Mawa mania
Mawa, coconut, kaju, butter, wheat and much more — Merwan’s promises something for every palate. Jaya A from the bakery says, “It is a never-ending process. We start at 9.30 in the morning, and make sure all biscuits are fresh and warm.” The bakery sells nearly 70 packets of biscuits daily, with its anjeer and mawa cookies emerging as bestsellers.

At Merwan’s Cake Shop, Khanna Apartment, opposite Diamond Garden, Chembur. (Also at Santacruz, Andheri, Bandra, Khar, Borivli, Mulund, Malad, Thane, Navi Mumbai) 
Call 7900001794 
Cost Rs 140 per packet

Khari crunch
Light, flaky and layered with butter, khari biscuits remain one of Mumbai’s most-loved tea-time snacks. At Kyani & Co., the biscuits continue to be baked in small batches throughout the day, helping retain their delicate texture and freshness. “People still come here every evening for khari and chai. The freshness is what keeps them coming back,” says Firoz Ahmed from Kyani Bakery.

At Kyani & Co., Jer Mahal Building, 657, Jagannath Shankarsheth Road, Marine Lines. 
Call 8928616793 
Cost Rs 600 per kg 

Jeera magic
Crisp, savoury and packed with the earthy flavours of roasted cumin, jeera biscuits are a staple at legacy Mumbai bakeries. Often enjoyed with evening chai, they continue to be among the city’s most popular bakery snacks. “Customers love the strong jeera flavour and crunchy texture,” says Jabir Ali, from City Bakery.

At City Bakery, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli. 
Call 8879159569 
Cost Rs 290 per packet 

Original Bakery in Sion continues to draw regulars for its crisp jeera biscuits that pair perfectly with chai.

At Original Bakery, Shilla House CHS Ltd, Sion East.
Call 7304091403 
Cost Rs 280 per kg

Known for its classic bakery offerings, Parsi Dairy Farm’s jeera biscuits remain a popular grab-and-go snack across its outlets.

At Parsi Dairy Farm, (Marine Lines, Ghatkopar, Borivli, Thane) 
Call 24123776 
Cost Rs 300 per kg

Coconut classics
Crunchy on the outside with a mildly sweet centre, coconut biscuits remain a nostalgic bakery favourite across generations. Made using fresh coconut, the biscuits carry a rich aroma and a slightly soft bite that pairs perfectly with tea or coffee. Many old bakeries still prepare them using traditional recipes and small-batch baking methods. “The coconut biscuits have remained popular for years because of their fresh aroma and soft crunch,” says Javed Shaikh, from Original Persian Bakery.

At Original Persian Bakery, Balaram Bhawan, Balaram Street, Grant Road East. 
Call 9594547335 
Cost Rs 350 per packet

»St Anthony’s Bakery is popular for its coconut macaroon cookies, which come with a crisp shell and a soft coconut-filled centre.

At St Anthony’s Bakery, Kolbad Road, Thane West. 
Call 9167045526 
Cost Rs 380 per packet

Khara and elaichi mix
This iconic bakery traces its roots to HS Thirumalachar, who reportedly learnt baking from the British before opening one of the city’s earliest bakeries in 1898. Apart from the famous Khara Bun Congress (KBC), the bakery is also known for its khara and elaichi biscuits. Manjunath Shetty, who has worked at the bakery for 20 years, says, “It takes two to four hours to make the biscuits. With loyal customers returning for over 10 years, the bakery aims to stay as grounded as possible.”

At Bangalore Iyengar Bakery, Bhiwandi Building, Sir Bhalchandra Road, Matunga East. 
Call 7276926563 
Cost Rs 150 per packet

For Mumbaikars, Café Colony’s buttery cookies are a familiar favourite. The old-school Irani café staples, from Shrewsbury biscuits, to butter khari and mawa cake — continue to draw regulars.

At Shrikant Lodge, Tilak Road, near Tilak Bridge, Dadar TT, Dadar East. 
Call 9833106829 
Cost Rs 300 per packet

Indulge in multiple light, buttery and crumbly elaichi biscuits; it’s best paired with adrak-wali chai.

At Shree Ram Bakery, Wadar Wadi, Dattanagar, Dombivli East. 
Call 9867272998 
Cost Rs 100

Sweet bites in Bandra
At over a century old, J Hearsch & Co. remains a cult-classic bakery known for its fiercely guarded recipes. Among its favourites are the boozy wine biscuits — crisp, lightly sweet biscuits with a subtle hint of wine essence that generations of Bandraites have grown up eating.

At 90 A, Hill Road, next to Holy Family Hospital, Bandra West. 
Call 9152590746 
Cost Rs 65 per biscuit

Natkhat nankhatais
This 73-year-old bakery is still making its famous Nankhatais and biscuits by hand, with the help of a wheat-mixing machine. Munna Kumar from Yazdani Bakery says, “There’s no compromise on the quality; all biscuits are made fresh by hand and in pure desi ghee.” A pro tip he shared with readers: If you want their popular Shrewsbury-Nankhatai biscuits, visit the shop early in the day.

At Yazdani Bakery, 11A, Cawasji Patel Road, Fort. 
Call 22870739 
Cost Rs 200 per packet

If you prefer the crumbly, buttery version, this bakery is worth a visit.

At Gupta Bakery and Farsan Store, Khatijabai Chawl, Ghatkopar West. 
Call 8454849644 
Cost Rs 250 per packet