Three Restaurants, Three Indian Cities – A Traveller’s Journal

Mumbai – A Vegan Rooftop With Ambition

Mumbai does not do quiet. The city is loud, fast, and crowded. But on the fourth floor of a building in Mahalaxmi, I found a rooftop that felt suspended above the noise.

The Green Affair launched in March 2022. It calls itself India’s first vegan party destination. That is a bold claim. I went to see if it could deliver.

The space is spread over two floors. Downstairs, an indoor restaurant with clean lines and soft lighting. Upstairs, a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the Mumbai skyline.

I visited in the evening. The sun was setting. The city was turning gold.

I ordered mock meat tacos and a whiskey sour. The tacos were convincing – the texture, the seasoning, the slight chew. The whiskey sour was made with in‑house vegan Baileys, which I did not expect. It worked.

The menu is European and American plant‑based. Starters include cauliflower olio, glazed ravioli, zucchini fries, Asian meatball skewers, truffled mushroom bruschetta, and lamb shish (mock meat). Mains include jackfruit crepe, Sri Lankan curry, Asian bowl prawns (mock), tofu cream with sticky rice. Desserts include vegan panna cotta and custard apple tart.

The cocktail list is 100% vegan. Classics like old fashion and bloody mary sit alongside original creations with names like spice la pina and thick chick.

Average cost for two people is ₹2,600. The space is plastic‑free. Jain and gluten‑free options are available. The venue also hosts regular events, artist performances, brunches, and sundowners.

Some platforms report The Green Affair as permanently closed. I cannot verify. If it is still open, it is one of the most interesting plant‑based restaurants I have visited.

Madurai – The Restaurant That Opened With a Nation

Madurai is old. The Meenakshi Amman Temple has stood there for centuries. The jasmine flowers sold on street corners have a fragrance you can taste.

In the centre of this city, on Nethaji Road, there is a restaurant called Modern Restaurant. It opened in August 1947 – the same month India became independent.

The founder was Mr. V. M. Sadasivam, a migrant from Palakkad, Kerala. His grandsons run it now.

I sat down at 9 AM. The place was already half full. Older men drinking filter coffee. Families sharing plates of idly. No tourists. No music. Just the sound of steel cups and quiet conversation.

I ordered Sambar Vadai and Rava Kesari. The vadai arrived first – crisp on the edges, soft inside. The sambar was deep, spiced without aggression. The Rava Kesari was sweet and grainy in the way only semolina can be.

The bill came. ₹300 for two people. I almost laughed.

Modern Restaurant does not experiment. It does not need to. It has been cooking the same dishes for seventy‑seven years. That is not a lack of imagination. That is a choice.

If you are in Madurai and you want a meal that tastes like the city’s history, go here.

South Goa – A Beach Bar That Knows What It Is

Goa is a different world. The air is wetter. The pace is slower. In South Goa, near Benaulim Beach, I found Sochi Beach.

The venue is exactly what the name suggests: a bar and restaurant on the sand. I arrived at 5 PM. The sun was still high. I took off my shoes, claimed a sunbed, and ordered grilled fish.

The fish was fresh. The beer was cold. The service was unhurried. A woman nearby was reading a novel. A couple was taking photos of the sunset. The music was present but not loud – some kind of downtempo electronic thing I did not recognise.

As the sky turned orange, the staff turned on warm string lights. The bar became livelier. People started laughing. The sea breeze carried the smell of spices from the kitchen.

The menu is broad. Seafood, sushi, steak, local Goan dishes, American, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, even Russian options. Average cost for two people is about ₹1,400. The venue is open from 8 AM to 2 AM and also hosts weddings and banquets.

A note of caution: some online sources report Sochi Beach as temporarily or permanently closed. I cannot confirm. If it is still operating, however, it is a lovely spot for a slow evening by the water.

Final Thoughts

Three restaurants. Three cities. Three different answers to the question “what makes a meal memorable?”

The Green Affair answers with innovation and ambition.

Modern Restaurant answers with tradition and consistency.

Sochi Beach answers with location and atmosphere.

India is too large for any single dining guide. But these three places are worth your time – assuming the latter two are still operating.