These OG Spots In Mumbai Have Kept Their Vintage Charm Alive

Mumbai has a peculiar way of moving forward while dragging its past along. For every shiny, glossy new café that opens in the city, there’s a run-of-the-mill spot down the road that’s been doing what they do best for decades—and you guessed it right, no one could do it better. 

These are the OG spots that haven’t chased trends, updated their fonts, or suddenly decided to become concept-driven and Instagram famous. And you know why? Because they really don’t need to! With worn-out tables and chairs that have been witnesses to a thousand conversations, ceiling fans that hum like they’re just background music now, and menus that feel comfortingly familiar, these places have quietly held their ground as the city around them tumbled, changed, and evolved.

Step into one of these Mumbai institutions and you’ll notice it immediately: time slows down, quite literally. The air smells like history, the service feels personal in that old Bombay way, and the crowd is usually a mix of regulars and wide-eyed first-timers (like me) who can’t believe places like this still exist. 

Below, our curation of some of Mumbai’s vintage favourites that still feel like a time machine to the past—which is exactly why we love them so much!

Gaylord

If you loved the 20s, this might just be the restaurant for you. 

Back in its heyday, Gaylord was a spot revered for its jazz nights and ballroom dances. Born in the city more than 68 years ago, Gaylord has seen Bombay transform into Mumbai, and still continues to entertain queues and queues of diners every day. Endearingly called the patriarch of Mumbai’s restaurants, the one that existed before all else, Gaylord is a South Bombay gem: a place frozen in time, which, on entering, will transport you to the better days of soft jazz music, dressing up for dinner, ball gowns, and ballroom dances.

Beyond its al fresco dining area, the grandeur of the restaurant resembles something straight out of ‘The Great Gatsby.’ And the food? Let’s just say it still tastes just as good as it did back in the day. For locals, this was a restaurant they would go to only on very special occasions, like a birthday or a family promotion, because it was just that expensive, even all those years ago! I think it’s safe to say that while the prices still remain similar, the charm of the place has only increased, thanks to the power of novelty, distinctness, and, of course, our fascination with and love for the nostalgic. The staff still serves you with a delightful selection of paan after your meal, there’s a gentleman waiting to greet you not only at the entrance but also before you enter the inside area, the bar still looks like it belongs on the sets of a ‘20s Hollywood film, the cocktails read like a vintage love letter to what once was, and their bakery, loved by the older generations of Mumbai, still reports a sold out stock at the close of each working day.

If you’re looking for an excuse to visit—don’t! You do not need one. It’s a space that will take you right back to the better days of Bollywood and Bombay, and you’ll absolutely never want to leave. The bonus? Their cuisine is an amalgamation of North Indian, Mughlai, and continental at its ever best! 

Get your reservations a week in advance and run, don’t walk, to visit. 

Address: V N Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020

Timings: Monday to Sunday (9:30 am–12 am)

Price for two: INR 3,000

Leopold Cafe

Leopold Café is one of those places in Mumbai where history, chaos, and comfort food collide. 

First opened in 1871, this institution in Colaba has been around long enough to see Mumbai turn into the very cosmopolitan city it is today, and still wears its age proudly (it’s quite literally part of its charm). The café shot into global consciousness after the 2008 Taj attacks, when it was one of the sites targeted. Even today, the bullet marks on the walls remain a reminder of its sheer journey of survival and resilience. 

Inside, the vibe is unmistakably old-school and unfussy—wooden furniture, crowded tables, loud conversations, and a constant buzz that feels permanently switched on. Leopold’s charm lies in its unpretentiousness: people come here as much for the stories as for the food. Crowd favourites include the chicken schnitzel, fish and chips, mutton keema, and their legendary beer-and-bar-food combos that have fuelled generations of locals, backpackers, journalists, and first-time tourists. 

A meal here feels like participating in Mumbai’s living history rather than just dining out, which is exactly why Leopold remains as iconic as it is today, even in 2026!

Address: Police Station, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba Causeway, near Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

Timings: Monday to Sunday (7:30 am–12:30 am)

Price for two: INR 2,500

Cafe Mondegar 

Before vinyl cafes became popular, Mondegar did the OG jukebox in a cafe in India. And not only was it just another restaurant, but it was also one of the most sought-after and hip places to be in all of the city, right in the heart of Colaba. I mean, it’s one of Bombay’s OG’s for a reason, right?

Mondegar firmed its footing in Mumbai back in 1932, introducing one of the city’s first jukeboxes paired with beautiful murals by the artist Mario Miranda. It was founded by Iranian Zoroastrians (Parsi settlers) as an Iranian café, which later became a restaurant and bar.

The highlight? The food, obviously, but also their jukebox, which plays all of retro pop, rock, and metal, from Michael Jackson and Bryan Adams to Billy Joel and The Beatles. Their on-tap beer is especially popular for its crisp, authentic taste, while the food comprises everything from club sandwiches to roast chicken with mashed potatoes, made fresh, and extremely clean. They serve continental, Goan, Chinese and Indian cuisines, and the crowd favourites include their house roast beef, omelettes, and king prawns. 

The best part is the music that pairs with your food! Coins to play your song of choice can be purchased at the counter and used to operate the jukebox. The vibes are top-notch, and the interiors are a delight for the eyes, thanks to the beautiful murals all around.

Address: Metro House, Colaba Causeway, near Regal Cinema, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

Timings: Monday to Sunday (8 am–11:30 pm)

Price for two: INR 2,000

Toto’s Garage

Among all the spots tucked away in the bylanes of Bandra, this one has stolen one too many hearts, including mine!

With license plates scattered aimlessly on the walls, a velvety blanket of red lighting, a vintage Volkswagen shell hanging overhead the bar quite literally, and rock anthems that make you want to chug your drink away, Toto’s Garage is the kind of place that hasn’t changed in decades—and doesn’t need to.  Must-try items include draught beer, chilli cheese toast, and addictive chicken lollipops. First established in 1992, the bartenders at Toto’s know their regulars like old friends, the crowd is unpretentious, and the beer taps flow faster than you can yell for the waiter to bring another round. It’s loud, just shady enough, and quintessentially Bombay, all-in-one. 

Address: 7/8, Lourdes Haven, Pali Junction, 30th Rd, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

Timings: Monday to Sunday (5 pm–12:45 am)

Price for two: INR 1,500

Kyani and Co.

Now 120 years old, Kyani is Bombay’s oldest Irani cafe still open for service, known for serving food and tea to freedom fighters during the independence movement. Lined with rustic chairs and wooden shelves, atop which sit huge glasses that display jars of cookies and biscuits, this cafe is the kind that comes to mind when you think of Victorian Bombay. The best part? It still feels exactly the same as it did during the colonial era of India.

Even today, you’ll find office-goers grabbing a quick breakfast of bun maska and Irani chai, students splitting a mutton keema pav and cherry custard, and old-timers quietly reading their morning papers over omelettes and chai in cutting glasses. The owner, Farokh Shokri, is infamous for removing anyone working on their laptops at the cafe almost immediately! But the real magic of Kyani (and places alike) lies in the feel of the place— absolutely unpretentious, warm, and perfectly imperfect. The servers—who have been working here for over 40 years—might know your order before you say it, the menu hasn’t changed in decades, and that’s exactly how everyone likes it. My personal favourites to order here include the kaju nankhatai, chicken cheese omelette, masala maggi, custard, mava cake, and Pallonji’s soda. 

When wandering the streets of Marine Drive next, take a detour for this (real) gem of the city!

Address: Jer Mahal Building, 657, Jagannath Shankar Seth Rd, opp. Metro Inox Theatre, Marine Lines East, Dhobi Talao, Estate, Marine Lines, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400002

Timings: Monday to Saturday (7 am–7 pm), Sunday (7 am–4 pm)

Price for two: INR 400

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