Here are 7+ Mumbai cafés that help me maintain my endometriosis, PCOS, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome friendly diet. They’re my go-to every time I want to step out and not worry about eating something that may harm me.
In case you’re interested in knowing what my diet is and the changes I’ve made to help myself, here’s the post:
Indian food is extremely versatile and can be easily adapted to work with my endometriosis, PCOS and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diet. But what if I wish to go to a café in Mumbai and want to avoid the pains that gluten and dairy products give me?
Here’s a list of cafés that are my go-to…
1. Birdsong Organic Café
In a small lane of Bandra West, the Birdsong Organic Café is such a warm, raw, rustic feel-good café with rare high ceilings, large brown wooden windows and a menu that has a plethora of gluten free and vegan options (including vegan cheese!).
What I like about this place, other than the atmosphere and the fact that there are so many options for me – is their seasonal menu. They’re constantly innovating and keeping things fresh.
I love having their gluten-free pastas – especially aglio-olio and arabiatta accompanied with a couple of amaranth bread slices, which I can’t believe I avoided earlier – it tastes so good making sure I’m able to satisfy my bread cravings with my pasta.
Their soups appear to be seasonal, so I’ve usually found something new to try.
How can I not mention their mushroom risotto – that risotto just melts in my mouth… another must-have especially if you’re a risotto fan.
I’ve never really enjoy their desserts because I’ve found their cakes to be too dense, but then again, I’m glad I don’t enjoy it – it keeps me away from sugar! 😀
So with its good food, friendly staff and its spacious yet warm interiors it’s one of my favourite places to go on the weekdays and take time out for myself, to read, work or sketch the café.
Accessibility: There are two small steps to get into the café. There are no ramps, therefore it is not wheelchair accessible – in fact neither is their washroom – it’s extremely small.
Relevant Read:
2. The Pantry
The Pantry is very different from the Birdsong Café. It’s an almost all-white painted café, with small French windows, wooden tables accompanied with white metal chairs… a pretty café tucked away in South Mumbai’s Fort area.
They have gluten free and vegetarian options but extremely few vegan options.
They introduce some really nice changes to their menu based on the season so again it’s refreshing to discover something new to try out, although I am a creature of habit and it takes quite a bit of coaxing from the café staff, who by the way, are very sweet.
I stay away from their yummmm looking sandwiches as the bread isn’t gluten free, but their pizzas are – the bases are made of cauliflower! I’ve tried some and I’ve really enjoyed them – although a bit too much for one person (but worth it!).
Otherwise, I like to stick to having their vegan pad thai which are made of zucchini noodles served cold – somehow you don’t miss warm food when you’re having this.
Instead, I have a cup of hot tea with it and all’s good.
It’s another place that you can sit with a book, get some work done or just be. I usually take my time there, rest my legs a bit before I head back out exploring the streets of South Mumbai.
Accessibility: getting into the café with a wheelchair should be fine as there is a small bump up to get in (unless I’m remembering it incorrectly), but the washroom is inaccessible as there is a large step up to get in.
3. Suzette Crêperie & Café
There are quite a few Suzette Crêperies around, but I have almost always gone to the one in Bandra West with the smallest of seating inside and with a larger seating space outside… but it’s still a very small place, yet, I like it.
It’s strange how I love the high ceilings of the Birdsong Organic café and the openness of The Pantry, but I also like this really small intimate café that makes my mouth water every time I even think of their gluten-free buckwheat crepes… O’ heavenly.
I love how this small place can churn out the most flavourful, gluten free and vegan options.
My favourite crepe is Italie – it has basil pesto, mozzarella, sundried tomatoes, rocquette and a French dressing…. one crispy-crunchy bite of the buckwheat crêpe and it’ll just melt in your mouth.
They have quite a list of crêpe filling options and if you want, you can create your own too along with an all-day breakfast (filled with egg options), pancakes, and salads (the quinoa taboule is really nice).
They also have a really nice hot-chocolate 😀
Accessibility: No ramp, 3-4 large steps before you enter the cafe, too tight a space to even move in their washroom, so definitely not accessible – I don’t know how their other outlets are but the one in Bandra West is not accessible.
4. Kitchen Garden by Suzette
You must of guessed it, this place was started by the same people as Suzette Crêperie & Café and you don’t get any crêpes here!
What you do get is a make your own option, whether that’s a sandwich or a salad bowl. (They do have some non-make-your-own-options as well which I haven’t tried).
They have buckwheat bread as their gluten free option, but I’ve enjoyed their bowls more especially if I choose to add quinoa or black rice. They definitely cook their black rice to perfection, so if you’re weary of trying black rice, then this might be a good place to introduce yourself to it.
You can add your optional choice of salad, dressing, spread, vegetable, protein and cheese to the bowl along with the black rice or quinoa and you’re all set to eat something that is wholesome and filling.
But just in case you’re not done, try their chia seed pudding or their chocolate mousse (that’s if you’re okay to let go of being vegan).
There are many Kitchen Garden by Suzette outlets, but I prefer the one in Juhu – but this is one place you need to carry something to wear on top even in the summer months and especially if you feel cold quire easily – their ac is always so strong so I go prepared. 🙂
Accessibility: the entrance is levelled so navigating a wheelchair into their place should not be a problem, but their washrooms are not designed for wheelchair users.
Relevant Read:
5. Blue Tokai
Earlier, Blue Tokai was just a pure coffee shop place that only served coffee and baked stuff which I could never have. And being a tea person this place didn’t offer me anything… other than large windows, a calming place to sit and a place catch up with people who are coffee drinkers.
Now, it finally has something for me – although still no tea (which they will never add on to their menu as they’re coffee roasters, but maybe I should ask them if I can carry my own tea bag …I’ll be happy to pay for the hot water! 😛 )
The last time I went their I had one of their ‘Buddha Bowls’ called the Nourish Bowl. It had beetroot hummus, roasted zucchini, burnt aubergine, roasted tomatoes, falafel and quinoa.
It was so nourishing and I am so glad I gave this place another go.
The bowl was created to perfection and I was actually disappointed when I got through it all. Just extremely yummy and worth going back for.
Accessibility: Since I’ve only been to their Versova outlet, I can only speak about this one place. There’s no step free access and the washrooms spaces are not large enough for someone in a wheelchair to be able to turn in – despite renovating recently they didn’t make adequate changes.
Other places that I visit, but less often:
6. Kala Ghoda Café
I really like the Kala Ghoda Café. It’s a two minute walk from The Pantry and is often another delicious option to go for.
The Kala Ghoda Café provides gluten free pizza, pasta, flaxseed roti, waffles, and vegan curry amongst other options, plus their food style and flavouring is very different from The Pantry so within a small area you get two really good options to choose from.
Accessibility: Entering the Kala Ghoda Café on a wheelchair should not be difficult but I say this tentatively because I’m not entirely sure of the width of the door. Their washrooms are not accessible friendly.
7. Sequel
The Sequel I have been too is very close The Pantry and the Kala Ghoda Café but since I love the choice of food available at the Pantry and even the Kala Ghoda Café, Sequel tends to come last on my option list.
It has beautiful interiors, raw, yet clean lines and high ceilings, but I feel their food, despite ticking all my requirements is unnecessarily pricey.
Accessibility: It’s absolutely zero – frankly this is one place of all the ones on my list that easily had the space to create ramps but they did not. Plus their washrooms wouldn’t be large enough to navigate a wheelchair in.
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So people that’s my list, I hope you liked it and I hope it helps.
I also hope you realised one sad fact – none of these places are 100% wheelchair accessible. I hope people start to be more mindful of the rules and have the desire to promote equality when they build these places.
If you have any café suggestions, no matter where it is in the world, I would love to hear from you. The comments section is open below 🙂
Thank you for reading!
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Further Reads:
- My Experience: Treatments to Manage Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- 7+ Things I Learnt From Endometriosis
- Can Endometriosis Kill You?
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am a patient and have created this platform to share my experiences. This is all purely informative and in no way am I providing medical advice. Please consult a medical professional.
