The Ballard Pier Experience Centre opens in Mumbai, and here's what makes it unique

Flashback The OG waterfront experience for Mumbai is Chowpatty in Girgaon and Juhu where most Mumbaikars got their dose of sand water and sun nariyal pani chana chaat and dosa pav bhaji and gola stalls includedCut to 2026 Ballard Pier Downtown Experience Centre on the eastern waterfront paves way for an international cruise terminal and a lifestyle destination The centre is operated by JM Baxi Ports amp Logistics Private Limited under a 30year concession from the Mumbai Port AuthorityAditi Dhruv KotakThe launch was organised in the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal that occupies the ground 7M and first floor 13M Shopping and lifestyle experiences begin on 17M 21M and upper deck along with a seaside park While few retail outlets have opened most FampB spots will open by DecemberAditi Dhruv Kotak director Ballard Pier Private Limited recommends we begin the experience over a coffee with a view at the Sea Park pier ldquoLet the sea set the pace while you indulge in shipspottingrdquo A lineup of curated experiences including a monthlong monsoon festival Pier Pop is on the chartsThe green room door of BlueFrog from its previous avatar The space opens at the venue in December PICSSPECIAL ARRANGEMENTldquoWe want everyone who walks through our gates to feel the pull of the sea and the itch to discover new destinations great food curated retail and open spaces by the waterrdquo she adds The terminal is a ZeroLiquid Discharge ZLD terminal and will source 50 per cent of its energy from solar power Inhouse composting and usedoil collection let food and beverage partners plug into these systemsYahvi Mariwala brings Nandan Coffee experience by the pier ldquoWe were keen to create a feeling of being in nature and have a coffee that allows you slow down Since we have sustainability processes in place we are thrilled to continue that hererdquo says MariwalaA dessert spread at the launchWhy should you visit BlueFrog makes a comeback while Ashish Kapur brings Paradiso Worldrsquos No 1 bar in 2022 from Barcelona Spain We spot a door with familiar stickers from music bands and a familiar blue amphibian logo ldquoItrsquos the green room doorrdquo founder Mahesh Mathai tells us as he readies for a BlueFrog 20 launch in DecemberldquoWhile the original BlueFrog was in a warehouse it was a whim to make a musicfriendly platform This time the location makes a huge difference because itrsquos a change in Mumbai Itrsquos an area thatrsquos going to be discovered mdash Atal Setu Metro and Coastal Road give the city new connectivity options leading to a part thatrsquos getting restored and unified with a resurgence of art culture music foodMahesh MathaiIts OG loyalists are in their 40s and 50s we remind him so we prod about the music lineup ldquoMusic is age agnostic so we are doing a wide range of music and jazz and blues and electronic and all of that Itrsquos interesting as a curator to explore the genres that the 20 and 30yearolds are listening tordquo he revealsRestaurateur Priyank Sukhija also brings Harbour House a cluster of FampB experiences ldquoWhen I first saw the place I asked for the largest chunk Harbour House is a concept from sunrise to sunset from a cafeacute Italian and Chinese restaurants a few speakeasy spots a high energy bar and a rooftop placerdquo says Sukhija adding ldquoSince we are part of an art district a beautiful art gallery walkway leads to the different experiencesrdquoDesigned by Rahul Mehta of RM Architects the structure is a reimagining of the existing port structure ldquoWe have opened it up to the city as a place to gather discover and linger Architecture comes alive not when a building is completed but when people inhabit it and make it their ownrdquo summarises MehtaAt Shoorji Vallabhdas Road Ballard EstateLog on to theballardpiercom theballardpier on InstagramHave a dekkogtgt Dining and entertainment Titlie Ministry of Crab Voya Sea Club Sorano Naia Naarma TaiChi Cafeacute Yeti 24k Kraft Brewzz Olive Garden Wolf of Grain Flings Gelato Bargtgt Shopping Nicobar Le Chatelard 1802 Perona Sweet Dreams Lukson Columbia Daily Objects Mokobara Vanilla Moon and Nykaa Luxe Unrush and Aiza