Tulleeho Bar Reviews - Mumbai : Indigo Reviewed By Douglas Barrett

Most people think of Indigo as being a restaurant, but they do not realiseÿ that it is one of the best bars in Bombay.
Indigo is the brainchild of Rahul Akerkar who opened Indigo in the spring of 1999. Indigo is a converted mansion in Mandlik road, just behind the Taj Hotel. When you walk into Indigo you gain the impression of walking into someone's house which has been turned into a tastefully decorated bar. Indigo consists of two floors. Two thirds' of the ground floor is made up of bar area, and a separate side area, which resembles a European style living room; only one third of the ground floor is restaurant space. The first floor consists of more restaurant space with an outside terrace for dining or partying.

First, and most importantly, the drinks and the bar. If you prop yourself at one of the 10 bar stools the first thing that strikes you is how amazingly well stocked the bar is. There is a wide range of liqueurs, wine and beer. If you don't fancy a seat at the bar, you can just sit back in one of their lazy lounge chairs and relax with a cold drink.
The next thing which strikes you about Indigo is that exceptional quality and value for money does not mean high prices.

Now for the best bit. Not only do they make a large range of cocktails such as a Singapore Sling or Planters Punch, they even have invented some of their own knockout concoctions. A "Kiwi Cooler" which consists of Champagne and Kiwi liqueur. But the best is yet to come. These guys are so good they actually make their own liqueurs and make them better than the brand names. Indigo chemistry is just that; test tubes full of tasty liqueurs. "Indigo Cream", the Indigo equivalent of Baileys, is a creamy drink with a kick which Baileys could only dream about. The Indigo coffee liqueur adds more punch and more flavour than the Kahlua original off the shelf. Our own favourite during a memorable tasting was Indigo's equivalent of Cointreau.These guys even make their own Sangria which is beautifully flavoured with a wide variety of fruits (and not the sickly rubbish you remember from so called Caribbean parties).

Most people visit Indigo for the food. Once upon a time the Rotisserie in the Oberoi was the best restaurant in town. Now Indigo has taken its place, and has done so at half the price. The lunchtime and evening menus are different. All I can say is whatever you order, it will taste great. Your best bet is to take 6 or 8 friends, each buy something different, and spend a few hours eating great food and drinking superb drinks. A sample of what's on offer is Middle Eastern Meze,Lobster risotto or the best steak in town.

So there you have it, Indigo is not just a great restaurant, but also a great bar. It can pack out, so if you're planning on something more than just drinking, make sure you book a table. And if you're planning to go to the Sunday Champagne Brunch don't just book, make sure you have nothing else to do on Sunday night. Friends of mine who have attended the Sunday Brunch have been known to pack away 3 or 4 bottles of Champagne at a time. Indigo is quality and class at a price anyone can afford.
Go and visit, and then go again, and again and again.


Tull-ee-ho! : A combination of the old hunting cry Tally Ho! and the colloquial Hindi drinking word "tullee". Also Indian for cheers.