"Niyati Rao's ten-course tasting in a 131-year-old Fort building, ranked in Asia's 50 Best — book weeks ahead for an inventive first date."
Niyati Rao named her restaurant after the Sanskrit word for one, a nod to the single perfect ingredient. Ekaa occupies the first floor of the 131-year-old Kitab Mahal in Fort, and its ten-course Chef's Tasting Menu, around ₹4,500, treats the Indian subcontinent as raw material rather than a fixed canon. The achappam stuffed with purple yam and glazed like okonomiyaki is the dish that tells you what she is doing. Ekaa ranks in Asia's 50 Best, and it is one of the most original kitchens in the city.
The Kitchen
Niyati Rao cooked at The Zodiac Grill and Wasabi by Morimoto in Mumbai before a formative stint at Noma in Copenhagen, and Ekaa reads as the synthesis of all three: Indian produce, Japanese technique, Nordic discipline around fermentation and umami. The ten-course tasting changes with the season, but the signatures recur — an achappam shell stuffed with purple yam purée and lacquered in an okonomiyaki glaze, a buff tartare cured with milk powder and set against a crisp koji waffle, and an in-house seafood monaka built to echo a childhood Pikwik biscuit. The menu deliberately avoids the usual fine-dining-Indian set pieces; there is no butter chicken reframe here, just a nation-hopping run of courses anchored to one standout ingredient at a time. The room earned its place in Asia's 50 Best on the strength of that point of view, and it sits comfortably among the city's best tasting menus. The pacing is precise — ten courses in about three hours — and the non-alcoholic pairing is as considered as the wine.
The Room
Ekaa is a small, low-lit room up a flight of stairs in a heritage Fort building, with around thirty covers and an open pass you can watch from many tables. Lighting is dim and intimate, tables are close but not cramped, and the sound stays conversational since the room is too small to roar. Dress is smart-casual; Mumbai's design crowd fills it most nights. Service is young, fluent in the menu and happy to explain each course's idea. The intimacy is the appeal — this is a counter-and-tables room built for attention, not a banquet hall.
Best for a First Date in Mumbai
Book Ekaa for a first date when both of you want to be surprised. The tasting menu hands you a conversation on a plate — every course arrives with a story, so there is never a silent stretch — and the small heritage room is intimate without trying too hard. Three reasons it works: the menu does the talking, the pacing gives you three unhurried hours, and the inventiveness signals taste without showing off. Reserve early in the week for the quietest room, take the non-alcoholic pairing if either of you is off the wine, and let Rao's kitchen set the rhythm.
Not for
Not for a diner who wants familiar Indian comfort food or a quick bite. Ekaa is a three-hour, ten-course experiment with no à la carte butter chicken — wrong for anyone craving a classic curry or a table they can leave in an hour.
Frequently Asked
Is Ekaa worth it?
Yes, if you want Mumbai's most inventive cooking rather than its most familiar. Niyati Rao trained at Noma and Wasabi by Morimoto, and her ten-course tasting menu treats the Indian subcontinent as a pantry to play with rather than a set of fixed dishes. Ekaa is ranked in Asia's 50 Best, and the ₹4,500 menu rewards a diner who wants to be surprised. Go for the full tasting and trust the kitchen on the order.
How much is the tasting menu at Ekaa?
The ten-course Chef's Tasting Menu runs roughly ₹4,500 to ₹4,800 per person, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions and an à la carte option alongside. Beverage pairings, including a strong non-alcoholic option, are charged on top. That places Ekaa among the higher-end tables in Fort and in line with Mumbai's other tasting-menu rooms. Book by phone on +91 99876 57989 or through the restaurant's site.
How hard is it to book Ekaa?
Fairly hard for weekends since the room is small and the menu changes seasonally, drawing regulars back. Book one to two weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday, less midweek. Ekaa sits on the first floor of the 131-year-old Kitab Mahal in Fort, so look for the discreet entrance. Tell them about dietary needs when you reserve, since the tasting menu is built around them. See our Mumbai dining guide for more.
What should I order at Ekaa?
Take the full ten-course tasting menu, which is the point of the restaurant. Watch for the signature achappam stuffed with purple yam and lacquered in an okonomiyaki glaze, the koji-waffle buff tartare, and the in-house seafood monaka that nods to a childhood biscuit. The menu shifts with the season, so the exact dishes change, but the fermentation-and-umami thread runs through all of it. Take the non-alcoholic pairing if you are curious.
Is Ekaa good for a first date?
Yes, for a confident, curious first date. The tasting menu gives you a built-in conversation — every course arrives with a story — and the small room is intimate without being stuffy. It runs about three hours, so it is a commitment; choose it when both of you want a long evening. Book early in the week for a quieter room. For more, see our guide to the best restaurants for a first date.