18 May,2025 10:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Junisha Dama
Silk Road
Waiting for a table at a cafe? This is the sad new reality if you are in Bandra, looking for grub and coffee. Long queues, zero parking spaces, and dug-up roads are the latest accompaniments to café-hopping around Bandra. But there are other neighbourhoods where you can have an easy-breezy cafe hop.
A speciality coffee spot in the lanes of Versova, Silk Road Company offers a selection of six premium beans. At their espresso bar, try a desi take on bulletproof coffee with A2 ghee or the indulgent Slayer shot. The food menu has fresh, comfort-first dishes like tartines with halloumi and labneh or the mushroom toast with bocconcini and lemon aioli. For something heavier, there's burrata shakshuka, mac and cheese in a three-cheese sauce, and pizzas with toppings like coriander pesto and pork chorizo.
WHERE: 41, Harminder Singh Rd, Aram Nagar Part 1, Aram Nagar, Versova
PRICE: Rs 1,200 for two
Bandra's Project Hum is now in Versova. This peaceful spot champions clean design, clean eating, and conscious community. The menu leans healthy, and offers farm-to-table bites that include breakfast, their signature wraps, salads, bowls, and the field plates that the brand has come to be known for. You can also indulge guilt-free and get a bite from their honest bakery. Some offerings include the millet crumble cheesecake, choco multiseed cookie, and more.
WHERE: Shop 3, Versova Marg, Aram Nagar Part 2, Jeet Nagar, Versova
PRICE: Rs 1500 for two
Hill Road and Pali Hill seem crowded. So, the third outlet of Nostalgia is where you should head. Drawing from its neighbourhood, this cafe is cinema-themed and serves as a tribute to Bollywood's golden eras. With a laid-back vibe, it's a cosy spot for coffee and conversation. And, they serve nostalgic classics like pattice, puffs, and keema pav. Adding to the interactive experience, the cafe offers a âSay a dialogue, get a filter coffee' promotion, where customers who recite famous Bollywood dialogues receive a complimentary filter coffee.
WHERE: Shop no 3, Meera Building, Juhu Versova Link Rd, Gharkul Society, Seven Bunglows
PRICE: Rs 500 for two
In the lanes of Bora Bazar, Ideal Corner is still a beloved Parsi eatery for many regulars who work in the neighbourhood. It has been dishing out home-style fare since decades, and its glass-topped tables, no-nonsense service, and a Yezdi motorcycle parked right inside the cafe are all part of the charm. Go for the salli boti, dhansak, mutton cutlets, and caramel custard. It gets packed during lunch with Fort regulars, so time your visit well.
WHERE: Hornby View Building, Rustom Sidhwa Marg, Fort
PRICE: Rs 800 for two
When you watched a movie at Excelsior cinema, you always ate at Café Excelsior. The theatre has had an upgrade, but the cafe still maintains its old-world charm, complete with old clocks and walls stained with time. After all, it has been around since 1919. With bentwood chairs, wall fans, and unpretentious charm, this Irani café is a favourite for students, office-goers, and old-timers alike. Order the kheema pav or mutton cutlet with a side of nostalgia, and end with caramel custard. It's a cash-only, no-frills experience.
WHERE: Kitab Mahal, opp Excelsior Cinema, Azad Maidan, Fort
PRICE: Rs 800 for two
Cafe Universal has kept pace with modern menu trends while retaining its vintage shell, evoking an old pub feel. The menu spans burgers, pastas, and beer - think Irani café meets European bistro. Their lamb burger, steak frites, and crispy onion rings are crowd favourites.
WHERE: Shahid Bhagat Singh Rd, Ballard Estate, Fort
PRICE: Rs 1200 for two
Ditch Bandra and explore Versova instead. The neighbourhood offers ample food and drink options, aesthetics for selfies, and is easily accessible thanks to the metro line.
