Mokai

54 Newton House, St Sebastian Colony, Chapel Road, Bandra, Mumbai 400050

Mob: 0 96198 66607

Meal for two: Approximately Rs1500 + taxes

Farzana Contractor, UpperCrust

Charming and pretty are the two adjectives that come to mind when you stand in front of, and enter, the bungalow that is now Mokai, coffee house and all-day dining space. Owner, Karreena Bulchandani brings her travel experiences to this coffee-centric eatery coupled with advice from her husband, Mohit – owner of Seeds of Life. In one of Bandra’s tiny Catholic village lanes, Mokai stands out, and addictively so.

Studio 6158 has designed Mokai and a lot of effort has gone into ensuring it retains the ‘not your typical coffee shop’ persona. With a cute Coffee-to-Go takeaway counter, hues of pretty pink and aqua blue splashed across its facade, origami birds floating from the ceiling, sunlight streaming through the minimalist interiors which are juxtaposed with bold Harjuku maximalist street culture, and a Wabi-Sabiness to it all, Mokai is a must-visit, just to calm your nerves more than anything. Sure, there’s the coffee that’s top notch, inspired from the founder’s South East Asian travels and the food as well.

The house-blend coffee is what you must order when at Mokai, sourced from Chikmagalur, while international blends come in from Singapore, South America and Africa. Cold brews and iced matcha lattes, smoothies and fresh juices, shots and coolers, and teas, make up the vast beverage menu. So, if you’re not a coffee person per se, Mokai will still do you good. if hot chocolate is your thing, you’ve got dairy-free options with marshmallows intact. And if you’re a pet parent, we hear ‘pet-friendly’ is around the corner.

Relax with the food menu which comprises an All-Day Breakfast, of Congee and Overnight Oats & Chia Pudding, to give you a taste. You've got Salads, Appetisers – Edamame Hummus with Mushroom Crackers is where it’s at – Slurps – of gluten-free noodles, Sandos – the gluten-free Pandan Fruit in Shokupan Bread is delightful – and Bowls like the Poke and the Massaman.

There’s a special menu for the ‘travelling customer’. The Blueberry Matcha and the Coconut Malai Cold Brew are as delicious as inviting.