In the bustling neighborhood of Matunga, this decades-old vegetarian establishment is known for its homey South Indian cooking. The line for lunch often curls around the corridor, with everyone from businessmen to students waiting for their portioned meal of vegetables such as coconut cauliflower, roti (bread), rasam (a spicy, tomato-based South Indian broth) and sweets all served atop a banana leaf.

Off of the frenetic bylanes of Crawford Market, this century-old casual spot is famous for its Royal Falooda, a dessert drink that originated in Iran and features rose syrup, vermicelli, basil seeds and milk. The late and famous Indian artist, M. F. Husain, known for modernist pieces, is said to have asked for a Badshah falooda on his deathbed two years ago.

Though the exterior might not seem like much, this no-frills café has a cult following for its South Indian fare, namely steamed idlis (rice patties) and dosas (savory crèpes often stuffed with spicy fillings). Other specialties include the spicy rasam vada (a fried doughnut-shaped dumpling dunked in tomato broth) and butter idlis. Wash it all down with their Indian-style milky coffee served in stainless steel cups.

A New York-style deli in Mumbai? Leave it to husband-and-wife team Rahul and Malini to Akerkar to challenge and defy expectations. Following the success of Indigo, their gorgeous European (with Indian inflections) restaurant in South Mumbai, comes casual deli-style eateries that have taken Mumbai by storm, one burger and brie sandwich at a time. Great for lunch, but almost always packed.

This 60-year-old little ice cream shop, near Churchgate, barely has a sign, but you'll see the freezer-cum-counter from the street. Order the Walnut Crunch, a slab of creamy, nutty and toffee-studded ice cream between paper-thin wafers. Take a seaside stroll along Marine Drive, and you'll know one of Mumbai's simplest true pleasures.

This casual restaurant features authentic dishes from up and down the Konkan coast, a 450-mile region along India's western coast that includes Maharashtra, Goa, and spreads south to the state of Karnataka. Veteran Mumbai chef Ananda Solomon, who oversees the hotel restaurant, is known for his precision, whether it's picking tamarind and coconuts at their peak or grinding spices daily, so expect your fish and appams (rice pancakes) to be absolutely perfect.

Mahesh claims to be the first and original Manglorean seafood restaurant in Mumbai. Its specialties are pomfret curries, crabs, fish roe masalas, lady fish fry and gassi, a thick curry with chilis, tomatoes and cumin, but there are also vegetarian and chicken dishes. It was recently renovated, but remains very simple.

This Taj restaurant is simply a classic. The Indian food served is truly authentic, but presented with thought and sophistication.

With a dozen or so branches across the city, this beloved ice cream parlor might feel a bit ubiquitous, but it's really so good that its proliferation has not hurt its quality. Sample one or two of the seasonal fruit and nut-loaded ice creams such as mango or tender coconut. It's the perfect mid-afternoon break.

From the Moroccan tagine to the lemon ricotta pansotti, the food at this chic and whitewashed Mediterranean restaurant is consistently great. It also has one of the most extensive wine lists in the city. This is a tucked away spot near the hipster Bandra neighborhood that is perfect for lingering with friends.

Take in the serene views of the Arabian sea over tea and snacks, along with all the other ladies who lunch and match-making mothers, at this beloved spot at the Taj hotel.

This busy, family-friendly restaurant serves up authentic vegetarian food, including comfort dishes like Gujarati-style daal dholki (whole wheat strips cooked in a lentil soup) and street snacks like pani puri (hollow canapés filled with sprouted lentils and chutneys that are dipped in a cool mint broth). Other standouts include the panki (rice pancakes steamed between bananas leaves) and dhanshak, a traditional Parsi stew of lentils and vegetables served over rice. Expect to wait for a table.

The café in the Goodearth store is a great spot for a quick break, and offers delicious, non-Indian cuisine.

This is one of those restaurants that the late R.W. Apple, Jr., esteemed New York Times journalist and food lover, declared to be worth getting on a plane and flying half-way across the world for a meal. He acknowledged that the place was shabby and the service rude, but the seafood is divine. He wrote in 2006, only weeks before he died: “These are among the world’s choicest crustaceans, and I say that as someone who lives 25 miles from the Chesapeake. But Ravi Anchan has plenty of other savory delights up his sleeve, including tender little pomfret (a kind of butterfish) barbecued in the style of Hyderabad, with black pepper; deep-fried squid; and gorgeous, never-frozen tiger prawns grilled with mint." It is still a Mumbai must.

Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia (of London’s Rasoi) got his start at the Oberoi two decades ago and comes full circle to turn Indian food on its head with this golden-hued, envelope-pushing contemporary restaurant. Go for the seven-course gourmand menu and let Bhatia and his team surprise and delight you.