This where the locals eat. Serving fresh takes on provincial favourites, Bombay Canteen epitomises authentic Mumbai cuisine. The menu focuses on local dishes and reinterpreting age-old Indian recipes. Once you’ve sampled the homestyle coconut curries and dahi dip, try the Kejriwal toast. Named after a local man who ordered cheese on toast with grilled eggs and chillies, it’s been the brunch of choice for locals ever since. Stay late; the drinks don’t disappoint.

Tucked between stalls of heaped spices and hanging fruits, Elco engulfs you in the aromas of Mumbai’s famous street food. This is the best spot for trialling local delicacies en masse (or for getting a quick load of carbs). Generous portions of pav bhaji, crispy spheres of pani puri and snackable dosa should be washed down with fresh lime soda.

Sprawled across a strip of land that curls into the Arabian Sea, metropolitan Mumbai was once a fishing settlement. As such, dining at one of the top fish restaurants in the city is a must. According to the locals, Mahesh has been serving up the best Mangalorean dishes for over 30 years. If you’re a fish lover, the seafood combination soup (much sexier than it sounds) has it all – it’s hot and spicy with a blend of crab, sea fish and squid.

Floating above Mumbai’s concrete skyline and deep-water harbour, the Sea Palace Hotel is something of an urban retreat. The menu has a mixture of north Indian and continental favourites, so you can eat like a local or avoid the spice and dig into bruschetta, cheese fondue and lasagne. The sprawling views, heady cocktails and candlelight make it one of the best spots in Mumbai for sunset views – get there early for a front row seat.

This is one for the coffee aficionados. Bandra, known as the queen of the suburbs, is an old fishing hamlet turned cultural melting pot. The narrow lanes are flanked by cafés serving organic breakfasts, sticky mithai sweets and artisan coffee. You’ll be dazed by the choice, so look out for the Blue Tokai Café. The company is an all-Indian affair and owned by a Delhi-based couple who plan to convert a nation of tea drinkers.