Signature Experiences

Counted amongst the finest private dining rooms in India, the secluded Casablanca Room is tucked away inside the Souk, the rooftop restaurant in Colaba. At this intimate and romantic table for two, Chef Simoun Chakour customizes a handcrafted, nine-course Mediterranean meal with handcrafted hot/cold mezze, mains and sinful desserts and paired with exquisite wine. Versace crockery and glassware, heart-shaped cushions, red roses, designer candles and discreet service complete the luxurious experience, making the private dining room at Souk restaurant the perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day date or any special occasion to celebrate with your beau. 

To get a true feel of Maximum City’s fabled ‘sensory overload’, its bazaars need to be experienced in all their chaotic splendour. The Taj Mahal Tower concierge curates a vibrant tour of Mumbai’s native market area of Bhuleshwar, at a 30 minutes drive from the hotel. Besides the 180 years old, perennially bustling Mangaldas and Crawford markets, the tour takes you to the iconic Jama Masjid, Zaveri Bazaar – Mumbai’s premier jewellery market, Phool Galli – the city’s oldest flower market, and Mumbadevi temple, named after and dedicated to the patron goddess of the original archipelago of seven islands that formed the city. From classic street food to amazing architecture, terrific shopping discoveries and the occasional bovine encounter, this is a delightful snapshot of must-dos in mercurial Mumbai.

The city that never sleeps is a revelation as the sun comes up every day. This exclusive tour, arranged by the Taj Mahal Tower concierge desk, reveals the underbelly of the city, far from the gloss of sky rises and fine dining restaurants, but equally bursting with hope and ambition.  The tour begins at the Mumbai docks where kolis (fisher folk, Mumbai’s original residents) oversee the arrival, grading and auction of over 25 tonnes of fish, including the famous Bombay Duck. Your guide will proceed to get you a glimpse into the work lives of ‘morning people’ – newspaper, milk and fresh produce  vendors – who sail through excruciating physical labour and disappear magically before you can say ‘breakfast’. The tour ends at Mumbai’s famous Azad Maidan where youngsters pad up to excel at one of India’s favourite obsessions - Cricket.  Expect your camera to work overtime during this exciting tour.

Dharavi - Asia’s largest slum, occupying 530 acres in the middle of the city and home to over 1 million people - exemplifies the enterprising spirit of Mumbai. The Taj Mahal Tower concierge offers an eye-opening guided tour of this phenomenon that busts all clichés of ‘poverty porn’. Travelling by the city’s famed local trains and walking through Dharavi, you will witness the lives of its residents, up close. You’ll get a glimpse into a few of the hundreds of small-scale manufacturing and export units that produce embroidered garments and leather goods, collectively contributing to Dharavi’s colossal $1 billion plus economy. Dharavi is also the recycling hub of Mumbai, with 15,000 single-room factories recycling 80% of the city’s gargantuan plastic waste. Discover these and other fascinating facts about the ‘powerhouse slum’ on this unmissable excursion.