So, you're in Mumbai, the monsoon is in full swing, and you have just one day (or a very limited span of time) to escape the city and go somewhere scenic to get an even better experience of the rains. Where do you go? Time is short, the destination needs to be not too far but spectacular. And so, the solution is to look for a table with a view. Somewhere you can sit and enjoy the rains and have a slice or two of pizza or some authentic and local spicy fare.

We've curated a list of places around Mumbai, suited for a one-day trip from the city. Some are places that are a short drive away (Karjat, Lonavala) and some are a short ferry ride away in Alibaug.

Saltt, Karjat

Located in the 170-acre Oleander Farms, this place is a mere hour and a half drive away from the city. With a wide menu of comfort food and fresh-off-the-farm botanical cocktails. Accompanying European, Asian, and Indian cuisines is the restaurant's aesthetic decor and interactive events and pop-ups that elevate the dining experience. It is as sophisticated as rustic with abundant greenery, scenic ponds, quacking ducks, large glass panes and wooden furniture. This family-owned restaurant in Karjat is perfect for a relaxed Sunday lunch-turned day trip.

Anglo Indian Café, Lonavala

This one's a whimsical cafe and bistro in the hills of Lonavala, a space to enjoy food, drinks, and a one-of-a-kind ambiance, one with hydroponics growing around the tables, adding to the all-round greenery! Brought to you by the team behind Mumbai's Le Sutra Hotel and Out Of The Blue, here you can indulge in fusion flavours with an Indian flair. They also have an exclusive Monsoon Special menu that you can try. Highlights include: Xacuti Mushroom Poee and Goan Mutton Recheado Poee. And the Pistachio Bloom Pizza, part of the same menu. For the truly Anglo-Indian spin, go for their Rasam Ramen and the Malai Rigatoni.

Buono Pizzeria, Alibaug

With the Ro-Ro ferry, Alibaug is never really more than an hour away for those in Mumbai! With this kind of seamless connectivity, a weekend getaway at the beach, and plenty of places to try around, it's only fitting to check a few great places here. Buono Pizzeria is one such place.

This small pizzeria has the kind of pizza that parallels even the best bistro style ones in Mumbai. Located between Zirad and Awas Phata (junction), Buono serves a variety of wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas. Their Zucchini Arosto comes with zucchini cream, roasted eggplants and white onion, while the Pizza Carciofo is topped with artichokes, thyme, basil and mozzarella on a base of alfredo sauce. For the meat lovers, try the sunset ham; with smoked ham and tomato sauce or the pizza putanesca with anchovies, pomodoro sauce, capers and kalamata olives.

Kiki's, Alibaug

A 15-minute drive from Mandwa Jetty, the restaurant sits in a quaint garden in Mhatre Phata. The property used to be a three-bedroom villa, with a pool. Now, it has a welcoming ambience with wooden benches and soft yellow fairy lights and bougainvillaea growing around the garden. The food is a welcome mix of cuisines. Grilled prawns, tender Turkish lamb with labneh and chunky sourdough bread. There's a wide variety of interesting vegetarian options too, from creamy mustard coated broccoli to soft, plump burrata in a bed of grapes and marinated tomatoes. Bright orange Kerala prawns are served in a heap of ground coconut, an easy favourite. There's also the grilled rawas (Indian salmon) and butter garlic lobster and the Alibugger platter, with fried fish and prawns as well as mutton sukka and Malvani rassa.

Which café or restaurant is your go-to during the monsoon? Let us know in the comments!