Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Pre-Independence Mumbai Eateries: Leopold Cafe to Bagdadi Restaurant
In a big city called Mumbai, in India, there are some very old restaurants that are still open today.
They opened a long, long time before the country became independent in 1947.
One of the oldest is Leopold Cafe, which started in 1871 as a cooking-oil business.
Olympia Coffee House opened in 1918 and once helped people who needed a safe place during a terrible attack.
Britannia & Co.
has served a special rice dish called berry pulao since 1923.
In Matunga, Cafe Madras and Ram Ashraya serve yummy South Indian food like dosas and idlis.
Kyani & Co.
began as a bakery in 1904 and is now a famous Irani cafe.
Bagdadi Restaurant, near a big hotel, has been serving Mughlai curries since 1936.
Pancham Puriwala's founder walked for 39 days to Mumbai in the 1840s to sell puris.
These old places let people taste Mumbai's history with every meal.
Leopold Cafe, opened in 1871 on Colaba Causeway, began as a wholesale cooking-oil business and preserves bullet damage from the 26/11 attacks.
Olympia Coffee House, founded in 1918 by Syed Mohammed Merab, served as a place of refuge during the 26/11 attacks and recently hosted the Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast and crew.
Britannia & Co., established in 1923 by Rashid Kohinoor in Ballard Estate, is famous for its signature berry pulao and caramel custard.
Matunga institutions Cafe Madras (founded 1940) and Ram Ashraya (opened 1939) serve affordable South Indian staples such as dosas, idlis, vadas and filter coffee.
Kyani & Co. (1904), Bagdadi Restaurant (1936), and Pancham Puriwala (1840s) round out the list with Irani cafe fare, Mughlai curries and legacy puri stalls.
- Who
- Founders and their families such as Syed Mohammed Merab, Rashid Kohinoor, Gopal Purshottam Kamath, Mr Khodram and Pancham, along with celebrity visitors like the Kapoor family, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Vidya Balan and Vicky Kaushal.
- What
- Eight iconic Mumbai restaurants that opened before India's independence in 1947, from Leopold Cafe to Bagdadi Restaurant, remain operating today with their heritage largely intact.
- When
- Opened between the 1840s and 1940, before India became independent on August 15, 1947.
- Where
- Mumbai, across Colaba, Ballard Estate, Matunga, Marine Lines and Fort.
- Why
- These eateries preserve old-world charm and traditional recipes while offering a tangible taste of Mumbai's pre-Independence history.
- Oldest listed restaurant
- Leopold Cafe, opened 1871
- Newest listed restaurant
- Cafe Madras, founded 1940
- Historical milestone
- Indian independence on August 15, 1947
- 26/11 attack connections
- Leopold Cafe preserved bullet damage; Olympia Coffee House served as refuge
- Signature dish
- Berry pulao at Britannia & Co.
- Earliest opening time
- Ram Ashraya opens at 5am
- Notable origin story
- Pancham Puriwala's founder reportedly walked 39 days from what is now Uttar Pradesh