In the 1950s, Aunty Bars run by Goan women emerged as a way around Mumbai's stringent Bombay Prohibition Act, which criminalised and prohibited the distribution and consumption of all intoxicating liquor in Mumbai (then Bombay) between 1949 and 1972. Unlike Prohibition-era American speakeasies, which were large-scale covert operations run by the American Mafia, the Aunties kept it simple and deftly served drinks from their front rooms, with a boiled egg vendor stationed outside as a sign for those who knew.
By the 1970s, however, the law was loosened and permit holders, who often obtained their liquor permits 'for the preservation or maintenance of health', were allowed to buy alcohol from 'permit rooms'. In these modest watering holes hidden down narrow side streets, men huddled around Formica tables on plastic chairs and steel benches, sipping on hard liquor and passing around plates of chakli and peanut masala. Dishoom Permit Room — an all-day bar-café serving delicious breakfasts, bar snacks, moreish curries, and plates for sharing with knock-out cocktails — pays tribute to that unique Bombay culture — from the permit rooms and beer bars to the city's laid-back, communal spirit. And now, you can quite literally live it.
The Lodging At Permit Room Portobello: Where History Meets Hedonism
Tucked above the Permit Room in London's Portobello Road is 'The Lodging', a stylish two-bedroom stay that feels like crashing at a well-traveled friend's flat — one who's deeply nostalgic for '70s Bombay high life.
A Stay Steeped In 70s Bombay History, Music & Art
The Lodging at Permit Room draws inspiration from 1970s Bombay's Slip Disc jam sessions and Rang Bhavan concerts — spaces where music, politics, and social life collided. Equipped with a turntable and vinyl records from The Clash, Prince, and Joy Crookes to early Indian electronica hand-picked by Rough Trade West, and evocative South Asian art curated by LA-based gallerist Rajiv Menon, featuring works by diasporic artists like Joya Mukherjee Logue, Mustafa Mohsin, Ahsan Javaid, and Nibha Akireddy, The Lodging is all about reviving a lifestyle where pleasure wasn't just an indulgence — it was political, sometimes subversive, and always spirited. For all-day drinks and shared plates, Permit Room Portobello is right below, and London's iconic Portobello Market is around the corner. It's a damn good place to sleep in, eat well, and live large.
The Lodging at Permit Room Portobello is now open for bookings until the end of 2025.
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