Olympia Coffee House, Century-old restaurant in Colaba, Mumbai, India
Olympia Coffee House is a restaurant in South Mumbai with traditional wooden furniture, high ceilings, and a separate air-conditioned section upstairs. The rooms feel timeless, preserving the look of an older establishment with simple, practical furnishings throughout.
The place was founded in 1918 by Iranian businessman Syed Mohammed Merab, who later sold half his stakes to three employees before returning to Iran in 1954. This takeover by local staff marked a key shift in how the business was run and continued over time.
The place preserves cooking traditions from Mumbai through dishes like ground lamb with flatbread, fried organ meat, and authentic Iranian chai with sweet bread. These recipes reflect the everyday food culture that has shaped the neighborhood for generations.
The restaurant opens early in the morning and stays open late into the night, making it accessible for different meal times. The menu is diverse with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options at affordable prices.
The exterior shutter bears bullet marks from the 2008 attacks, showing how the place endured through a difficult period in the city's history. These visible marks tell the story of moments that shaped the neighborhood.
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