CT Review: We Rode Across Mumbai To Try RumBaba’s Coffee & The Cascara Made Every Kilometre Worth It!

After a long bike ride through Mumbai traffic, random signals, and a couple of “bro, are we even going the right way?” moments, we finally reached RumBabaa in Andheri West. Hidden inside one of the quieter internal lanes right opposite the YRF studio gate, the café doesn’t scream for attention from outside. In fact, it almost feels too tiny when you first enter.

We Found A Hidden Café Near YRF Studios And Ended Up Staying For Hours

But then the place slowly opens up floor by floor. What starts as a compact little café downstairs turns into a warm multi-level space with cosy corners, soft lighting and enough comfort to make you want to sit there for hours pretending to work while actually judging everybody’s food orders.

There’s something unpolished yet charming about RumBabaa. You might even spot a celebrity walking around the YRF side if luck is on your side. 

From Cascara To Char Siu, RumBabaa Surprised Us At Every Step

We started the evening with their Cascara, which immediately caught our attention.

For those who haven’t tried it before, cascara uses the dried cherry part of the coffee fruit rather than the bean itself. The result was surprisingly light, fruity and refreshing. It carried subtle berry notes with a citrussy tang running through it without becoming too sharp.

Perfect summer drink if you want to have coffee but it’s late, and you hate other decaf versions. Its just smooth enough to slowly wake you up after a tiring ride across the city.

RumBabaa Might Have Cracked The Vietnamese Coffee Formula

Now comes the real star. I’ve had Vietnamese coffee at multiple places across Mumbai and even in other states, but RumBabaa’s version genuinely stood out. Usually, places either overdo the sweetness or the coffee ends up tasting too bitter underneath the condensed milk. This one balanced both beautifully.

Strong coffee notes stayed throughout, while the sweetness complemented instead of overpowering. Thick, creamy and rich without feeling excessive. One sip in and we already knew we’d be recommending it to people later. Easily one of the better Vietnamese coffees we’ve had in Mumbai recently.

We even tried their best seasonal drink: The Mango Matcha, which arrived like a showstopper drink and quietly caught the gaze of the nearby tables. If you enjoy matcha and love mangos, this should be on your list. The freeze-dried mangoes on the top are like perfect crumbly treats.

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The Food Kept Getting Better

The Krapow Pizza was a good start. Comforting, flavourful and easy to like without trying too hard.

Then came the Bajra Taco, which was probably one of the more interesting dishes of the evening. A crispy savoury jackfruit cake placed over mini bajra tortillas gave it both texture and earthiness. It’s a great option to order for the vegetarian friends in the house. 

The Khao Phat worked beautifully as a hearty bowl for the table. Fragrant rice, amazingly marinated chicken pieces, roasted vegetables and Thai basil jus tied everything together really well. Comfort food with enough flavour packed into every bite.

But the Char Siu sandwich quietly became another favourite. Juicy chicken tucked into freshly baked sourdough bread, with a sticky glaze that struck the right balance of sweetness and savouriness.

Even The Desserts Surprised Us

I’ll be honest, I usually avoid kunafa-heavy desserts because they can become too sweet too quickly.

But House of Miso completely changed that for me.

The dessert combined melted chocolate, pistachio flavours and crunchy katafi in a way that somehow made me relish it till the last drop of the rich chocolate. 

And then there was the Tiramisu French Toast. If you are bored with eating the same old tiramisu but not ready to give it up yet, maybe this is your cue to order this dessert. The flavour of tiramisu lay on the bed of buttery toast. One bite and you’re already questioning how to reach home without slipping into a food coma. 

Also Read: CT Review: Mumbai’s Dessert Therapy Kitchen Makes Indulgence Feel Like Self-Care With Cheesecakes & More!

RumBabaa Feels Like One Of Those Places You Accidentally Keep Returning To

That’s probably the best way to describe it. The cafe is simply focusing on good coffee, thoughtful food and a comfortable atmosphere where people can slow down for a bit.

And somewhere between the Vietnamese coffee, the Char Siu sandwich and those quiet Andheri lanes near YRF, RumBabaa quietly wins you over.

So if you are in Andheri West and wish to take a stop for a huge menu full of coffee and beverage options along with comfort food, you know where to take that pitstop! 

Cover Image Courtesy: Deeplata Garde, Bhavesh Hagwane