There was a time when listening to music required patience. You waited hours by the radio to record a track onto a cassette tape, or you flipped through vinyl sleeves at a local record store, looking for an album that could make your weekend. If you remember the satisfaction of rewinding a tape with a Nataraj pencil, or the collective roar of a living room when Pearl Jam or Metallica came on the stereo, a new spot on Waterfield Road might feel strangely like coming home.
High Note, Bandra, is the latest addition to the suburban nightlife scene. Spanning 2,000 square feet on the ground floor of Hotel Metro Palace, the venue ditches modern nightlife trends to revive the golden decades from the 1960s through the 1990s.
Reclaiming the sound of the Suburbs
Bandra has always held a distinct musical identity, shaped by its local Catholic subculture and a long-standing love affair with live instruments. Over the last decade, much of that raw spirit was lost. High Note attempts to reclaim that lost ground. The founders, having grown up in the thick of Mumbai’s classic gig culture, designed the space to look like an expansive, open living room from a bygone era. Inside, vinyl-lined walls stretch across the room, illuminated by warm, moody portraits, with seating for 80 guests.
The programming covers a massive sonic landscape, moving through classic rock, rock ’n’ roll, retro pop, old-skool hip-hop, and those glorious one-hit wonders that everyone secretly knows the words to. There are dedicated vinyl listening sessions and themed nights.
Crucially, the team understands that retro music deserves excellent engineering. Instead of blasting muddy audio through generic speakers, they installed a state-of-the-art L-Acoustics sound system, with side-fills engineered by industry veteran Roger Drego. The result is high-fidelity sound that lets you appreciate the bassline of a track while still allowing you to talk across the table without shouting.
Vinyl in the shaker, albums on the plate
The bar follows the same analogue philosophy. Beverage specialist Eluther Gomes has built a liquid timeline that respects retro drinking culture. The menu features pre-prohibition classics, disco-era beer cocktails, and sangrias. The standout creations are clever, music-inspired numbers. The Record Room is a stellar example, combining smoky tequila and mezcal into a balanced drink. For something brighter, the Bandra Disco delivers a fruity tequila punch that matches the energy of a Friday night crowd.
The food menu, curated by Chef Gracian De Souza, unfolds like a classic album. The dishes are designed as shareable plates, structured to support the music and the conversation. The Triple-Cooked Pork Sausages are an absolute triumph, paired with a sharp miso caramelised onion and pineapple salsa. The Tequila-Marinated Buff Tenderloin Asado arrives medium-rare and singing with a fresh chimichurri.
For those who want classic coastal comfort, the Butter Garlic Prawns served with local pav is an essential order, perfect for mopping up every last drop of the rich sauce. The kitchen also handles casual bar staples exceptionally well. The Bean and Smoked Carrot Burger is a messy surprise. The lamb chilli con carne taco is generously stuffed and deeply savoury, while the Crispy Mushrooms deliver a concentrated punch of umami.
The final track
To sweeten the deal, High Note is running a Double the High promotion, offering 1+1 on select spirits every Monday until closing, and Tuesday to Sunday until 8:00 PM.
Between the high-fidelity rock anthems and the excellent hospitality, the High Note bridges the gap between generations. It appeals equally to older residents who remember the original wave of Bandra rock pubs, and younger crowds looking for authenticity in a city saturated with identical restobars. So next time you are planning a night out, grab an early table, and see if you can still remember all the words to Pearl Jam.
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When: 6 pm
Where: 38, Waterfield Road, Ground Floor, Hotel Metro Palace, Off Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050
