A resident of Mumbai is called a Mumbaikar or Bombayite. People prefer to stay close to a railway station for easy access to the metropolis. Many city-dwellers lead a fast-paced life with very little time for other activities owing to a significant amount of time spent on daily commuting. Mumbai is known to be one of the most liberal and cosmopolitan cities of India, with the city embracing many concepts which would be taboo in other cities.

Food

The metropolis has its own local roadside fast food consisting of vada pavs and bhelpuri. South Indian and Chinese food is also very popular in the city. Other exotic foods to the city range from Lebanese, Korean, Thai and Mexican. Other than Chinese and South Indian, Mughalai, Punjabi and Continental are also popular.

Tea is the most popular beverage drunk followed by coffee. There are numerous tea stalls in almost all roads and corners catering to this drink. Other popular drinks include fruit juices and coconut water.

Music

The large number of migrants have brought their own unique tastes in cuisine, music, films and literature, both Indian and international. Indi-pop is the most popular type heard in the city played by many of the city's shops, taxis and establishments.

English music too has a sizable following and the city local English rock base has grown considerably having their own bands.

Festivals

The city synergises western and Indian celebrations and festivals which are celebrated by all. [Diwali]], Holi, Christmas, Good Friday, Id, Dussera, Moharram, Ganesh Charurti are some of the holidays in the city.

Architecture

In 2004, Mumbai received three heritage conservation awards from the UNESCO. The Marine Drive,is home to some of the finest buildings of the art deco style, which flourished in the 1920s and 1930s. During the British era, the Indo-Saracenic architecture was the official architecture of the city. Many Indo-Gothic monuments also line South Mumbai — Victoria Terminus; BMC building, Gateway of India are some of this style.

Cinema

Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian cinema with the oldest film shot in the country in 1896 in the Kala Ghoda area. A large number of cinemas, including an IMAX dome theatre, catering to mainstream Bollywood and Hollywood films dot the city. Besides cinemas, the city also hosts various plays and cultural performances. There are also two art galleries, The Jehangir Art Gallery and The National Gallery of Modern Art and a museum, The Prince of Wales Museum in South Mumbai. The Asiatic Society of Bombay is the oldest public library in the city built in 1833.