Kuckleiku

Sure, there are places dedicated exclusively to welcoming even the most non-morning people for breakfast, but Kuckleiku really hones in on the kind of cheer and warmth that’s somehow missing from so many breakfast spots in Mumbai. There’s ample sunlight streaming in from large windows overlooking art deco homes, and inside, there’s art on the walls, life-sized teddy bears and a menu that is (almost) overindulgent. 

Large breakfast platters and sumptuous treats abound in the menu that brings a variety of day-beginning bites from around the world. Pancakes? Plantain latkes? Large cheese toasts? Coffee and chocolate? A chilaquile, perhaps? The menu keeps you seeking and the answers are always delightful. 

The sampler steals the show. The French toast is nicely thick and custardy, the waffles are crisp on the outside and taste great even without being lathered with syrup. The mushroom cheese omelette is all sorts of excellent.

The yoghurt bowl is a delight to the eyes and the senses with a little brush of pomegranate molasses that gives it a sweet, earthy undertone. The Bhendi Bazaar breakfast – with kheema, kebab and lamba pav – curates some of the best Mumbai breakfast choices into one plate. There’s also a variety of toasts and bowls on the menu that range from comforting to almost too pretty to eat. Wash it all down with some of the most reasonably priced coffee I’ve seen in a cafe in Mumbai.