and stays for the Dawoodi Bohra community first.
Tip: Smoked mutton with kheema pav is the order; Ramadan iftar is busiest.
A Rama Nayak Udipi Shri Krishna is a udupi south indian room in Matunga. The unlimited thali; come hungry, take the lift to the first floor.
Why locals love it: A Matunga thali room since 1942, opposite the central railway station; locals know, tourists rarely venture this far from the Colaba circuit.
Tip: The unlimited thali; come hungry, take the lift to the first floor.
Fort Parsi institution at Vikas Building off Horniman Circle since 1925; only place in Mumbai serving Lagan nu Bhonu wedding meal, Patra ni Macchi, Salliboti.
Why locals love it: Off Horniman Circle in a heritage building, Parsi wedding-thali room with no signage past the entrance; locals book the Sunday thali a week ahead.
Tip: Sunday Parsi wedding thali is the order; book ahead. Cash and card both accepted.
Soam is opposite babulnath temple, away from chowpatty's tourist bhel carts; pinki dixit cooks the home-style gujarati menu locals send friends to find.
Why locals love it: Opposite Babulnath Temple, away from Chowpatty's tourist bhel carts; Pinki Dixit cooks the home-style Gujarati menu locals send friends to find.
Tip: Saat dana khichdi is the dish to order. Cash and card both accepted.
Kyani and Co in Mumbai: irani cafe room. Mumbai's oldest Irani cafe (1904) hides behind a faded yellow facade on Marine Lines; the regulars.
Why locals love it: Mumbai's oldest Irani cafe (1904) hides behind a faded yellow facade on Marine Lines; the regulars at the counter have outlasted most of the city's restaurants.
Tip: Bun maska and Irani chai, share a mawa cake; cash easiest. Cash and card both accepted.
