Irani Parsi Cafes fading in Mumbai

rushie82

Wow Opponex you seem to had quite an adventure. Do you know the name of the movie they were filming? Was there any heroine present there? Why do i never run into bollywood shootings while i go there many times. its not fair.

BTW Opponex and Kristin do either of you have any trip report written somewhere? Can i get the link plz.

saajan_20

Dude goodluck cafe u mention has nothing of the irani charm left it s table s &chairs have also been replaced .
Even what they serve is just average roadside stuff.

kristinm

I haven't even had time to get the photos organised - straight back into reality sadly, I was planning to when I had time... I did some hotel reviews and things though.

wonder wall

From Muharram in the Mohalla by Sameera Khan-

"... It was only in the early 1900s that the drought-hit farmers from the province of Yezd came to Bombay. Many of them started tea-shops on the Bombay roadside, which later became the legendary Irani cafes and bakeries of the city. Most managed to acquire store space at street junctions and corners quite cheaply as traditionally these were considered inauspicious by Marwari businessmen."

One such must visit cafe is at King's Circle, Matunga: Koolers & Company. The randomness of the place and the old world charm will surely get you. More than just that theres the proprieter, a fiesty fellow who just screams all day long!

the opoponax

Rushie, I have no idea what the film was. However, if you're a big John Abraham fan, watch out for something with him where he possibly plays a soccer player -- it was a big scene with him and a bunch of kids with soccer balls on the streets of the Ballard Estate. He's wearing a striped rugby shirt, I think? There was no heroine on set, it was just a scene with him and like 20 kids. Though maybe there was somebody waiting in a dressing room somewhere?

snonymous

Kayanis at Dhobi Talao is still good for a cup of tea with keema pao or omlet pao. Their sponge cake with walnuts is pretty good as are their eclairs [very fattening] and mava cakes. Avoid the other stuff.
Yazdani at Fort is another place you can sit in.
Sassanian has very good bakery products, also at Dhobi Talao.

anarkali

Sounds like 'Dhana Dhana Dhan GOAL' - soccer film set in the UK (but by the sounds not exclusively filmed there).

Here's a sign for the only Irani-ish (you'll see what I mean) restaurant we saw (didn't go in...after reading all these posts, now wish we did!)

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...0/ppuser/18553

Ha ha! Yes, excellent. I'm reading 'The Moor's Last Sigh' as we speak, as it happens, and the sign with the list of don'ts was hilarious.

Thanks for the photos. What a wonderful tradition! I must seek out some Parsi cafes next time I'm in Mumbai.

aadil

Yes, Koolars at Matunga Circle is getting pretty hep too with Hookahs and the internet included too!!!

Cheers,
Aadil.

__________________
Climb high; climb far;
Your goal, the sky,
Your aim, the stars!!!

anubisgrau

right next (30m) to hotel benazeer at fort area you will find "ideal lunch", the parsi restaurant that works only for lunch (and ocassional breakfast/coffee). the menu is simple and set for the weekdays, 2-3 dishes to chose from. the place is refurnished with a more modern stuff but the old men are still there, proudly serving a very good dhansak, pulao and fish. we loved it there and got me inspired to buy dhansak masala which i almost used up for less than a month since i returned from bombay.

aadil

That is Ideal Cafe which is also a nice little Parsi food place open usually for breakfast and lunch only. It is in the lane leading from the Residency Hotel next to the Citibank branch on D. N. Road.

Cheers,
Aadil.