The second of my posts on Mumbai’s eating out experiences, this lunch was very different from the afternoon spent at LPQ. It’s right next to Flora Fountain, this treasure called Kitab Khana, a bookshop and cafe, the best of both worlds of reading and eating, housed inside a 150 year old heritage building.

Run by the Somaiyas, who own the building as well, the shop was a treat to walk into. As an architect, I was fascinated and proceeded to ask a zillion questions and take many pictures. I learnt about the seepage problems the building has, the problems of renting out heritage spaces and the sheer amount of money and effort it takes to maintain a shop like this. Yet, in the manager’s eyes I saw the pride and the sheer love for what he does. The staff is old-world and affectionate, as I found out from the little chit-chats they had with the kiddos.

The bookshop has a gallery upstairs as well to browse in. Lovely!

Catching up amidst heaps of books…

Column close up

The girls got those little books with quotes….thrilled and comparing notes!

The cafe is small, but served an excellent selection of pastas, sandwiches, salads and desserts (couscous salad and blueberry cheesecake recommended). We were catching up with dear family friends and Aadyaa had spent the entire morning with them. Though the lunch was planned so that we could get Aadyaa back with us, she had had so much fun with her new-found friend Radha that she went right back home with them! The cafe at Kitab Khana seemed like an extension of home and the two girls danced, sang and chatted their way through the meal. For the rest of us, it was catch-up time as well. For Udai, it was  serious food time and he also had the opportunity to buy the next book in the Percy Jackson series. That one needs his reading fuel to be uninterrupted, or else we are in trouble!

Dancing, singing, eating all at the same time..

Color me yellow!! Me, Juhi, Rachna and the superb aam panna.. photo credit: Udai

The bookshop seem through the cafe openings…do not ask me what Udai is doing here!

Hands up for dessert!

Nupur, amused

Contemplation time

A little nook above the cafe for the little ones

Blueberry cheescake, Rachna bossy’s awesome nail colour…things that fascinate Udai?