10 Parsi Cafes in Mumbai Where You Get Authentic Parsi Food & Taste of Parsi Culture

There was a time when Mumbai was full of Parsi cafes thanks to a large number of Parsi migrants in the city. Today, their numbers have dwindled and most of them have exchanged their original set up for the commercial glitter. However, there are still some of them that maintain their original character and transfer you to the olden days. What makes them unique is their fan following and loyalists who see them as a part of Bombay rather than Mumbai. An authentic Parsi Café is one where you can enjoy a cup of hot, Irani chai and nibble on bun maska while the world passes by outside. Let us look at some of the best Parsi cafes in Mumbai that bring back memories of past:

1. Britannia & Co

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Where: Wakefield House, 11 Sprott Road, 16 Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai

Known for: Berry Pulav, Dhansek, Sali chicken

Cost for 2: 600/-

Rashid Kohinnor, the person who established this café in 1923, was like a few other Zoroastrian immigrants from Iran. He decided to get into the restaurant business in the city once known as Bombay. Could he have imagined that Britannia & Co. would have people requesting reservations right up to era of iPad menus? Today in the able hands of the third generation, Boman Kohinoor,  this café still serves food influenced by the family’s Iranian and Parsi roots. The old world charm here comes alive with Bentwood furniture that was once imported from Poland  during the eatery's early years.

2. Yazdani Bakery

Image Source: Elroy Serrao/Flickr 

Where: Fountain Akbar Ally, Saint Thomas Cathedral, Fort, Mumbai

Known for: Iranian Chai, brun maska

Cost for 2: 400/-

Back in 1951, Meherwan Zend started the Yazdani Restaurant and Bakery in place of a Japanese bank that stood there through World War II. Today, the three brothers, Rashid, Zend, Parvez and his son, Tirandaz run the bakery. Once inside, you can take your seat on one of the many wooden benches in the modest sized seating area. A slight look around the place will divulge its rich history. The vintage framed posters of burly men, the humongous clock from an era gone by, and the antique brass call bell make the Yazdani experience a charming one.

3. Jimmy Boy

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Where: 11, Vikas Building, Bank Street, Near Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai

Known for: chicken farcha, chicken dhansak, mutton sheikh kebabs

Cost for 2: 300/-

Situated in the South Mumbai area, Jimmy Boy restaurant serves fast food and Indian cuisine but specializes in Parsi Food. With its old style decor, big open windows and a high ceiling dining area, the visitors are bound to relish the delectable parsi food.

4. Kyani & co

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Where: 657, Jermahal Estate, JSS Road, Tak Wadi, Lohar Chawl, Opposite Metro Cinema, Marine Lines, Mumbai

Known for: Irani chai and bun maska

Cost for 2: 500/-

With its high ceiling, black bentwood chairs and checkered table cloths, Kyani & Co is one of the oldest Irani joints in Mumbai. What attracts the visitors is their display of wide variety of cakes, biscuits including ones made from wine, puffs and patties. Their most famous fare, of course, is the elaichi-laden Irani chai and melt-in-your-mouth bun maska.

5. Café Military

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Where: Ali Chamber, N Master Road, GPO, Mumbai

Known for: Caramel custard, kheema

Cost for 2: 300/-

With walls featuring mirror panels typical Iranian decor and quirky bawatips on display, the modest cafe is popular among those who want to enjoy their vindaloo with chilled beer. Besides a set menu, the cafe serves one of Iranian favourites, caramel custard, kheema as well as akuri.

6. B Merwan & Co

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Where: Shop No. 1/ 2, Merwan Building, Frere Bridge, Allibhai Premji Road, Opp Grant Road Station East, Mumbai

Known for:  mawa cakes, mawa samosas and puffs

Cost for 2: 200/-

The old-world charm and the mawa cakes of this century-old bakery continue to lure customers, so much so that the cakes are out of stock as early as 11 in the morning. Brimming with patrons any time you visit, B Merwan is also famous for its mawa samosas, mawa puffs, biscuits and walnut cakes among other confectioneries.

Check Out: Best Places to Eat in Mumbai

7. Sassanian

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Where: 98, Marine View, 1st Marine St, Dhobitalao, Mumbai

Known for: plum cakes, mutton cutlets

Cost for 2: 250/-

This century old café in Mumbai is named after the Sasanian dynasty of Iran. The ardent fans of this bakery swear by its oven-fresh baked plum cakes, wafer-thin khari biscuits and mutton cutlets.

8. Kooler& Co

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Where: 541, Kings Circle, Noor Mahal, Ambedkar Road, Matunga, Kings Circle, Matunga, Mumbai

Known for: Omelet and Iranian Black Tea

Cost for 2: 350/-

Furnished with a vintage rotary dial phone and an old-time silver samovar a Persian metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water the cafe is great for some chai-time snacks. Go for the Irani wrestler omelette (made up of five eggs) along with Iranian black tea.

9. Ideal Corner

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Where: 12/F/G, Hornby View, Gunbow Street, Fort, Mumbai

Known for: kheema golata, bharuchi akuri

Cost for 2: 450/-

This cafe offers a set Persian lunch menu that varies every day with recipes like vegetarian and mutton dhansak, fish dhundar patio, bharuchi akuri a scrambled egg preparation with raisins and cashews and chicken brabourne, comprising chicken soaked in beer and cooked. If you wish to eat a snack instead, opt for the delicious chicken and cheese patties or kheema gotala.

10. K Rustom’s ice cream

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Where: 87 Stadium House, Opposite Ambassador Hotel Veer Nariman Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai

Known for: ice creams sandwiched between wafers

Cost for 2: 250/-

Time to finish this list with something sweet! Relish those crispy wafers alonng with varieties of ice creams that melt in your mouth. It belongs to the time when there were neither fancy ice cream parlors nor imported ice cream brands in Mumbai. It invented the concept of Ice cream to be sandwiched between pickwick type soft biscuits.

So which of these Parsi café would you like to visit?

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