48 Hours in Mumbai: A Jet-Lagged Love Letter to a Maximalist City
There are cities that dazzle with restraint—genteel, polished, perfectly curated. And then there is Mumbai. Vibrant, sprawling, chaotic, unapologetically alive, Mumbai doesn’t gently request your attention. It demands it—loudly, colorfully, with one hand clutching a saffron-scented street snack and the other waving down a rickshaw.
But beneath its high-octane energy lies a deep elegance—a city where historic hotels serve caviar with a side of post-colonial swagger, where contemporary Indian cuisine reinvents the idea of indulgence, and where a two-day stay can feel like a full cultural immersion. For the luxury traveler seeking more than marble lobbies and infinity pools, Mumbai offers something rarer: contradiction, charisma, and character.
Here’s how to spend 48 hours in India’s most intoxicating city—wrapped in luxury, spiced with edge.
Where to Stay: Grandeur with a View
Most discerning travelers begin their Mumbai journey at The Oberoi, Mumbai, a sleek glass sanctuary overlooking the Arabian Sea. Understated and quietly elegant, the property is known for its crisp service, curated calm, and suites that feel more like curated art galleries. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in sweeping views of Marine Drive’s famed Queen’s Necklace, a glittering crescent of city lights best viewed at dusk with a glass of chilled Sula Brut in hand.
Alternatively, heritage lovers may gravitate toward the Taj Mahal Palace, a monument in its own right. This Indo-Saracenic masterpiece has hosted royalty, rock stars, and revolutionaries since 1903. Ornate domes, hand-painted ceilings, and a legendary high tea service complete the tableau of old-world glamour.
After a bustling day in the city, relax at the Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai’s pool.
Day One: From Art Walks to Sea Breezes
8:00 a.m. – Slow Mornings and Sensory Starts
After a late-night arrival, the morning should begin leisurely—with room service, tropical fruit, and maybe a coconut water served in its shell. The Oberoi’s breakfast menu includes truffled scrambled eggs, South Indian dosas, and flaky croissants that rival anything in Paris.
Guests looking to greet the day with movement might start with a private yoga session arranged on the hotel’s pool deck or in-room with sweeping views of the sea. It’s the perfect blend of jet lag remedy and cultural immersion.
10:00 a.m. – Kala Ghoda District & Contemporary Cool
Mumbai’s cultural heart, the Kala Ghoda Art District, is a cobblestone-strewn enclave of galleries, design studios, and colonial-era buildings draped in bougainvillea. Start at Jehangir Art Gallery, then visit Tasveer or Chemould Prescott Road for curated exhibitions of India’s most exciting contemporary artists.
For design-forward shopping, Filter is a must. Stocked with quirky prints, graphic notebooks, and locally designed lifestyle goods, it’s a treasure trove for those who appreciate good typography and great taste.
12:30 p.m. – Lunch at The Table
Just steps away from the art trail, The Table is where Mumbai’s fashion-forward set dines under cascading chandeliers and wood-beamed ceilings. The menu is seasonal and global: zucchini spaghetti with almond cream, seared tuna with yuzu, and their now-iconic truffle fries.
The cocktails are as sophisticated as the crowd—think elderflower gin fizzes and tamarind-spiked negronis. Chic, urbane, and endlessly photogenic, The Table offers a culinary break from tradition—but never from taste.
2:30 p.m. – Gateway Views and Shopping Sprees
After lunch, it’s time to lean into Mumbai’s rhythm. Wander to the Gateway of India, an arched symbol of the British Raj that now serves as the city's most iconic backdrop. For those who want to avoid the crowds, a private yacht charter or speedboat ride can be arranged from the nearby harbor—perfect for a breezy hour out on the Arabian Sea.
Back on land, the Colaba Causeway offers a mashup of old and new. Between antique shops and modern concept stores, travelers can find hand-embroidered pashminas, leather-bound journals, and semi-precious jewelry that looks far more expensive than it is.
4:00 p.m. – High Tea at the Taj
Return to the Taj Mahal Palace for their legendary high tea at the Sea Lounge. Overlooking the harbor, the room oozes colonial charm, complete with mint-colored walls, rattan furniture, and piano accompaniment.
Expect tiers of spiced scones, cucumber finger sandwiches, pistachio-studded pastries, and masala chai served in fine china. It’s a graceful pause between shopping and supper, and one of Mumbai’s most cherished traditions.
7:30 p.m. – Dinner at Masque
A ten-course tasting menu in a former cotton mill may not sound like typical luxury—but Masque is anything but typical. Consistently ranked among India’s top restaurants, it fuses hyper-local ingredients with haute techniques. Think mushroom pani puri with truffle foam, jackfruit ceviche, and dessert made with Himalayan buckwheat.
Reservations are essential. The experience is transformative.
The Kala Ghoda Art District rivals any art district in Europe.
Day Two: Spirituality, Street Food, and Spa Bliss
8:00 a.m. – Yoga at The Yoga House
For day two, start with a grounding class at The Yoga House, a leafy bungalow tucked into a Bandra lane. This is no glossy wellness franchise; it’s intimate, authentic, and soulful. Breakfast afterward includes detox juices, millet pancakes, and Ayurvedic elixirs.
10:30 a.m. – Bandra Boutiques & Cafés
Bandra is Mumbai’s bohemian-chic quarter. A neighborhood of murals, hidden bakeries, and fashion designers with cult followings. Stop by Clove, curated by Samyukta Nair, to discover India’s most exciting young fashion labels—many with sustainable ethos baked into their DNA.
For coffee, Subko is the go-to. Housed in a restored bungalow, this artisanal roastery takes its beans as seriously as it takes its branding. Sit under a ceiling fan with a single-origin pour-over and feel momentarily cooler than you actually are.
1:00 p.m. – Elevated Street Food at Bombay Canteen
The best way to eat street food without risking your Chanel bag? Let The Bombay Canteen reimagine it for you. Set in a stylish art deco bungalow, this restaurant takes local classics—chaat, keema pao, kulfi—and adds finesse without losing flavor.
The bhel puri comes dusted with dehydrated curry leaves; the cocktails are flavored with tamarind and kokum. This is comfort food reinterpreted, and it’s magnificent.
3:00 p.m. – Afternoon Spa at The Oberoi
Back at The Oberoi, guests can surrender to their Signature Ayurvedic Experience—a 90-minute ritual combining warm herbal oils, gentle marma-point therapy, and a rose-infused facial massage. Guests emerge glowing, relaxed, and somehow emotionally realigned.
5:30 p.m. – Sunset on Marine Drive
As dusk settles, a walk along Marine Drive—Mumbai’s ocean-hugging promenade—offers a glimpse of the city at its most cinematic. The Queen’s Necklace sparkles to life, and luxury cars cruise past street vendors selling roasted corn and balloons.
It’s a brief but beautiful moment where the city slows.
7:30 p.m. – Final Dinner at San:Qi
End your Mumbai stay at San:Qi, the signature restaurant at The Four Seasons. With dramatic interiors and a globe-trotting menu that spans Japanese, Thai, and Indian, this is where visiting dignitaries and Bollywood elite dine on wasabi prawns and Sichuan duck.
The wine list is award-winning, the lighting is flattering, and the sushi counter is helmed by a Tokyo-trained master. It’s the perfect bookend to a trip defined by contrast.
Mumbai really comes alive at night!
Quick List: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore
Hotels:
The Oberoi, Mumbai
The Taj Mahal Palace
The St. Regis Mumbai
Restaurants & Cafés:
Masque
The Table
Bombay Canteen
San:Qi
Coco Café (for casual brunch)
Experiences:
Private yacht charter from Gateway
Colaba antique shopping
Spa at The Oberoi
Street food tour (curated)
Clove and Subko in Bandra
Final Word
Mumbai isn’t always easy. It doesn’t wrap itself up in a perfect photo-op or unfold gently over days. But for those with a taste for texture—for stories, spice, style, and soul—it offers something rare: a sensory overload wrapped in five-star polish.
In just 48 hours, travelers can eat, meditate, shop, and soak their way through a city that embodies everything luxury should be—complex, colorful, and deeply human.
