This new cocktail bar in Mumbai’s Lower Parel gives us a peek into the future

Experience Bumipura, a Mumbai cocktail bar blending Malaysian and Singaporean flavours with innovative Indian cocktails.

Picture this: It’s 2124, a century into the future, and India is an economic superpower. As an extension of her hegemony, India also wields significant culinary influence over Southeast Asia. Primarily, Malaysia and Singapore. At least that’s the story Ming Yang Chai wants to tell. Spurred on and inspired during a trip to Mumbai in May 2023, the Johor Bahru native (a small city in Malaysia that serves as a gateway to Singapore via a causeway over the Straits of Johor) decided to do his bit to add to the Indian cocktail culture with Bumipura. The name encapsulates the vision of a space that honours tradition while embracing innovation. “Bumi” translates to earth or land, and “Pura” means city.

This spanking new cocktail bar in Mumbai’s Lower Parel pays homage to the authentic flavours of Singapore and Malaysia. “I had to come back after my first trip, which I did in December 2023. In Mumbai, bartenders craft cocktails with passion, but the drinks often get overlooked, unlike the dedicated cocktail bars in Singapore, Tokyo, and Malaysia,” says Ming.

The first thing you notice when you enter the all-black space is the design, which fuses ancient and modern elements, inspired by Mumbai’s Elephanta Caves and Tesla’s Cybertruck. The facade features dark rocky columns, while the sleek, stainless steel interior creates a futuristic vibe. At the heart is a 21-foot stainless steel bar by SpeedX, with two stations and seating for eight, encouraging interaction between bartenders and guests.

“I wanted the space to be a community gathering place where conversations are free-flowing. We want them to bond over the stories we are telling with the hope that it sparks something in them,” says Ming. 

The cocktail menu has eight drinks, including a wonderful aperitif called the Jungle Bird, a spin on the cocktail created by Jeffrey Ong Swee Teik in 1978 at the Aviary Bar in Kuala Lumpur’s Hilton. Named after the tropical birds visible from the bar, it usually features Jamaican black rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice, and sugar syrup. Ming’s spin includes Campari, pineapple juice, and rum too, but it takes it easy on the sweetness.

A lot of the drinks, inspired by wholesome Malay and Singaporean food, is an extension of what Ming has previously done at Exposed JB, his four-seater speakeasy that blended photography and craft cocktails for a unique experience. Inspired by artwork like Lourdes Grobet’s Family Portrait series, its drinks use photography techniques, such as in the Infrared and Cyanotype cocktails. 

We started the night with the Gloves & Bibs, a savoury and umami-rich cocktail with layers of complexity. It combines the briny depth of crab distillate with the bold flavours of sun-dried tomato-infused rum. The addition of Shiraz Cabernet introduces a rich, fruity undertone, while Korean fruit vinegar balances the drink with acidity. The spicy tincture adds a subtle kick, enhancing the cocktail’s vibrant character.