Bar Reviews > Mumbai > Red Light
Reviewed by Maya Ganesh

145, MG Road, Above Khyber Restaurant, Near Rhythm House, Kala Ghoda
Ph.66346246
Timings: 10:00 pm -1:30 am

In an act of careful snobbery, a red lantern, the kind that you might see on a railway platform is the only signage of this lounge-bar. Inside the only thing ‘platform’ about it is possibly the heels of its young and swinging crowd. Red Light is 2 ½ years old, but in its present avatar is a four month old venture of four young and go-getting entrepreneurs who are determined to make it work. But they are no greenhorns for they have been in the party-hosting business for a while, and managed Fire n’ Ice. This is a lounge bar that has a range of clientele. The post-office stag crowd, the celebrity set, and the young and the restless who come to hip-hop and party. Red Light tries to cater to all three. So just about anyone could fit in depending on what time you go.

Walking into Red Light is somewhat disconcerting and if you suffer from some sort of inner ear imbalance you might get a little lost or fall over like I almost did. All done in gleaming black laminate and mirrors facing each other - this bar strives to be hep and in the scheme of such things fairly succeeds. A long rubber covered bar with the regulation flat screen TV to your left with some very comfortable bar-stools. To the right, upstairs and downstairs further seating areas in cubby holes and galleys for a more private gathering. The whole place becomes a dance floor on a happening night - which might be a trance night (Tuesday), a hip-hop night (Wednesday), or a fashion night (Friday) where a celebrity or starlet hosts a party. Saturdays always rock so there’s no specific crowd-magnet on the weekend. The management has plans to organize Coyote Nights where women bartenders will recreate the ambience of the movie Coyote Ugly. Non-blondes need not apply for the job. “The men y’know…this is what will get them interested.” With such insight how could a bar go wrong ?

We started the night early - 9:30, and were practically alone for the next two hours. Red Light rocks until 3 am or even later, so don’t go early if you want some action. I got comfortable with a Caipirojka which is a vodka, lemon, and brown sugar concoction and goes down very well. The bar is well stocked and they have all the regular spirits to single malts. They even have a whole list of interesting shots that are probably worth trying merely to satisfy the curiosity. Their wine list is fairly extensive with the regular Indian wines supplemented by Australian and South African imports. If you’re feeling particularly celebratory or just plain rich you could also sample the best of champagnes like Moet et Chandon. The nibbles are fairly good whether you’re vegetarian or otherwise, from a potato basket to the lobster surprise.

What this bar does lack though is a distinct personality, more grungy places have been known to have more to say. But as we were leaving the bar started to fill up and it felt like a cool place to hip and hop. What the hell, in some countries looks matter more than personality..