This Lower Parel café-bar flows from coffee to cocktails with ease — and plenty worth lingering over in between
Smoked chilli prawns
On a Friday evening at 7, we step into Drift — a new all-day cafe and bar from EHV (Ekatra Hospitality Ventures Pvt Ltd, the team behind Indian Accent, Comorin, and Fireback). The space glows with warm wood, soft lighting, and sculptural accents — brought to life by London’s Russell Sage Studio with EHV’s Rashmi Khattar — a reflection of Mumbai’s evolving dining culture, where global design sensibilities meet a hunger for layered, all-day experiences. It’s part of a broader shift where restaurants are no longer just about the food, but about storytelling through architecture, art, and atmosphere.
Marinated pepper and Swiss Cheese
You can begin your mornings here with fresh brews and flaky viennoiseries — perfect for lingering over or taking on the go. A rack of house-baked loaves reflects the kitchen’s unhurried craft and the coffee programme mirrors this precision with signatures like Espresso Cold Fashioned and Pom Tonic. For sweeter moments, there’s the Nutty Affogato and the layered elegance of a Bicerin, while Thai iced coffee, milkshakes, and teas keep the mood bright.
Waffle punch
Helmed by the affable Chef Sumit Sawardekar, the menu blends European classics with a focus on ingredient-driven innovation. We started with the Souffle Pancake (Rs 390) with brown butter-maple glaze and butterscotch crunch, and the Sourdough French Toast (Rs 325), soaked overnight, brûleed, and crowned with clouds of vanilla chantilly — both pure comfort on a plate. Our savoury pick was the Tarte Flambee (Rs 390), a whisper-thin crust layered with fromage blanc, leeks, caramelised onion, and zucchini, and the Fried Chicken Burger (Rs 490), juicy and golden with a house hot honey glaze, pickles, and a pillowy milk bun.
Creme caramel
While the Croque Monsieur (Rs 475) came oozing with Emmental bechamel, roasted tomato, and parmesan, the Marinated Peppers & Swiss Cheese sandwich (Rs 475) — pairing tomato chutney with smoky aubergine on ciabatta — stole our hearts. The Smoked Chilli Prawns (Rs 690) were plump, smoky, and spiced just right, with a bright green apple salsa that cut through the richness, and crusty sourdough to swipe up every last drop. For mains, the Sunchoke & Truffle Agnolotti (Rs 690) was a lush blend of butter emulsion, sweet split peas, slow-cooked tomatoes, and crisp sunchoke chips — very indulgent but also balanced.
Sunchoke & Truffle Agnolotti
To close, the silken Crème Caramel (Rs 350) with cat tongue biscuit and pistachio crumble was all elegance. So was the Souffle au Chocolat (Rs 490) with dark chocolate and vanilla ice cream. By evening, the cafe shifts gears. On select nights, a DJ soundtrack sets the mood as it slips into bar mode, with inventive cocktails by Varun Sharma, EHV’s Head of Bars. Signatures like The Baltic Drift (tequila, sea buckthorn, agave, aromatic spray), Desert Gold (walnut-infused rum, sherry, pistachio milk), and Waffle Punch (cognac or rum, waffle syrup, coffee liqueur) blur the line between kitchen and bar, giving familiar flavours a contemporary spin. The wine list, curated by Kevin Rodrigues, EHV’s Head of Wines, moves from easy-drinking pours to more adventurous finds from Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and California, by the glass.
The space radiates warmth with rich wood tones, gentle lighting, and artful sculptural details
On our way out, the pâtisserie counter lured us in with Basque Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake, and Tiramisu — the kind of send-off that makes you promise yourself “just one more bite.” With its fresh, flavour-led menu, easygoing drinks, and the way it effortlessly shifts from sunny cafe to lively bar, Drift feels less like a stopover and more like a place you’ll keep coming back to.
Drift cafe bar
At: Entrance through Comorin @ Nilaya Anthology, Peninsula Corporate Park, Lower Parel
For reservations: 3538762
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