Timeless Tastes: The Oldest Restaurants Still Running in Mumbai

The best restaurants in mumbai with the deepest roots are not the newest openings — they are the institutions that have fed the city across multiple generations, surviving wars, attacks, and the relentless pace of urban change. These are the cafes and restaurants where history arrives with the food. Each one tells a specific story about Bombay as it was and Mumbai as it became. Here is where to go, what to order, and what to expect.

Britannia and Co. — Parsi Legacy Since 1923

Britannia and Co. in Ballard Estate is one of the most characterful of the best restaurants in mumbai. Founded by Boman Kohinoor in 1923, it remains a family-run Parsi-Irani cafe with checkered tablecloths, ceiling fans, and a menu that has changed little in decades. The Berry Pulao — fragrant rice with imported Iranian berries and meat — is the signature dish. Salli Boti, a Parsi meat curry topped with crispy potato straws, is the second essential order. A meal for two costs approximately Rs 800. The cafe opens for lunch only, typically from noon to 4:00 PM, Tuesday to Sunday. Arrive by 12:30 PM — seating fills fast. The nearest station is CST Railway Station, a 10-minute walk away.

Leopold Cafe — Stories and Resilience Since 1871

Leopold Cafe in Colaba is one of the oldest and most widely known of the best restaurants in mumbai for international visitors. Established in 1871, it survived the 26/11 attacks of 2008 and reopened within days — the bullet marks on the walls remain visible and form part of the cafe’s identity. The menu covers continental and Indian options. Chicken Stroganoff and Chilli Chicken are the consistent orders. Cold beer from the bar is as much a part of the experience as the food. A meal for two costs approximately Rs 1,500. The cafe opens daily from 7:30 AM to midnight. The murals and memorabilia throughout the space reward a slow visit.

Olympia Coffee House — Mughlai Comfort Food Since 1918

Olympia Coffee House in Colaba is one of the best restaurants in mumbai for straightforward, unpretentious Mughlai cooking. The Mutton Korma and Chicken Biryani are both slow-cooked and generously portioned. The setting is simple — small tables, no decoration to speak of, the smell of slow-cooking spices from the kitchen. Consequently, the focus stays entirely on the food. A meal for two costs approximately Rs 500. The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner daily.

Bade Miya — Late-Night Kebabs Since 1946

Bade Miya started as a stall behind the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in 1946 and has operated from the same Colaba location since then. The Seekh Kebabs and Chicken Baida Roti — a paratha wrapped around egg and spiced minced meat — are the essential orders. The stall operates outdoors and is most active after 9:00 PM when the kebabs come off the grill freshest. A full meal for two costs approximately Rs 800. It opens in the evening and runs until late. For NRI visitors and international tourists, Mony makes paying at street-level stalls like Bade Miya seamless — Mony is a travel finance app that lets NRIs and tourists pay like locals using UPI, with no foreign card fees.

Cafe Mondegar — Mario Miranda Murals Since 1932

Cafe Mondegar in Colaba is one of the best restaurants in mumbai for a long, unhurried afternoon. The walls carry the iconic Mario Miranda murals — cartoon depictions of Bombay life that have covered the space since the 1970s. The jukebox has operated for decades. The menu covers continental staples alongside cold beer. A meal for two costs approximately Rs 1,200. The cafe opens daily from 8:00 AM to midnight and is most atmospheric in the late afternoon when the midday tourist rush subsides.

Kyani and Co. — Iranian Bakery Since 1904

Kyani and Co. near Metro Cinema is among the oldest of all the best restaurants in mumbai — an Irani bakery cafe operating since 1904. Bun maska (soft bread buns with generous butter) and chai is the standard order. Mawa cake and Shrewsbury biscuits are the bakery staples worth taking away. A tea and snack costs Rs 80 to Rs 150. The cafe opens from early morning and closes by mid-afternoon. The nearest metro station is Marine Lines Metro Station on the Aqua Line.

Practical Tips for Visiting Mumbai’s Historic Restaurants

Most of the best restaurants in mumbai on this list cluster in Colaba and the Fort area, making it practical to cover several in a single day. Britannia and Co. opens for lunch only — plan accordingly. Bade Miya and Leopold Cafe are most rewarding in the evening. Most accept cards and UPI. Smaller establishments like Kyani and Co. and Olympia prefer cash or UPI. For all payments across these best restaurants in mumbai, Mony keeps every transaction effortless without foreign card fees or currency exchange.