There is a specific kind of exhaustion that only a Mumbai Monday can produce. We arrived at CinCin Bandra thirty minutes from Marine Drive, thirteen floors up, keys surrendered to valet. And somewhere between the elevator and the city opening up below us, the night shifted entirely. Drinks arrived, food was coming, and just like that, Monday didn’t feel like a Monday anymore.
CinCin isn’t new to Mumbai, the BKC outpost has been a fixture for over a decade. This second location, brought to life by Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality, is the bigger, bolder, more Bandra version of that. It sits on the 13th floor of Mansionz One on Linking Road. 4,300 square feet of indoor and alfresco dining, sweeping city views, and a room that was clearly designed by people who understand that the vibe is half the meal. The philosophy here is Friends become Famiglia, and unlike most restaurant philosophies that exist purely on a mood board, this one actually translates into how the evening feels. Warm, generous, a little celebratory even when there’s nothing specific to celebrate.
What to Eat
Start with the Tajarin truffle butter, fresh black truffle. Then the Calamarata, a vodka-spiked tomato cream pasta that is indulgent in the best way and will absolutely be the thing you think about on the drive home. The Bombette pork belly wrapped around melted cheese, grilled to the point of perfection.
And then there’s the pizza, which deserves its own conversation. The Napoli, San Marzano tomatoes and Fior di Latte, is the best we’ve had in Mumbai in a long time. We’re precise about this. It’s Neapolitan-style, and it hits the way great pizza is supposed to hit. Chefs kiss. The Diavola is equally serious and equally good. Both are worth the Bandra traffic, which is really saying something.
Close with the Panna Cotta. Housemade, quietly perfect. This is not a suggestion.
What to Drink
The wine list is entirely by the glass. All of it, including the house wines from a local vineyard, and honestly, more restaurants should take notes. The cocktails are pure Italian aperitivo and they hit exactly the way you want them to at the end of a long day. Hello from Sorrento, tequila with limoncello and bergamot, is bright and sharp and the correct way to begin an evening here. Midnight in Amalfi, cognac, sweet vermouth and blackberry, is for when the city views have fully seduced you and you’ve quietly decided to cancel whatever comes next.
You will stay longer than you planned. The valet will be patient.
Where: CinCin, 13th Floor, Mansionz One, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Best for: Dinner, aperitivo hour, late evenings worth staying for
Don’t miss: Napoli pizza, Tajarin, Hello from Sorrento, Panna Cotta