Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland & Matt Damon skip luxury dining for chai at this 108-year-old Mumbai cafe

Before the flashbulbs, the red carpet and the India premiere of 'The Odyssey', Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland and Matt Damon made an unexpected food stop. Instead of checking into an upscale restaurant, the Hollywood trio walked into Olympia Coffee House, a 108-year-old Irani café in Colaba, and ordered chai. Within hours, photos of the visit had gone viral, introducing millions to one of Mumbai's oldest cafés and the rich Irani café culture that has shaped the city's food story for over a century.

Established in 1918, Olympia Coffee House is one of Mumbai's oldest surviving Irani cafés. Located on Colaba Causeway, it has remained largely unchanged despite the city's dramatic transformation over the past century.

Unlike modern cafes built around speciality coffee and designer interiors, Olympia continues to draw customers with simple food, quick service and old-world charm. Its menu is filled with classics that generations of Mumbaikars have grown up with: cutting chai, bun maska, kheema pav, omelettes, caramel custard and hearty Mughlai dishes.

Many regulars visit not just for the food but for the atmosphere. Marble-top tables, ageing wooden furniture, vintage signboards and the constant bustle of customers give the café a timeless feel that has become increasingly rare in Mumbai.

A century-old story that began with an Iranian entrepreneur
Olympia Coffee House was founded by Syed Mohammed Merab, an Iranian businessman who arrived in Bombay during the early wave of migration from Iran. The establishment was originally known as Olympia Coffee House and Stores, as it sold groceries and household essentials alongside tea and meals.

In 1954, when Merab decided to return to Iran, he sold the business to four trusted employees - Abdul Rahim Suleiman, Abdul Rahim Choudhary, Ghulam Rasool and Wali Mohammed. Their families continue to run the café today, preserving recipes, traditions and the uncomplicated hospitality that has kept Olympia relevant for more than 100 years.

While many historic eateries have reinvented themselves to attract tourists, Olympia stayed true to its roots, making it one of the city's most authentic heritage dining spots.

The story of Mumbai's Irani cafes
Olympia is part of a much larger food tradition that helped shape Mumbai's culinary identity.

Irani cafés were established by Zoroastrian immigrants who left Iran during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in search of better economic opportunities. Many settled in Bombay and opened affordable cafés that welcomed everyone, regardless of class, religion or profession.

These cafés soon became neighbourhood institutions. Office-goers stopped by for breakfast before work, students spent hours over cups of tea, writers found inspiration at corner tables and families gathered for inexpensive meals.

The cafés developed a distinctive character of their own. Marble-topped tables, bentwood chairs, high ceilings, glass display counters, handwritten menus and large wall clocks became signature features. Their menus blended Persian influences with local tastes, giving rise to favourites such as bun maska, Irani chai, kheema pav, akuri, berry pulao, caramel custard and mawa cakes.

Although hundreds of Irani cafés once dotted Mumbai, only a fraction survive today. Rising real-estate costs, changing food habits and redevelopment have forced many to shut their doors, making the remaining cafés valuable pieces of the city's living heritage.

More iconic Irani cafés to visit in Mumbai
If Nolan's visit has inspired a heritage food trail, these cafés deserve a place on the itinerary:

• Yazdani Bakery (Fort) – Popular for brun maska, fresh breads and old-world charm.
• Jimmy Boy (Fort) – Serves traditional Parsi cuisine in a heritage setting.
• Kyani & Co. (Marine Lines) – Famous for bun maska, Irani chai and mawa cakes.
• Britannia & Co. (Ballard Estate) – A Mumbai institution known for its berry pulao and classic Parsi dishes.
• Café Excelsior (Fort) – One of the city's oldest cafés, known for both Irani and Parsi fare.
• Ideal Corner (Fort) – A favourite for kheema, cutlets and hearty breakfasts.
• Café Military (Fort) – Celebrated for authentic Parsi and Irani dishes.