Mumbai’s Irani cafes are like time machines with really good chai. These heritage spots, several of them operating for decades, and in some cases more than a century, are where the city’s soul lives. Think glass-topped tables with menus tucked underneath, rattan chairs, and the smell of bun maska drifting through the air. Each has its own character, from bustling dining rooms to quieter neighbourhood institutions. Whether you’re after a quick breakfast or a slow afternoon spent watching the world go by, these cafes deliver. Here are Irani cafes that prove some things never go out of style.
Irani Cafes in Mumbai That Have Stood the Test of Time
DistrictJun 26, 2026
·8 min
Bun Maska, Chai, Berry Pulao and decades of history come together at these Irani cafes across Mumbai.
At a glance
Vibe CheckOld-School Charm, Bollywood FavouriteWhat to OrderFish Patra, Keema Pulav, Berry Pulav, Mutton Dhanshak, Salli Boti, Raspberry Drink
Vibe CheckIconic Baked GoodsWhat to OrderMawa Puff, Broon Maska, Mawa Samosa, Anda Pav
Vibe CheckHeritage Bakery, Retro VibesWhat to OrderApple Cinnamon Pie, Brun Maska, Bread Pudding, Carrot Cake
Vibe CheckClassic Irani AestheticWhat to OrderChicken Cheese Omelette, Irani Chai, Honey Toast, Bun Maska Jam
Vibe CheckAuthentic, Local FavouriteWhat to OrderBoneless Mutton Biryani, Chicken Salli, Kheema Fry, Raspberry Soda
Vibe CheckParsi Gastro-Pub, ContemporaryWhat to OrderMasala Vodka, Tomato Macaroni, Bajirao Mastani, Bohri Keema Pav, Kolmi Fry
Vibe CheckSince 1913, Vintage EleganceWhat to OrderMushroom Omelette, Chicken Dhanshak, Mawa Cakes, Bun Maska, Chicken Farcha
Vibe CheckNeighbourhood Gem, Classic ComfortWhat to OrderBrun Maska, Chicken Omelette, Caramel Pudding, Chicken Puff, Mutton Keema
Vibe Check1904 Heritage, Old Bombay Soul, Sepia-Toned WallsWhat to OrderIrani Tea, Bun Maska, Parsi Omelette, Chicken Puff (Pattice), Royal Falooda (Rose)
Vibe CheckOwner-Run Kitchen, Golden-Hued Interiors, Unhurried Old BombayWhat to OrderEgg Bhurjee, Bun Maska, Cheese Omlet, Eedu Akoori
Vibe Check1933 Dadar Institution, Film-Shoot Favourite, Parsi Colony LegacyWhat to OrderChicken Biryani, Mutton Biryani (Both Friday specials), Chicken Cutlet, Cheese Sandwich, French Toast
Vibe CheckMindspace Night Owl, Always Open, Office Crowd StapleWhat to OrderMutton Kheema, Chicken Shawarma, Masala Maggi, Bun Maska, Full Irani Chai
Vibe CheckPersian Home Kitchen, Bollywood Heritage, Saffron-Led MenuWhat to OrderKabob E Tabei, Joojeh Kabob, Persian Platter, Kashk E Bademjan, Akbar Mashti
Vibe CheckFort Office Crowd, Zoroastrian Culture Workshops, Cash-Only ClassicWhat to OrderPatra Ni Macchi, Mutton Dhanshak With Kebabs, Chicken Berry Pulav Dal, Veg Dhanshak With Kebabs, Legan Nu Custard
Vibe CheckThane's First Irani Cafe, Rustic-Meets-Contemporary, Vintage Corner NookWhat to OrderBerry Pulao, Chicken Keema Pav, Bun Maska with Chai, Chicken Cheese Grilled Sandwich, Caramel Custard, Bread Pudding
Vibe Check1921 Fort Legend, Horse Stable Origins, Beer Bar with Irani SoulWhat to OrderSteak Sizzlers, Hamburger and Steak Bun, Chicken Dhanshak with Kabab, Salli Boti, Cheese Balls, Chilly Cheese Toast, Fish and Chips, Prawns Shashlik
Britannia & Co. Restaurant - Since 1923
4.2
Fort, Mumbai
This place is legendary. Run by the same family since 1923, Britannia is where you go for the Berry Pulav, a dish so iconic it practically has its own fan club. The walls are covered in Bollywood and Queen Elizabeth memorabilia, and the owner's stories are as flavourful as the food.Vibe Check: Old-School Charm, Bollywood FavouriteWhat to Order: Fish Patra, Keema Pulav, Berry Pulav, Mutton Dhanshak, Salli Boti, Raspberry Drink
B. Merwan & Co.
4.9
Grant Road, Mumbai
If you want zero fuss and maximum flavour, this is your spot. B. Merwan is all about the baked goods: khari biscuits, mawa cake, and dilkhush that'll ruin all other dilkhush for you. The vibe is pure efficiency; you grab your puff, eat, and leave. It's been doing its thing since forever, and honestly, why fix what isn't broken?Vibe Check: Iconic Baked GoodsWhat to Order: Mawa Puff, Broon Maska, Mawa Samosa, Anda Pav
Yazdani Bakery & Restaurant
4.5
Kala Ghoda
Yazdani has been around since the 1950s and looks like it. The wood-fired ovens still churn out fresh-baked goods daily, and the Shrewsbury biscuits are the stuff of legend. It's bare-bones in the best way, just really good bread and people who've been coming here for decades.Vibe Check: Heritage Bakery, Retro VibesWhat to Order: Apple Cinnamon Pie, Brun Maska, Bread Pudding, Carrot Cake
Cafe Irani Chaii
4.6
Mahim, Mumbai
This is the Irani cafe for people who want nostalgia without the creaky chairs. While they've retained the essence of the original, Cafe Irani Chaii is brighter, clutter-free, and the food still slaps.Vibe Check: Classic Irani AestheticWhat to Order: Chicken Cheese Omelette, Irani Chai, Honey Toast, Bun Maska Jam
Cafe Military
4.4
Kala Ghoda
Cafe Military is always packed, always loud, and always serving up exactly what you came for. The Kheema Ghotala is a breakfast legend, and the Bun Maska is peak comfort food. It's a proper working-class joint where office crowds, college kids, and regulars all coexist in happy, caffeinated chaos.Vibe Check: Authentic, Local FavouriteWhat to Order: Boneless Mutton Biryani, Chicken Salli, Kheema Fry, Raspberry Soda
SodaBottleOpenerWala
4.3
Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai
SodaBottleOpenerWala takes the Irani cafe concept and gives it a slick, contemporary spin. It's polished, colourful, and designed to be enjoyed over long conversations and multiple drinks. The Berry Pulav and Dhanshak are crowd favourites, and the raspberry soda is dangerously addictive. Perfect for when you want Parsi flavours without the vintage chaos.Vibe Check: Parsi Gastro-Pub, ContemporaryWhat to Order: Masala Vodka, Tomato Macaroni, Bajirao Mastani, Bohri Keema Pav, Kolmi Fry
Flat 10% OFF
Sassanian restaurant & Bakery - since 1913
3.7
Marine Lines, Mumbai
Over a century old and still going strong, Sassanian is one of those places that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. The Dhanshak is rich and hearty, the omelette is a breakfast staple, and the Mutton Cutlets are perfect. It's got that dignified, old-world elegance that's increasingly rare in Mumbai.Vibe Check: Since 1913, Vintage EleganceWhat to Order: Mushroom Omelette, Chicken Dhanshak, Mawa Cakes, Bun Maska, Chicken Farcha
Koolar & Co
3.2
Matunga East, Mumbai
Tucked away in Matunga, Koolar is the kind of place locals guard fiercely. The Brun Maska is buttery bliss, the Kheema Pav is robust, and the chai is exactly what it should be. It's unpretentious, reliable, and the sort of place where you'll see the same faces every morning.Vibe Check: Neighbourhood Gem, Classic ComfortWhat to Order: Brun Maska, Chicken Omelette, Caramel Pudding, Chicken Puff, Mutton Keema
Kyani & Co.
4.0
Marine Lines, Mumbai
Established in 1904, with sepia-toned pictures lining the walls, large jars of biscuits stacked, checkered tablecloths, and vintage furniture. Kyani is one of Mumbai's oldest and most visited Irani cafes, and a place that has never needed to reinvent itself.Vibe Check: 1904 Heritage, Old Bombay Soul, Sepia-Toned WallsWhat to Order: Irani Tea, Bun Maska, Parsi Omelette, Chicken Puff (Pattice), Royal Falooda (Rose)
Cafe Dela Paix
3.7
Girgaum, Mumbai
The owner cooks every dish himself, turning on the radio to old Bollywood songs while he prepares your order. A genuinely singular experience in a city increasingly short on them. Golden-hued walls, vintage décor, and a pace that makes time slow down make Cafe Dela Paix one of Girgaum's most quietly special spots.Vibe Check: Owner-Run Kitchen, Golden-Hued Interiors, Unhurried Old BombayWhat to Order: Egg Bhurjee, Bun Maska, Cheese Omlet, Eedu Akoori
Cafe Colony
3.8
Dadar East, Mumbai
Open since 1933, tucked in the heart of the Dadar Parsi Colony, Cafe Colony is a space with enough history that it has appeared in films like Vaastav, Gully Boy, and The Lunchbox. A warm, neighbourhood Irani cafe that has outlasted most things around it by simply being good.Vibe Check: 1933 Dadar Institution, Film-Shoot Favourite, Parsi Colony LegacyWhat to Order: Chicken Biryani, Mutton Biryani (Both Friday specials), Chicken Cutlet, Cheese Sandwich, French Toast
Qutuz Irani Cafe
3.8
Malad West, Mumbai
A small, perpetually busy spot in the heart of Mindspace, Malad, Qutuz Irani Cafe has a reputation for staying open late when everything else has shut. The kind of place that sustains an entire neighbourhood of office workers and night-shift regulars on honest chai and kheema.Vibe Check: Mindspace Night Owl, Always Open, Office Crowd StapleWhat to Order: Mutton Kheema, Chicken Shawarma, Masala Maggi, Bun Maska, Full Irani Chai
Cafe Mommy Joon
4.7
Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Cafe Mommy Joon is named after the Persian phrase for "mother's love" and built around family recipes passed down through generations. Warm lights, lush plants, and a cosy fold-your-legs setup make it Bandra's most personal Persian address.Vibe Check: Persian Home Kitchen, Bollywood Heritage, Saffron-Led MenuWhat to Order: Kabob E Tabei, Joojeh Kabob, Persian Platter, Kashk E Bademjan, Akbar Mashti
Flat 10% OFF
Ideal Corner
4.1
Fort, Mumbai
Serving authentic Parsi cuisine since 1985, Ideal Corner earns its regulars from the Fort office crowd who return for the rotating daily menu and stay for the warmth of the place. It also hosts workshops on the history of Irani cafes and the influence of Parsi cuisine on Mumbai.Vibe Check: Fort Office Crowd, Zoroastrian Culture Workshops, Cash-Only ClassicWhat to Order: Patra Ni Macchi, Mutton Dhanshak With Kebabs, Chicken Berry Pulav Dal, Veg Dhanshak With Kebabs, Legan Nu Custard
Irani Canteen
4.1
Osho Krishna
Thane's first Irani cafe, decorated to spark Iranian vibes in every corner. Irani Canteen is a cosy space that is a deliberate blend of rustic character and contemporary sensibility, serving the full classic lineup from bun maska to berry pulao.Vibe Check: Thane's First Irani Cafe, Rustic-Meets-Contemporary, Vintage Corner NookWhat to Order: Berry Pulao, Chicken Keema Pav, Bun Maska with Chai, Chicken Cheese Grilled Sandwich, Caramel Custard, Bread Pudding
Bank benefits
Cafe Universal
4.0
Dhan Mansion
A century-old space with wooden panels and vintage mirrors, Cafe Universal has evolved from a traditional chai stall to a full restaurant and beer bar since 1921. Zero pretense, honest food, and an atmosphere that feels like stepping back 50 years.Vibe Check: 1921 Fort Legend, Horse Stable Origins, Beer Bar with Irani SoulWhat to Order: Steak Sizzlers, Hamburger and Steak Bun, Chicken Dhanshak with Kabab, Salli Boti, Cheese Balls, Chilly Cheese Toast, Fish and Chips, Prawns Shashlik
Ready to experience Mumbai’s legendary Irani cafe culture? From dipping buttery bun maska into a piping hot cup of sweet Irani chai to relishing iconic berry pulaos, keema pav, and mawa cakes, these historic institutions offer a culinary journey unlike any other. Download the District App to reserve your table, enjoy the best offers, and discover your next favourite spot
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