Spilling the beans on Mumbai’s café culture: hot takes & hotter coffee
- Anvita Ramakrishna
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 10
Discover Mumbai's vibrant café culture, where every brew tells a story.
As a South Indian zillennial in my 30s, I’m guilty of being one of those “don’t talk to me unless I’ve had my coffee” kind of people. It’s now an important part of my morning self-care ritual that makes me feel Zen and lets my brain reset to factory mode.
My journey through Mumbai’s hidden coffee gems
I’ve been on the hunt to find the best coffee spots in Mumbai, and have developed a good palate in doing so. While I prefer coffee from tiny hole-in-the-wall cafés, I love my franchise lattes-to-go as well.
Though my perennial side quest is visiting different cafés that not only serve the best coffee but also offer an ambience so immaculate that I can spend at least 2-3 hours sitting there without doing anything productive–just sipping and fully savouring the experience before it becomes a distant memory.
I have visited some top-notch cafés in Andheri and Bandra, and here are my two cents:
Let’s start off strong, like this cup of coffee I vividly remember enjoying to the very last drop. No, it was not a flat white triple-shot, skinny, decaf with a splash of oat milk and sugar on the side. It was an orange-infused cold brew from Mary Lodge by Subko.
Even though I grew up with the classic filter kaapi, I transitioned to black coffee due to my lactose intolerance. I’ve noticed that I can taste more layers of the coffee when it’s directly filtered from the bean, but it’s an acquired taste that many might not enjoy. Unfortunately, this orange-infused cold brew is a seasonal product that has since been taken off their menu, which led me to try out its distant cousin: the Arnold Palmer. Surprisingly, it’s not bad!
Apart from the coffee, Subko’s comforting ambiance is enhanced with its forest green and brown hues. Here, you will find middle-aged folks rampantly typing on their laptops or Gen-Z kids discussing the latest streetwear drop. Also, this Subko outlet has three floors with no elevators so be prepared for a good workout. Training legs a day before going here was a bad idea. But the staff at Subko have already taken this into account and strictly reserved the ground floor for those who are unable to climb upstairs.
Mumbai's café culture–experience more than just coffee
Another café that frequently comes up in conversation, and where I’ve often been told to expect at least a 20-minute wait, is none other than Mokai. You’ll see people willingly wait outside for a table, and not just heading over to Tokyo Matcha Bar & Café, which is right across the road. The diverse menu at Mokai covers all the basics and has some great lunch and dinner choices. Nobody who visits will leave feeling dissatisfied. To add to their charm, they frequently spruce up the exterior and interior décor. The first time I visited, there were pandas everywhere in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
A few weeks later, it was transformed into a travel-themed soirée, with suitcases and passports. I am not sure what they were celebrating this time, but it certainly was a visual treat. However, the cute mini-Japanese museum themed washroom makes for a great photo-op!
Cafe hopping Continues–the quest to find flavours
From Chapel Road, my hunt for a cozy café led me to Linking Road where I was greeted with an array of dazzling fairy lights at the entrance of The Bluebop Café. Once I stepped inside, it felt like visiting an old speakeasy, its dark brown wood-panelled walls and live music setting the ambiance. A glance at the menu gave me the feeling that the food wouldn’t disappoint, and my intuition was spot on. The truffle fries are something I still find myself craving when the midnight munchies strike. There were plenty of coffee options but nothing out of the ordinary caught my eye and I ended myself sipping on a fresh juice instead.
Next, I found myself at Blondie, Shilpa Shetty’s latest venture in the F&B space. Compared to Bastian, this café offers a more intimate vibe with its dim lighting and charming decor. The menu is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. They have a slow bar with specialty coffee and matcha options that truly taste as good as they sound on the menu. Since Café Soletta stood out on the menu (the orange font really helped) I decided to try it and instantly fell in love. The coffee balanced the tartness in the orange juice, and it was very refreshing. Also, this is the first menu I’ve seen with an entire section just for benne dosa alongside other European fare.
Stepping out of Bandra toward Juhu, I stumbled upon this gem called Ettara Coffee House. If you’re looking for the European experience of sitting on the street while people watching, this is the place to be. You will be greeted with complimentary fresh in-house roasted banana chips. The coffee varieties? Umpteen. My review? “A must visit.”
They also have the Nariyal Irish Cream Frappe, which marries the richness of coconut with their coffee. Some coffees are served with a little show, as the waiter pours the coffee into the milk at your table and places a little biscuit on top.
Psst, insider tip: If you ask to be seated upstairs, you can order from a special menu that features dishes like Paneer Ravioli in Red Ghee Roast, Mysore Masala Cheese Burger and more.
Every other day, there’s a new café in Mumbai, but my coffee jitters and bank account can only handle so much. Considering that a few years ago we could only visit Café Coffee Day and Barista for some coffee, I’d say that coffee culture in Mumbai has come a long way. We are now spoiled for choice with so many cafés, each deserving its own claim to fame. Apart from serving coffee, these cafés create community spaces where conversations flow freely and people feel a sense of belonging.