Mumbai cafés add runs, walks and matcha experiences beyond the menu

At Mokai 2.0 in Bandra’s Pali Hill, a cup of matcha can involve a custom stone mill from Japan, a whisk and, if guests choose, face or LED masks. The café’s wellness bar is part of an “inside-out” approach that links food, skincare and wellness.

Mokai first opened on Chapel Road in Bandra in 2024 before moving into its larger Pali Hill space in March 2026. Founder Karreena Bulchandani says online visibility can bring people through the door, but it cannot by itself make them regulars. “Social media may bring people in, but food, drinks and hospitality are what bring them back,” she says.

Programmes beyond the table

Across Mumbai, cafés are using gatherings and neighbourhood programming alongside coffee and food. Veronica’s in Bandra’s Ranwar Village has held guided walks through Ranwar and Pali Village, looking at the area’s history, homes and smaller details. The sandwich shop also invites cafés and roasters from around India to take over its coffee bar for weekends.

For Hunger Inc. Hospitality founder and COO Yash Bhanage, whose company runs Veronica’s, Bombay Sweet Shop, The Bombay Canteen and Papa’s, the foundation is still dependable food and drink. Workshops, book readings and other events cannot substitute for a consistent product, he says.

At Brevé, which opened in Mumbai in 2020, weekend cycle rides began ending over breakfast. Co-founder Usman Bhadelia, a cyclist and triathlete, had imagined a place where athletes, creatives, entrepreneurs and everyday coffee drinkers could meet. Its running club has since become part of that mix.