Ballard Estate guide: Inside Mumbai’s favourite haunt for shopping, dining, and gallery hopping

There is something in the paved tracks of the south of Mumbai which transform me into a romantic in the eyes of the doe. We find ourselves caught in the past, lingering in the details – an old signage plate, an ark fascinated from the sun, the way in which the light warms up the roads of buildings with brown backgrounds. Ballard Estate is the ultimate in this feeling – secret, cinematographic, almost as if you have entered a film by Humphrey Bogart.

During a visit to the city, I recently learned that Ballard Estate was built on recovered land, designed to extend the famous port of the city. For many, it was their first overview of Bombay, their first transaction, their first step in what awaited us. This weight, history, always clings to its structures.

Nestled in these centenary buildings, the district sees a convergence of fashion, art and catering, with new addresses appearing often. There is something magic to stand inside one of these spaces, passing your hand over a fabric woven by a craftsman for miles, while the ceiling, a ceiling with its original crown molding watches. In front, we organize a list of everything you should visit when planning an evening stay in Ballard Estate, Mumbai.

Tilfi

Image by tilfi