Located close to other remarkable landmarks of Mumbai, like the legendary Taj Mahal Palace and the iconic Regal Cinema is an institution that has been a part of many core memories for many a college student. We’re, of course, talking about Gokul Bar. For decades, Gokul Bar has attracted youngsters from every part of the city. Its groovy ambiance, unpretentious menu, and shady atmosphere make for the perfect adventurous night out in the city. But people who have not visited might be wondering what the charm is about this place. More precisely, does Gokul actually have substance, or is its charm purely nostalgic? unsobered, too, was curious about this, so we went to find out.
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Now, if you haven’t been to Gokul Bar ever, the size of it from the inside might truly take you by surprise. It actually has multiple kinds of seating areas to choose from. You can either sit in an unairconditioned area or in an AC area. Given that it is Mumbai and that it is never not hot, we recommend sitting in the AC area. The crowd in the AC area is marginally better as well. For unsobered’s visit, we decided to pick a groovily lit place with a ceiling that was touching our heads!
The vibe inside is truly worth experiencing. At this point, there is something worth mentioning, especially for women. Now, this isn't exactly charming news, and not every single person who visits this place is questionable, but Gokul Bar is sort of known to have men who stare a lot at women. So, while we would want everyone to be able to enjoy the ambiance of the place, we would like to make this special PSA for our women readers.
To be clear, there are a number of women who do regularly visit Gokul; however, reports of discomfort caused by men staring aren’t scarce. So, it would be better to visit in groups.
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Now, after taking in the atmosphere thoroughly, we went straight to the menu. If you’re someone who appreciates straightforwardness, you would probably be a huge fan of Gokul Bar’s menu, as it is just that. What you see on the menu is what you get, and at no point are you left scratching your head thinking, “I wonder what that word means.” You don’t have any cocktails or fancy dishes. There is good chakna on the menu, which makes it obvious that, at Gokul Bar, the drinks are the main event.
We saw the menu and ordered Masala Papad and Chicken Lollipop. Now, this is where we should get brutally honest. While we do enjoy the vibe and the unpretentious atmosphere of Gokul, its food is nothing to write home about. But that shouldn’t really matter because people don’t really go there for the food; they go there for cheap booze, shady lighting, and loud Bollywood music emanating from their speakers.
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The exact date of establishment of Gokul Bar is not really known. If reports are to go by, however, it seems that it was established in the 20th century as a vegetarian, idli-vada joint by a man named Jaya Pujari. However, this concept did not really perform well, and the restaurant soon began struggling. In order to save their investment, the owners decided to pivot their strategy and started serving non-vegetarian food and alcohol around the 1960s and 1970s. The place soon gained renown, and a legendary dive bar was soon born.
Address: Gokul Bar & Restaurant, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
Timings: 11 AM to 12 AM
Cost For Two: INR 1,000 approx.
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It is true that Gokul Bar is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re used to dining at fancier places and are particular about the crowd and ambiance you want, you might find Gokul’s offerings a tad too pedestrian. However, if you can look past its imperfections (and yes, there are several) and focus on enjoying the vibe, you might just end up making memories of a lifetime here. However, for safety, it is recommended that women avoid going there alone. The crowd here isn’t particularly sophisticated, and women would most likely feel that while they’re there.
