After establishing itself as one of Mumbai’s most distinctive café destinations, MOKAI by Karreena Bulchandani is set to unveil its second outlet in the city, expanding the brand’s philosophy of coffee, matcha, and immersive hospitality into a larger, experience-driven space. Conceived as a journey that unfolds in chapters, the new café invites guests to move through a series of environments that reflect the philosophy, creativity, and visual language that define the MOKAI brand.
The experience begins even before stepping inside. The façade makes an immediate statement with a vibrant artwork that has evolved significantly from the earlier version. This new interpretation is far more intricate and layered, incorporating elements of Kintsugi. Fine gold strokes run across the façade, weaving through the design alongside detailed elements such as Mount Fuji. A matcha bowl and whisk have also been introduced into the artwork, marking a shift from the earlier coffee-focused illustration and reflecting the café’s growing relationship with matcha. Compared to the earlier illustrative style, the design now carries greater depth, texture, and visual complexity.
Inside, the space opens into a high-ceilinged café filled with natural light. Sunlight streams through a transparent roof while long curtains soften the brightness, creating a gentle, almost cinematic atmosphere. The interior is divided into multiple sections, allowing the space to unfold gradually rather than reveal itself all at once.
At the entrance, guests encounter “Chapter One,” the first of several narrative elements woven into the café’s design. This chapter introduces the café’s distinctive blue-orange uniforms and their role within the MOKAI identity. The area also houses a small manual pour-over bar, where a futuristic brewing machine from Korea allows baristas to operate the system through a tablet while preparing manual coffees. The process transforms coffee brewing into a performance in itself, drawing attention to the ritual and craft behind each cup. Guests will also be able to watch baristas brew their coffee in a dedicated space.
Behind the pour-over bar, an installation inspired by slow brewing sets the tone for the space. Turtle elements symbolise patience and slowness, accompanied by a sculptural twig installation and back-painted glass. Moss, flowers inspired by coffee leaves and berries, and artwork referencing coffee farms bring together natural textures and visual storytelling. Even the pillows in this area echo the brand’s identity, designed in shapes aligned with MOKAI’s visual language.
Moving deeper into the café, the full marble coffee bar becomes the centrepiece of the ground floor. During the day, natural light cascades across the marble surface, creating an ombré effect that shifts with the movement of the sun. As evening falls, the lighting transforms the mood of the space. Most lights are dimmed, leaving the matcha bar illuminated with a soft rose-quartz glow that draws attention to the centre of the café.
Opposite the bar sits the Kintsugi Corner, a space dedicated to the philosophy that has shaped much of the café’s design. Here, art pieces inspired by Kintsugi sit alongside plated installations with gold detailing. The concepts of Wabi-Sabi and Kintsugi are explored through these installations, demonstrating how the idea of embracing imperfection has been translated into both the brand and the physical space.
Further along the ground floor, a Wall of Collabs celebrates the café’s journey and the collaborations that have shaped its identity. Photographs from partnerships with brands and personalities line the wall, reflecting the creative grind that has built the MOKAI community. Above the staircase, origami birds appear suspended mid-flight, leading the eye upward to the next level. The staircase itself becomes part of the installation, featuring lighting and a stone structure that glows softly in the evening, with a subtle Kintsugi detail embedded within it.
Another striking feature on the ground floor is a nine-foot Great Wave–inspired lighting installation, constructed using origami. Elements that appear as artwork on the exterior façade re-emerge inside as three-dimensional forms, blurring the boundary between graphic design and physical installation.
Upstairs, the atmosphere shifts once again. The first sight is a balcony seating area overlooking the entire café below, allowing guests to pause and observe the space from above. Nearby sits an In Stock corner inspired by a travel luggage bag, reflecting the idea of travel and discovery that runs through the MOKAI concept. The takeaway counter carries the same language, complete with a luggage handle and a luggage tag reading “In Stock.”
Beyond this lies one of the café’s most unexpected environments: Team MOKAI’s Home. Guests enter through a house-style door with a mailbox on the right side, stepping into a setting designed to resemble a lived-in home. Textured walls, curtains, and everyday elements such as a bed, washing machine, and fridge create an atmosphere that feels deliberately domestic. At the centre of the room stands a large family table beneath a Japanese-inspired chandelier installation, reinforcing the idea of shared experiences around food.
This entire level forms the café’s experience floor, centred around the Matcha Bar, designed as India’s first floating matcha bar. Surrounded by water, moss, and sensory elements, the bar becomes a focal point where guests can watch baristas prepare different types of matcha while seated nearby, with the focus shifting toward adaptogens and wellness-focused offerings. The crockery used on this floor has been specially designed and produced from scratch, and certain dishes are served exclusively in this space.
The experience mirrors the rituals of daily life at home. Guests can receive beauty face masks or sheet masks as part of the experience, and in the mornings the service team wears nightdresses until noon, reflecting the relaxed rhythm of home. After midday, the team changes into MOKAI’s blue-orange uniforms, which themselves draw inspiration from Kintsugi.
Details throughout the space continue to reinforce the idea of home. Some matcha drinks are served with sheet masks included, while others allow guests to purchase them separately. A “breakfast in bed” seating option allows guests to enjoy their meal surrounded by pillows featuring quotes and design elements. Each table is also equipped with a telephone so guests can call their barista directly to place or customise their order, echoing the familiarity of a home telephone.
Even the washrooms become part of the storytelling. Inspired by the streets of Tokyo, the first-floor washroom includes cameras with flashlights referencing the experience of constant photography in the city. Around twenty mirrors create layers of reflections, accompanied by futuristic posters and curated soundscapes. One washroom plays Asian music while the other plays an Asian audiobook. On both floors, the entrances are hidden behind speakeasy-style doors, including a vending machine door on the ground floor inspired by the many vending machines found across Japan.
At the centre of it all sits the Matcha Bar, designed as India’s first floating matcha bar. Surrounded by water, moss, and sensory elements, the bar becomes a focal point where guests can watch baristas prepare different types of matcha while seated nearby.
Alongside the space, the menu continues MOKAI’s approach of offering dishes that feel both comforting and unexpected. New additions include a savoury cereal bowl inspired by Asian flavours like nori and a chilli crisp gochugaru fermented honey French toast. The menu also features burgers, different styles of egg scrambles, and protein bowls, while desserts include Valrhona chocolate wontons served with sea salt cream.
Despite being located in a busy part of Mumbai, the café creates a striking contrast once inside. Soundproof glass separates the space from the noise of the city, while carefully curated playlists change throughout the day from breakfast to lunch to dinner. The matcha area in particular is designed to feel calm and zen, with sunlight filtering through the glass above the bar and a softer soundtrack in the mornings.
With its second outlet, MOKAI transforms from a café into a multi-layered experience, one where design, philosophy, and everyday rituals come together to create a space that feels immersive, unexpected, and distinctly its own.
Quick Facts
Address : 600, 601, 602, Hill Crest Building, Ground Floor, Dr Ambedkar Road, Arvind Store, Pali Hill, Bandra West, Mumbai.
Contact Number : 8200 62166
Timings: 8am to 11.30pm
