Here’s where to go cafe-hopping in Bandra
- Featured Food & Beverage
Staff Writer- 23 minutes read
In Bandra, where new cafes sprout faster than you can sip your cortado, it’s easy to lose track of where to head next. With every spot claiming to be the holy trifecta of “vibes, brews, and bites,” we took it upon ourselves to try five of the newest ones that opened at the end of 2024 to see which are truly up to the mark. After sifting through the options so that you don’t have to, here’s the list of places we visited, ranked in a carefully considered order. No need for trial and error—just read our reviews and find the one that works best for you.
Vanilla Miel
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Cafe’s are getting crowded in Bandra and it’s time you found a new work spot in Vanilla Miel, carefully tucked away in Pali Village. It’s calm, quiet, crowded enough to people watch, but not so much that there’s a queue the length of Marine Drive lined up outside the door.
I used to think I hated the beige-white-brown colour palette, especially for cafes. I’ve been disappointed more than once with the clinical, post-renovation coffee shops that were once treasured neighbourhood hang out spots.
But Vanilla Miel has managed to use these colours to in a way that still feels organic, in harmony with the vegetation that lines its exteriors. You can catch some beautiful golden hour light spilling on to your table as you work and dig into some tea cake. The cafe’s dessert-first approach ensures that their patisserie mirrors its name— always drawing on the natural sweetness of vanilla and honey.
Luxebook Recommends: Kimchi Cheese Toastie, Cortado, Créme Brulée Cruffer
18A, 16th Rd, Pali Village, Bandra West
Grey Soul
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Grey Soul’s duplex coffee shop makes for a generous, airy space to lounge. But if you’re here laptop in tow, determined to get some work done, you should probably avoid perching on the high stools in upstairs balcony where you people-watching the folks crossing by on 21st street and Ambedkar Rd will be your biggest distraction.
The cafe also finds itself smack in the middle of a wonderful line of classic Bandra coffee spots; perfect for a cafe hopping date. You can begin at Art and Charlie’s Subko Mini, stroll down to Vanilla Miel, make a leisurely stop at Grey Soul, and end your date at Boojee Cafe.
Grey Soul is right up there with Subko in regards to the quality and research behind its coffee brewing process. So, bring any caffeine snob here and they will surely be impressed by the cafe’s experimental roasters and specialty Arabica coffee.
Luxebook Recommends: Sweet Potato Fries, Salted Caramel Latte,
Dr Ambedkar Rd, next to Wellness Forever, opp. Zig Zag Road, Pali Village, Bandra West
Shelter by Javaphile
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Cafes and restaurants in Bombay typically cater to those who thrive on the city’s high energy—urban havens and concrete sprawls built for a fast-paced, ‘in the thick of it’ crowd. But Javaphile’s newest venture, Shelter, is quite the opposite. The space offers an earnest ‘shelter’, if you will, from the city’s rush.
This is a café for the nature-inclined, the ones who’d trade high-rise views for a tree in the middle of their dining room. Pushing through the solid wood double doors feels like stepping, not into, but out of an enclosed space. Light wooden furniture and wicker chairs circle around each table’s central tree, as the gentle water fountain and natural light ground the space in a peaceful lull.
There is a peculiar kind of earthiness present here that is hard to come by in this city. The menu carries this philosophy forward with its focus on simple, honest dishes. Sandwiches are stacked generously, and nourishing salad bowls arrive brimming with colour and texture. Stop by for a quiet, post workout breakfast before the weekday grind sets in.
Luxebook Recommends: Burrata Root Salad, Vanilla Latte, Apple Tart
Noorie House, 4, Sherly Rajan Rd, off Carter Road, Shirley, Bandra West
Mazi
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Mazi might just be the answer to your next semi-casual work meet or the place to strike up a conversation with someone new. Named after the Greek word for ‘coming together,’ the café encourages a sense of connection and gathering.
The open, approachable arrangement of its interiors speak to its namesake, even offering a community table, ideal for catching a chat with a stranger over coffee or simply soaking in the background hum of a shared space.
Luxebook Recommends: Classic French Toast, Citrus Yuzu Zen
Matsalya Bungalow, 6C, Chimbai Rd, Bandra West
Tokyo Matcha Bar & Cafe
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The Japan craze took flight years ago and doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon. Right from music to tourism, to fashion, and of course food. The team at Tokyo Matcha Bar & Cafe have identified the obsession and aim to bring a slice of Japan right down to Mumbai with one key ingredient: matcha.
That sweet, earthy green powder that’s added to just about anything these days takes true flight at this Bandra nook. A tad cramped for a sit down meal, this matcha bar is far better suited for a grab-and-go. You can order your latte with a couple of mini croissants and make your way down Chapel Rd, taking in the Bollywood Art Project’s Waheeda Rehman mural and a light evening breeze.
Luxebook Recommends: Mini Croissants, Double Chocolate Iced Matcha, Wild Berry Matcha Iced Tea
Silvilla House, Chapel Rd, next to Lovely Stores, St Sebastian Colony, Ranwar, Bandra West
