SoBo 20 Marine Drive Review: A Wood-Fired Franco-American Story That Keeps Getting Better

A wood-fired evolution lands at SoBo 20, deepening its Franco-American soul with punchy cocktails, indulgent new plates, and a dining rhythm that feels unmistakably Marine Drive.

A New Chapter At SoBo 20: The Marine Drive Mood, Now With More Smoke

You taste the sea before you taste the food at SoBo 20. It’s part of the ritual here.The Arabian Sea curls along Marine Drive, the breeze slips through the glass, and somewhere on a crisp white napkin, that pipe-smoking pelican adjusts his beret like he’s ready for his close-up.

This SoBo 20 Marine Drive review begins where all good meals do here: with a mood. A quietly confident one. Six months after opening, the Franco-American brasserie inside InterContinental Marine Drive has already climbed onto every serious diner’s radar. Now, with a menu refresh, it leans further into the things Mumbai kept returning for: wood-fire, comfort, and a generosity that understands how this neighbourhood eats.

The room feels the same, but something about it has sharpened. Maybe it’s the faint char drifting from the kitchen. Maybe it’s the soft rustle of linen as long lunches slip into those golden-hour dinners Marine Drive does best.

The New SoBo 20 Marine Drive Menu: Soul, Smoke, and a Bit of Mischief

Atelier House Hospitality and Graviss Hospitality have always rooted SoBo 20 in craft. French technique at its base, New Orleans swagger in its stride. This new menu simply widens the frame.

The Plates That Lead With Indulgence

Proofed Flatbread Hot Dog: The kind of dish that tells you the team is having fun. The bread arrives blistered from the wood-fired oven, soft yet airy, holding a glazed chicken frankfurter, pepperonata relish, and fried onions that flirt with disorder. You’ll need napkins. You’ll also forgive them.

Buff Smash Burger: A smash burger that respects the assignment. House-ground buffalo hits the griddle with a sizzle sharp enough to pause conversations. The edges crisp into lace. American cheese melts with intention. Pickles and caramelised onions keep things grounded. The hot honey on the chips? A wink.

Tavern Chicken: The kind of chicken that pulls up a chair and settles in. Marinated overnight, finished with a gentle char, cooled by tempered cucumber yoghurt. A plate that feels like the middle of a comfortable conversation.

Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizzette: A wood-fired moment that lets hot honey steal the limelight. Italy crashes the Franco-American party and everyone claps.

Vegetarians, You’re the Main Character Here

This is where the SoBo 20 Marine Drive review starts to sound like praise poetry.Because South Bombay doesn’t treat vegetarianism as dietary preference, and SoBo 20 knows it.

These dishes are not afterthoughts. They are declarations.

Where Plant-Forward Plates Take the Lead

Fennel & Edamame Risotto: A slow-building kind of richness. Fennel purée with an anise whisper, edamame for body, crispy onions for that final punctuation. Gentle. Luxurious. Very South Bombay.

Corn FrittersGolden, crisp, sweet. The whipped ricotta smooths the edges, while pico de gallo and grated Granny Smith apple add the lift that keeps this from feeling predictable.

Creamy Spinach & Mushroom Pizzette: Think early-evening light, a glass of white wine, and a pizzette blanketed in goat cheese, caramelised mushrooms, onions, and pickled mustard seeds. It’s indulgence without fuss.

E&T Skewer (Eggplant & Tofu): An unexpected star. Eggplant and tofu, grilled, glazed, layered, topped with eggplant mousse and avocado salsa. The kind of performance usually reserved for meat.

What You Should Be Drinking at SoBo 20: The Marine Drive Cocktail Edit

Mixologist Nalin Penkar captures Marine Drive’s shifting moods in three glasses.

Cocktails With a View Built In

Marine Drive Mule: Tequila meets gin in a coastal handshake, smoothed by pineapple juice and elderflower. The saline touch is the genius stroke.

Pomorita: A ruby-toned margarita with pomegranate saccharum. Sweet, tart, lightly floral. Sharp enough for business lunches, fun enough for date nights.

SoBo Picante: Tequila, jalapeños, lime, agave, cilantro. Fresh heat with a herbal cool down. Pairs dangerously well with the Smash Burger.

Why This Menu Matters for South Bombay

"SoBo 20 was always imagined as a conversation between New Orleans and Marine Drive," says CEO Panchali Mahendra.This edit keeps that conversation alive. Nearly half the new dishes are vegetarian. The wood-fire is louder. The comfort is bolder. The restaurant feels like it has listened, watched, learned. What guests return for, what they bring friends to try, what they whisper about over dessert.

And like that iconic pelican, SoBo 20 has found its balance between charm and confidence.

The Experience: Marine Drive, But Make It Franco-American

One of Mumbai’s most distinctive new dining rooms continues to grow into itself. Art Deco bones, American brasserie ease, and a soundtrack that respects conversation. It’s familiar yet polished, surprising yet comforting.

SoBo 20 hasn’t reinvented itself. It has refined itself. The kind of place where desserts stretch the night, the sea glitters through the windows, and that napkin-bound pelican watches quietly over the table, satisfied.

Details

Location: InterContinental Marine Drive, Mumbai

Reservations: +91 7506229762

Instagram: @sobotwenty

Hours: 12 PM–3:30 PM, 7 PM–12:30 AM

Closed Tuesdays

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Is SoBo 20 vegetarian-friendly? Yes. Nearly half the new dishes are vegetarian, designed with the same ambition and depth as the meaty plates.

What cuisine is SoBo 20 known for? A contemporary Franco-American interpretation with influences from New Orleans, West Africa, and the Caribbean.

Is SoBo 20 good for long lunches and dinner dates? Absolutely. The mood shifts from bright afternoons to glittering Marine Drive nights, making it ideal for both.

What should I order at SoBo 20? The Buff Smash Burger, Fennel & Edamame Risotto, E&T Skewer, Marine Drive Mule, and Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizzette are standouts.