"Ghetto stands for rock, it stands for graffiti….," says Mr. Ravi Shetty, of The Ghetto. Both abound in this cosy pub at Mahahlaxmi, on Bhulabhai Desai Road. It almost exclusively plays rock and graffiti is all over the walls, merged with fluorescent, psychedelic murals. For over six years now, The Ghetto has maintained its image as not too frivilous, not too serious a pub. It aims at a clientele over 25 years of age, people who have grown up on rock and now have the money to do something about it. And with the music being mainly from the eighties, most teenyboppers get "repelled". The arrangement seems to suit everyone. There is no entry fee, though the establishment does admit to "scanning" its customers. It prides on being the essential pub and does not have the seemingly mandatory apology of a dance floor. Not a place for frenzied head banging this, more a place to relax and unwind over good, but not blaring, music.

Timings: 7 pm to 12:30 am

Credit cards are not accepted.

Address: 30, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026.
Phone: 4988418, 4924725, 4921537, 4921556

 LEOPOLDS 

Leopold started life way back in 1871 as a wholesale oil store. Over the years it metamorphosed into a restaurant and store, then to a restaurant and pharmacy and finally, in 1987 it took its present form. 1991 saw the advent of the pub upstairs. It was the second pub to open in Mumbai, and was then the biggest. Today the restaurant below is a very popular place, especially with foreign tourists who could comprise 60 to 70% of the clientele in the tourist season of October to March. It is the typical Irani restaurant but better maintained than most. The pub functions in two sessions, from 1.30 to 5 in the afternoon, and again in the evening. In the afternoons, it has basically the college crowd and the music is very much with the times. Evenings, the music starts by 6.30, playing mostly soft romantic numbers to begin with, and picks up tempo into the night. The clientele then sports more variety, from teenagers to the elderly. And so does the music. Leopold plays all kinds of music and refuses to slot itself. There is a smallish dance floor, though it does not mean that dance music is predominantly played. Monday night is the 'request night' and the customer calls the shots. And Wednesdays are 'retro nights' playing old numbers.

Timings: 1:30 pm to 5 pm; 6:30 pm to 12 midnight

All credit cards except Diners accepted.

Address: Colaba Causeway, Mumbai 400 005.
Phone: 2020131, 2873362.

"Pub with a dance floor" is how Club Abyss is best described. The theme here is 'submarine'. The décor comprises murals of the deep sea. And there are live fish also, in the aquariums near the entrance. The music the pub wishes to play is retro. They stick as far as possible, to the music of the eighties. Though, on weekends Abyss does confess to playing "commercial / popular music.” And also dance music towards the night. The crowd that comes is generally above 25, though a few teenyboppers also can be seen. They have a place on top for parties. Couples have free entry. Stags may be allowed on weekdays, but weekends are strictly for couples. The pub sees a lot of celebrities, especially the ones residing in the Bandra area.

Timings: 6:30 pm to 1:30 am

All credit cards accepted.

Valet Parking

Address: Moti Mahal, 116, junction of Guru Nanak and
Waterfield Roads, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050.
Phone: 640 8577 / 640 1931

Club IX is one place that is publicity shy. In fact publicity phobic is more like it. They do not give information about themselves, they do not even pick up the damn phone. But they do play exclusively retro - the music of the 60s, 70s, max 80s. And they do not charge for entry either.

Address: Dr. Ambedkar Road, Khar (W), Mumbai 400 052.
Phone: 6045378