If you make your way through any of the narrow lanes of Mumbai, sandwiched between any two busy neighbourhoods, your nose will sooner or later lead you to a coffee shop. A Mumbai coffee shop is typically a place where the air is heavy with the aroma of freshly roasted beans. On a quiet Sunday morning, in smaller, quaint cafés, one may even hear the delicate clinking of porcelain against saucers. The city boasts scores of these cafés, and like everything else here, they each have a character (or is it ‘mood’?) entirely of their own. Apart from serving an assortment of coffees, the designs and cultures in these spaces will make you want to spend hours inside.
This mega-city takes pride in its cultural diversity, and this is reflected through its cafés and the way they are designed. The interiors of each of these cafés are intertwined with the cultural identity of each neighbourhood in which they reside, offering insight into Mumbai’s diverse pockets and rich heritage. Journey through some of the city’s most celebrated café designs with us.
Britannia and Co., Fort
Established in 1923 in South Mumbai’s Fort area, this Irani café has hosted film stars, political dignitaries, and international tourists in its humble lifetime. Entering Britannia and Co. is to enter a quaint, nostalgic past; the café features 100-year-old Polish teakwood chairs that the then owner got at 5 rupees a piece. Its tables have marble tops covered with chequered tablecloths – reflecting a bygone period, a 150-year-old clock that is older than the café itself, and an ever-present hungry crowd that has been coming in for decades. Despite its care-worn interiors, this century-old café remains popular and reminds us of our colonial past. This is one of Mumbai’s favourite Iranian cafés, with decades of tradition and character found inside. Irani chai with golden-toasted brun maska, berry pulao and mutton dhansak, caramel custard and raspberry soda – these are some local favourites made here.
Candies, Bandra West
Nestled in the heart of Bandra’s quaint lanes, Candies is a vintage Portuguese villa that has been converted into a café with blue and white walls and features a charming winding staircase. “I wanted to make Candies a place where anyone could come and pass their time. The décor has a European feel to it. [The] Interiors are mostly Portuguese, Spanish and a bit Grecian. I transported these looks from the places I travelled”, reveals café owner Allan Pereira in an interview with The Talking Desk. What is really unique about this haunt is the open sky café set-up. There are plenty of pockets with metal tables and chairs of different sizes, flower pots (and possibly cats) surrounding people as they sip on coffee and baked treats. It is the perfect spot if you want to get away from the bustling city noise and bask in the sun at the multi-storeyed intimate terrace spaces. The café features a prominent winding staircase that has Mediterranean tiles, walls with unique tiled murals, and even posters and menus inspired by European aesthetics. If it gets too hot, you could instead go to the Moroccan-inspired Room of Lamps. Don’t forget to have a look at the stunning stained glass paintings or the intricately done Mediterranean lamps hanging from the ceiling. Candies is well-known for its cold coffee, tiny minion cakes and pizzas.
Leopold Café, Colaba Causeway
Situated in Colaba, this Irani café has been a part of Mumbai’s fabric since 1871 – and has ever since been evolving with the city. It is situated in Colaba-Causeway, which is often referred to as the cultural square of old Mumbai. It is housed in a building styled in colonnade architecture. The café has a Victorian-inspired style with high ceilings and large windows that are reminiscent of British “Bombay”. It features fluted panelled columns and arched windows, and some corners are stacked with retro American music posters and painted glass windows. Some wood-panelled walls are bullet-riddled, a testament to the city’s spirit in the wake of victims of the 26/11 attacks; serving as a reminder of Mumbai’s resilient spirit: welcoming and unbreakable, even in times of adversities. The crowd here is usually a mix of locals and international tourists, and they are seen enjoying lattes, walnut pies during the day and beers with some chicken poppers at night.
Prithvi Café, Juhu
Prithvi Theatre café was conceptualised as a cultural space by film legend Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer Kapoor. Having opened in 1944, the theatre gained popularity among artists, writers, and intellectuals of all kinds. Right outside the theatre’s foyer lies an expansive, open-air café, always possessing a rich, aromatic air. The café’s high ceilings, red walls and wooden furniture lend a rustic yet chic ambience to the space. Inside, an alfresco seating invites the outdoors in and promotes an environment of openness and ease. Overhead, its hanging jute mats infuse an earthy look to the café. Hanging Sputnik chandeliers grace the ceiling, and showbiz mirror bulbs that frame the board outside further add to the place’s theatrical character. The café owes its popularity to the adjacent Prithvi theatre, where each performance is usually house full and well-vetted. This is the perfect place to grab a coffee/cutting chai, or simply revel in its delicious parathas.
Kala Ghoda Café, Kala Ghoda
Established decades ago in the artistic Kala Ghoda district of Mumbai, this café is a chic, modern space rich with elements of Nordic design. The space features wood furniture, wood doors, exposed ceiling lights and Innolux Lokki pendant lamps. It has an understated style that follows function. Art galleries, museums and designer boutiques are in the vicinity, which brings city artists, writers, poets, and painters to this café. The continental food and beverages offered here echo the refined tastes of its visitors. The café also has a speak-easy wine room pocketed away with dark walls and blackout curtains, making it an intimate setting. A cup of cappuccino is most often purchased here, along with the almond/carrot cake and the chicken schnitzel.
As we celebrate the iconic cafés of Mumbai and the unique interior designs that add to their experience and ambience, we pay homage to this cosmopolitan city’s artistic heritage. With September around the corner, we are excited about India Design ID making its way to this unique city. After the immense success we have had with ID Delhi, ID Mumbai will bring focus to Maximum City’s design culture and aesthetic inspirations. In this maiden edition, we will spotlight product design and celebrate modern Indian makers, contemporary craftsmanship and materiality. ID Mumbai endeavours to ignite conversations about each creator and their creations. Stay tuned for India’s most definitive design week in the city that never sleeps.
When: 27-29 September 2024
Where: Jio World Gardens, BKC
