I had visited this cafe, now shutdown by FDA Maharashtra while enroute INHS ASVINI hospital to CSMT Railway station. At that time i was still a student and hence drank a Iced Lemon Tea. The interior was filled with drawings by Mario miranda artist .
CAFE MONDEGAR- Google Maps
Café Mondegar, Colaba
Cafe Mondegar is one of the most recognizable old cafés on Colaba Causeway, right near Regal Cinema. It is popularly called “Mondy’s.” The café dates to 1932 and is especially famous for its Mario Miranda murals and jukebox.
Interesting facts
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Founded in 1932: It began as an Irani café, associated with Iranian Zoroastrian immigrants.
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Originally part of a hotel: The café reportedly started in the reception area of the Apollo Hotel, in the building now known as Metro House.
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Jukebox history: It became known for having one of Mumbai’s early jukeboxes, helping give the café its distinctive music-and-food identity. -
Mario Miranda connection: In the 1990s, owner Rusi Yazdegardi invited legendary Goan cartoonist Mario Miranda to decorate the walls. Miranda’s drawings portray Mumbai street life and the lively atmosphere inside the café.
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The murals were first sketched by Miranda and then transferred onto the walls with assistance from students of Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art, under his supervision.
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Family-run legacy: The café is associated with the Yazdegardi family, who have operated it for decades. -
Metro House is itself historic: The building is over a century old; reports have dated its construction to around 1870. -
It survived a building fire: In 2016, a fire broke out in Metro House, but the section housing Café Mondegar was not affected by the flames.
Look closely at the murals
The murals aren’t simply decorative cartoons. They document everyday Bombay/Mumbai—people on the streets, café customers, workers, relationships and the city’s characteristic chaos. That’s why Mondegar is interesting even if you’re not particularly interested in food.
Current 2026 update
As of 16 September 2026, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration reported that Café Mondegar’s food-business licence had been suspended following an inspection that found food-safety and hygiene deficiencies. The reported findings included temperature-control, thawing, cleaning and drainage issues.
So if you’re planning to visit now, check its current operating status before going.
Glimpse into History:
Established in 1932, Café Mondegar began as an Irani café and evolved into one of Colaba’s best-known landmarks. Its identity today is inseparable from Mario Miranda’s murals, which capture everyday Mumbai life on its walls.
Don’t Miss:
Mario Miranda’s murals + the old jukebox + Metro House’s historic architecture.
“The walls of Café Mondegar are almost a visual time capsule of Mumbai, with Mario Miranda turning everyday city life into permanent cartoons.”
