The bylanes of Ballard Estate have a charm of their own. The neighbourhood’s wide, old tree-lined lanes hold gems from a bygone era. We’re told of a certain Ballard Pier Mole, a defunct railway station from where trains chugged to Peshawar. While there is no trace of it now, you can still marvel at the masterful architecture by Scottish architect George Wittet.

IF.BE, the new kid on the block, ironically, is nestled inside a 145-year-old ice factory—supposedly one of Asia’s oldest—that recently got a new lease of life as a creative hub for artists, architects, and designers. And it has a café that promises to offer simple salads, smoothies, juices, all under a banyan tree. Well, almost. On Calicut Street, where the main door of the just-launched eatery opens, the sight of a full in bloom gulmohar tree, juxtaposed with bright pink bougainvillea, makes it a pretty sight.