Get high on nostalgia at Mumbai's first licensed bar

Updated on: 12 August,2017 01:29 PM IST | Mumbai
Krutika Behrawala |

Mumbai's first licensed bar digs out tales from its archives to create themed cocktails that hark back to the speakeasy era

Sommelier Abhas Saxena. Pics/Atul Kamble

Back in 1933, Mumbai got its first licensed bar in the form of Harbour Bar in The Taj Mahal Palace. A far cry from the new age, EDM-churning pubs, it was a place where aristocrats, archaeologists and artists would drop in for a night of revelry, swaying to jazz and sipping on cocktails from the Prohibition era. If you're keen to take a walk down memory lane, head for Speakeasy Saturdays, a new, weekly affair that recreates the time.

Interestingly, each cocktail on the menu narrates a story. For instance, The Masci - with a base of hazelnut-infused whisky laced with spinach and mascarpone mix and Italian wine foam - is an ode to Miguel Arcanjo Mascarenhas, the legendary chef (also the five-star's first executive chef) with a flair for cooking Italian cuisine. He had a special corner at the bar, where he would taste Italian wines and American whiskies. "We had to dig into the archives to learn about the various historical events, guests and of associates, who have been a part the legacy. To create cocktails themed on them, we also had to study their preferences, which was tough to source," says sommelier Abhas Saxena.

Time: 8 pm onwards (every Saturday)
At: Colaba
Call: 66653366