A Perfect Day: Mumbai in One Day

My day starts with a coconut. Tender coconuts are available on every street corner and provide you with plenty of liquid and valuable nutrients first thing in the morning – just the thing for a busy day. If I’m in the mood for something savory, I treat myself to pav bhaji, small rolls that are fried in a pan with lots of butter and served with vegetable curry. Irresistible! My favorite place to enjoy this dish: Lisha Pav Bhaji in the Churchgate district.

A stop at the Gateway of India, an imposing triumphal arch right by the sea, is a must for me on a trip to Mumbai. Nearby is the equally impressive Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where Bollywood stars like to stay. You have to be able to afford a night in such a luxury hotel – but you can also “just” drink tea there. My tip: order cutting chai, black tea with milk and cardamom.

Butter chicken is served for lunch at Leopold Cafe. Order fluffy naan bread and dip it in the sauce! But that’s just the starter: about a 25-minute walk away is Britannia & Co, a cult restaurant serving Parsi cuisine. It serves my favorite dish: berry pulao, rice seasoned with saffron and many other spices, with dried berries and small lamb meatballs.

The Dome rooftop bar is located in the Intercontinental Hotel. As it’s often far too hot to sizzle in the sun on the beach, I prefer to sit in the Dome with a cool drink, look out to sea, and relax.

I escape the hustle and bustle of the city on a sailing trip. Aquasail 360° Sailing offers beautiful 90-minute tours where you can admire the skyline and many of Mumbai’s sights from the water. A change of perspective that is particularly beautiful in the afternoon to early evening.

The interior of the Inox Insignia movie theater is almost as luxurious as our First Class: the seats are upholstered in Italian leather and can be extended to form a recliner. Popcorn, drinks, and even real gourmet food are brought right to your seat. Watching a Bollywood movie here is a very special experience.

Purser Anouska Steinmetz has been working for Lufthansa since 2011. She has many connections to India: Her parents are from there, she herself lived on the subcontinent for 12 years, and as a flight attendant, she often flies to Mumbai and enjoys it – but also in her private time, as she makes a stopover in the City of Dreams when visiting family in Goa.