Mayor Bakery, Alibaug’s oldest, has been around since 1977 and is known for its breads, flaky croissants, and biscuits (8180985566). “Mayoor’s khari biscuits are superb, perfect for dipping in tea. And you will find the best pastries at Creamy Creation – The Cake Shop by local pâtissier Harshad Gharat (8087715701),Patel says. Potter-sculptor Anjali Aney, who has been here for over a decade, recommends Vivan Futehally’s Pure Brot for the “most incredible sourdough” (8291046711). Self-taught Mumbai baker Janki Thackersey, aka Flour Girl ( flourgirlbombay; 9769052654), is the go-to for birthday cakes and other baked goodies; her lemon layer cake and chocolate layer cake are a hit! “With people celebrating birthdays and other occasions during lockdown, I have been baking more cakes than anything else,” she says.
Alibaug may seem like an unlikely art destination, but it is here that Mumbai gallerist Shalini Sawhney chose to move The Guild (7030747214) in 2015. The contemporary art gallery shows many Indian masters; on current view (Feb-Mar 2022), is a solo exhibition of KP Reji’s striking narrative canvases. “Other museums worth visiting are the Karmarkar Museum of Sculpture (02141-237313)the oldest in Alibaug, and the Dashrath Patel Museum (website) near Chondhi,” says Bhagwat. While the former showcases renowned sculptor Vinayak Pandurang Karmarkar’s extensive repertoire including a sculpture of Shivaji on a horse and busts of eminent personalities, the latter exhibits the late Padma Shri awardee’s ceramics, photographs, and paintings. For something more hands-on, sign up for a pottery workshop at Aney’s ceramic gallery and studio, Mati Moksha (9870207774).
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