Chill out with Mumbai's finest icy summer beverages

As mercury levels continue to soar, we revisit an 80-year-old juice cart in Grant Road, known for its popular watermelon milkshake. Plus, our tried-and-tested list of coolers to sip on from across the city and the suburbs

Grant Road West boasts of skyscrapers, wide roads and box junctions. Cross over the railway bridge, and you will find the eastern side to be a contrast. It’s dotted with chaotic street markets, centuries-old residences, an iconic Irani café, cinema poster-plastered façades, and crammed roads. Tucked here is a small 80-year-old juice stall that attracts hundreds of commuters looking for a respite from the scorching heat. What makes this particular juice hangout unique is its mohabbat ka sharbat (watermelon sharbat) — one of the only two types of beverages on sale.

(From left) A container with watermelon juice; the 80-year-old stall; watermelon sharbat

This writer was first introduced to it by her father as a school-going child; he would drop by with his friends soon after school to sip on the famous sharbat. It tastes like bubblegum. Till date, the style of making, the quantity, and the taste remains the same. There are two gigantic containers in the cart. The first one contains freshly churned watermelon juice with huge chunks of the fruit, and the second one has iced watermelon milkshake mixed with their special handmade syrup. They pour the two together in a glass. This drink is refreshing, and for many regular customers like this writer, packed with nostalgia.

At Watermelon Sharbat, near Grant Railway Station (East). 
Call 8693070987
Cost Rs 40

Also check out

Pics courtesy/Instagram

Waste no more
This juice centre is best known for its zero-wastage policy, where it uses every last peel of the fruits to add creativity to their juices. Their Titanic juice is served in a pineapple shell. It is a combination of mulberries, pineapple, strawberries and dry fruits.
At The Jungle Juice, Mahavir Nagar, Kandivali West. 
Call 8433968855 
Cost Rs 140 onwards

Fries above all
This viral fryo tower is served with a mojito topped with cheesy peri peri fries.
At Krackery Bites, Malad West.
Call 8169311290
Cost Rs 220 onwards

Coffee with a crunch
This cold coffee comes in an ice cream cone.  
At Em’s By Crystal, Chowpatty, Girgaon.
Call 9619054154
Cost Rs 150

Time for soda
Nothing beats the heat like soda. From chocolate ice cream soda, berry blaster, to kala khatta, and blue lagoon, this soda shop can serve up to 30 flavours of the frothy drink.
At Bam Bam Bhole Soda Pub, shop no 1, Chinchpokli Shri Motanka co-operative housing, Lalbaug. 
Call 8879282585
Cost Rs 25

A whole new world
Explore the cosmos with galaxy ade, which is a blue blend of fruits, herbs and planet-like ice cubes.
At Seeds of Life, Pali Mala Road, Bandra West.
Call 9653336089
Cost Rs 250

Best of both worlds
This famous adda serves nearly eight varieties of soda. Our favourite is their special vanilla soda, which tastes exactly like ice cream.
At Rimzim Soda, Ishwar Bhawan, Mangal Wadi, Girgaon.
Call 9812515513
Cost Rs 25

Burst of flavours
The blossom blast floater is a 1.75-litre drink, which serves three. Sip on fruity flavours like kiwi, raspberry, rose, lemon, blueberry, orange and pineapple. It comes topped with two scoops of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, strawberry candy and sprinklers.
At Royal Rajput Soda, Sector 5 Charkop, Kandivali West.
Call 9820332704 
Cost Rs 190

Marshmallow mania
This shake is made by mixing different flavours of marshmallow and milk.
At KV’s Milkshake, Pratishtha Nagar, Sion.
Call 7777092030
Cost Rs 80

Chai lovers, listen up
We loved how this assorted lassi is served in six cutting-chai glasses with the aim to offer a fair, refreshing replacement.
At Oye Kake, Ghatkopar West.
Call 9619494400
Log on to Rs 475

Get filmy
From Bahubali, Bell Bottom and Pushpa, to Kareena, take your pick from the filmy mix-fruit juices.
At Patil Juice Center, near Hinduja College, Girgaon.
Call 9224120790
Cost Rs 180 onwards

For the sugar-happy
Indulge in mulberry cream at this popular juice haunt.
At Mahabaleshwar Juice Center, Khopat, Thane West.
Cost Rs 170
Call 9082175829

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