Bandra, As I See It : All Things Boujee, Bollywood & Artsy Bylanes

Welcome to Bandra! "The OG of Mumbai", The city’s sassiest suburb, where charming chaos meets curated cool. Here, croissants flake in sun-drenched cafés, graffiti walls echo pop art and poetry, and every pastel bylane feels like a film set mid-scene. This isn’t just a walk through the streets, it’s a slow dance through everything boujee, bold, and beautifully Bandra.

Skyscrapers of Mumbai

There’s something effortlessly cool about Bandra. It’s the kind of place that wears its history like an oversized shirt - easy, breezy, with stories spilling from every corner. On a day when the city felt heavy, Bandra offered just the right kind of escape.

The iconic facade of Art + Charlie

It all started with a dosa - because some mornings demand the comfort of something familiar, even in an unfamiliar setting. At Benne, you don’t just order food; you experience it. Even with a long queue, a standing-only counter, and a sleek tech-based booking system, there’s something wonderfully chaotic about the place. The buzz, the crowd, the aroma - it’s all part of the ritual.

And when that ghee-laced masala dosa finally lands in front of you — crisp, golden, beautifully plated—it hits different. Maybe it’s the nostalgia wrapped in modern minimalism. Maybe it’s the contrast of having a South Indian classic in the heart of Bandra, in a space that feels like it belongs in New York. Or maybe it’s just the feeling of being away from home and still finding something that tastes like it remembers you. Either way, this dosa meant more than breakfast—it felt like a hug across cities.

From there, it was a short, linear walk to Boujee - a café that’s as much about mood as it is about coffee. Think clean lines, minimalist design, and that unmistakable scent of freshly baked croissants floating through the air. I get the hype. It’s modern. It’s ahead of the curve. But strangely, it slows you down.

Outside, Bandra buzzes—autos honking, people weaving through lanes, the usual Mumbai rhythm in full swing. But step inside Boujee, and everything softens. It’s like entering a parallel frequency—zen meets techno, in a way only a space designed with intention can offer. There’s a low hum, a few quiet laptops, curated playlists, and the gentle clinking of cutlery. It’s calming, but not sleepy.

Sipping a pour-over here feels oddly cinematic. Like you could be in a tucked-away café in Paris or Tokyo. But then a laugh in Hindi breaks the silence, and you’re reminded—this is still Bandra. Just a cooler, slower, more caffeinated slice of it.

Then came the walk. A slow, meandering, wide-eyed tour through Bandra’s art-streaked streets. For a first-timer, it’s nothing short of magical. The bylanes—from Chapel Road to Waroda Road—feel like they've been sketched into life. Walls burst with bold colour, painted whispers, cheeky slogans, and larger-than-life portraits of Bollywood legends. It’s an open-air gallery where realism flirts with rebellion, and where every surface is fair game for self-expression.

What makes it even more surreal is the backdrop. These aren’t polished streets. The architecture still carries echoes of Bandra’s Portuguese past—quaint villas with arched windows, weather-worn walls, rusted balconies draped in bougainvillaea. It’s rustic, chaotic, beautiful. You’ll see school kids giggling past murals, uncles on scooters nodding at wall-art like it’s part of their daily commute, and artists quietly painting in corners—part of the scenery, yet shaping it. The people here don’t just live with the art, they live inside it.

It’s wild to think that this very suburb was once a sleepy fishing village. A cluster of koli homes and coconut groves by the sea. Now, it’s a melting pot of street art, storytelling, and unapologetic self-expression. That kind of evolution? It’s humbling.

Somewhere along the way, I stumbled into Charlie’s Art House—a tucked-away space where art isn't just seen, it's felt. Sculptures, textiles, paintings, fragments of memory—it’s part gallery, part sanctuary. And just outside, a quick pitstop at Subko’s Bandra outpost gave me the perfect companion: a cold brew that matched the day’s mood—cool, bold, slightly unexpected.

As I walked toward the Bandra Art District, the vibe shifted. The murals got louder, bolder, more cinematic—like visual crescendos. There’s something sacred in the stillness they create. You pause, mid-step, mid-scroll, mid-thought. These aren’t just walls—they're living, layered tributes to a city that refuses to be boxed in. Places evolve. Bandra proves it. From a fishing hamlet to a cultural nerve centre—it’s not just a neighbourhood, it’s a canvas that’s still being painted.

Soon enough, hunger came knocking again. And Veronica’s knew just what to do. But before you even step inside, it’s the colourful façade that stops you in your tracks. Painted in pop and playful stripes, the building feels like a postcard from a sunnier, dreamier version of Bandra. It’s cheerful, a little retro, and totally inviting—like it’s winking at you from across the lane.

Inside, it’s just as warm. The energy is easy, familiar, and unmistakably Bandra. The seafood burger—a crispy prawn patty, slathered with creamy slaw, tucked into a bun that’s somehow soft and sturdy—is an instant mood-lifter. It hits that perfect spot between indulgent and comforting. Conversations float between tables, people linger, and for a moment, time feels irrelevant.

With full bellies and even fuller hearts, the trail drifts toward the sea. Down sleepy streets, past crumbling villas and tiny churches, Bandra stretches itself out toward the Arabian Sea like it’s winding down for the day. At Bandstand, the wind picks up, the light turns that magical golden hue, and the waves crash like a soft drumroll in the background.

Sunset at Bandstand

It’s the kind of ending you don’t plan. Just the sea, the sky, and a sense that Bandra gave you more than you came looking for.