Mumbai’s luxury dining scene has gained attention after socialite and writer Shobhaa De described her visit to Bastian, one of the city’s most famous restaurants. In a conversation with Mojo Story, socialite and writer Shobhaa De highlighted Bastian’s extravagant income and his appeal among affluent diners.
According to De, Bastian’s financial performance places it among the city’s most lucrative hospitality businesses.
“The kind of money in Mumbai is astonishing. A single restaurant in Mumbai has a turnover of Rs 2-3 crore per night. On a slow night, the turnover is Rs 2 crore, and on weekends it is Rs 3 crore. I went into this restaurant to see it myself because when I heard these figures…I said this can’t be true,” she said.
Located in Mumbai’s Dadar area, Bastian would span 21,000 square feet and offer 360-degree views of the city. Shobhaa De said: “It’s Bastian. It’s the new Bastian. It’s at the top. It’s 21,000 square feet, it’s not even real. You walk in there and you’re like ‘where am I?’ You have a 360° view of the city.”
The restaurant can accommodate up to 1,400 guests in a single evening on two seats. Shobhaa De pointed out that the restaurant had a massive waiting list of people waiting on the road in Dadar. Speaking about the restaurant’s clientele, she said: “There are people who come in Lamborghinis and Aston Martins. Who are these people? I have no idea.”
During her visit, Shobhaa De said, “I was in shock. I didn’t know a single face among the 700 guests. There were young people there and they were ordering bottles and bottles of the best tequila online for the table. Each table spent thousands of euros but they were complete strangers.
Bastian’s location in Dadar, an area traditionally known for its Maharashtrian roots, marks a shift in Mumbai’s culinary culture, blending conservative neighborhoods with upscale hospitality. The influx of luxury vehicles and big spenders illustrates the changing demographics of Mumbai’s restaurant-goers.
Bastian’s operating model of serving large numbers of diners with significant per-table spend contributes to its substantial nightly revenue.
