Sassanian Boulangerie is a cafe in Marine Lines, Mumbai.
Mr Rustom K Yazdabadi opened Sassanian on 1st Marine Street in 1913. The bakery oven has stayed lit ever since; bun maska, brun, fried egg pav, mawa cake.
Must order: Bun maska with Irani chai, a fried egg pav on the side.
Tip: Breakfast prices are still 1980s low; cash works easiest. Cash and card both accepted.
Address: 98 Marine View, 1st Marine Street, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai 400002
Cafe Mondegar opened in 1932 on Colaba Causeway. The Mario Miranda murals on opposite walls (1990s) are the room's signature; jukebox still plays.
Signature drink: Cold beer at the bar
Order: A cold beer, a chicken cafreal and the chocolate mousse.
Tip: The Wurlitzer jukebox accepts coins; bring change. Cash and card both accepted.
Cafe Madras at Kings Circle has poured South Indian filter coffee since 1940. The idli is steamed in cotton batter; the masala dosa is the benchmark.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Order: Filter coffee and a Mysore masala dosa.
Tip: Closed Monday; weekend mornings queue from 07:00. Cash and card both accepted.
Subko's Bandra flagship roasts and bakes in-house off Chapel Road. The Bibasaha Bana single-origin espresso program is Subko's calling card; the croissants.
Signature drink: Bibasaha Bana espresso
Order: A Bibasaha Bana espresso and a chocolate-cardamom croissant.
Tip: The bean retail counter holds the freshest single-origins; ask the barista for what just landed.
Blue Tokai's One World Center cafe pours and sells the Mumbai outpost of India's largest specialty roaster. Espresso, pour-over and whole-bean retail.
Signature drink: Single-origin pour-over
Order: A single-origin Vienna or Attikan estate pour-over for the morning cup.
Tip: The bean wall has a daily-roast list; buy 250g of a recent roast for home.
Blue Tokai's Bandra cafe on 32nd Road is a Pali Hill working-day mainstay. Single-origin espresso, cold brew on tap. Editor's TableJourney pick.
Signature drink: Cold brew
Order: Cold brew and a banana bread; bean retail for home.
Tip: The 32nd Road cafe has outdoor seats; arrive before 10:00 to claim one.
Yazdani Bakery has fired bread and brun in a small Fort alley off Akbar Ally for over six decades. Brun maska with chai is the canonical order.
Signature drink: Irani chai
Order: Brun maska with Irani chai and an apple pie.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the bread runs out by 14:00 most days. Cash and card both accepted.