Leopold Cafe

This is an infamous cafe so we wanted to visit it as a wishlist item. The food was good and tasty. Although we had to wait in queue for a seat, they gave the seats very fast. We had ordered italian dishes and they tasted quite good. But everything is too expensive. At least for me it will just be a one time wishlist cafe and not more. The ambience is very good, it actually feels like an old European cafe. But it seems like it is always too crowded.

The Leopold Cafe and Bar is a restaurant and bar[2] on Colaba Causeway, in Colaba area of Mumbai, India, located across from the Colaba Police station.[3][4] It was the location of one of the 2008 Mumbai attacks as it was one of the first sites attacked. It was founded in 1871 by Iranis (a term used for Zoroastrians in Mumbai who arrived in India in the 19th century, as opposed to "Parsis") and named after King Leopold of the Belgians. These Zoroastrian Iranians came to India in the late 19th and early 20th century, and many of them opened restaurants now often termed Irani cafés.[6] It first started out as a wholesale cooking oil store and over the years has variously been a restaurant, store and pharmacy (hence the name "Leopold Cafe & Stores"[7]).[8] Prior to the terrorist attack, it was particularly known as a popular hangout for foreign tourists. After the attack, it is now also popular with many Indians to commemorate the spirit of defiance. The Leopold Cafe has preserved some of the signs of the attack as a memorial, whereas at the Taj and Trident, the damage from the attacks has been repaired.[9] It uses an Achaemenid Persian Lion Rhyton as a part of its logo to indicate its Zoroastrian affiliation. It is one of a couple of Irani Cafes that are still doing good business, while many others are fading away.[10] The cafe was an early site of gunfire and grenade explosions during the 2008 Mumbai attacks by terrorists on 26 November, at about 9:30 PM. The terrorists, approximately an hour after landing, fired shots into the restaurant from outside, killing 10 people and injuring many others. The restaurant was extensively damaged during the attacks.[11]Sourav Mishra, a Reuters reporter and one of the first media witnesses of the attack, suffered severe bullet injuries.[12][13] After spending one and a half minutes at the Leopold Cafe, the terrorists walked over to The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the main target. The cafe defiantly reopened four days after the attack,[14][15] but was reclosed on the recommendation of the police as a safety measure after two hours, due to the unexpectedly large size of crowds gathering there.[16]

Too crowded but good food and great music. They have automated the whole ordering system which is praiseworthy. But too much of rush causes nuisance.

Most commonly visited places in Mumbai with historical importance, Leopold has wide variety of tasty food options. Especially would recommend the Korean wings and Chicken burger. Even the desserts are a must try.

Historic cafe with a tragic event attached. But apart from that, food, ambience are good. Love their cheesecake. Though I would love to have the option of ordering few biscottis/cookies with tea/coffee and not have to buy a certain quantity.