"Hussain Shahzad's 12-seat counter in Bandra — a playful 12-course tasting honouring Floyd Cardoz, Mumbai's hardest seat for a special dinner."
About Papa’s
Papa's is the twelve-seat chef's-counter restaurant above Veronica's on Hill Road in Bandra West, Mumbai. It is the personal project of chef Hussain Shahzad, an alumnus of New York's Eleven Madison Park and a mentee of the late Floyd Cardoz, the Goan-American chef fondly called Papaji, after whom the restaurant is named. The setting is an intimate 1980s-style Mumbai home dressed in art-deco memorabilia, and the format is a single tasting menu served omakase-style at the counter.
The cooking is Indian in soul and surprising in spirit. For more of the city's tasting tables, compare the modern Indian menus at Masque, the ingredient-led cooking at Ekaa and the chef-driven plates at The Table. For the category, see our tasting-menu guide.
The Kitchen
Papa's serves one thing: a 12-course tasting menu, custom-built around each guest's dietary preferences and choice of spirit, noted when the booking is confirmed. Hussain Shahzad's cooking is Indian at its core but playful and boundary-pushing, with signatures such as foie gras laddoos and a nihari pie, and a menu that has run dishes from red ants to rabbit and a clam cocktail. The whole experience unfolds at the counter, a few feet from the chef. Pricing is around 4,750 rupees plus taxes for the vegetarian menu and 4,950 plus taxes for the non-vegetarian. It is a tribute kitchen, named for Floyd Cardoz, where the technical polish of fine dining meets a deliberately unstuffy spirit.
The Room
The room seats just twelve, set up as a chef's table inside an old-world Bandra home with art-deco touches, so the meal feels closer to a dinner party than a restaurant service. Dinner runs Wednesday to Saturday, and the single nightly sitting makes it one of the most sought-after seats in Mumbai. Reservations open at 11am on the first of each month and the slots are routinely gone within minutes, so booking is the real challenge. The intimacy and the counter format make it best for diners who want to talk to the kitchen rather than a quiet table for a large group.
Best for an Anniversary
The intimate counter and the personalised tasting make Papa's a memorable anniversary or first date for guests who love food, and a distinctive room in which to impress clients in Mumbai.
Not for
Not for a large group, a spontaneous walk-in or diners who want à la carte choice — it is a 12-seat counter serving one set tasting menu, booked weeks ahead.
Frequently Asked
Who is the chef at Papa's in Mumbai?
The chef is Hussain Shahzad, an alumnus of New York's Eleven Madison Park and a mentee of the late Floyd Cardoz. Papa's is his personal restaurant, named in tribute to Cardoz, fondly known as Papaji, and runs as a twelve-seat chef's counter in Bandra.
What is the menu at Papa's?
Papa's serves a single 12-course tasting menu, custom-built around each guest's dietary preferences and chosen spirit. The cooking is Indian in soul but playful, with signatures such as foie gras laddoos and a nihari pie, served omakase-style at the counter.
How much does Papa's Mumbai cost?
The tasting menu is around 4,750 rupees plus taxes for the vegetarian option and 4,950 rupees plus taxes for the non-vegetarian, with a chosen spirit pairing noted at booking. It is a fixed-price experience rather than à la carte.
How do I get a reservation at Papa's?
Papa's has just twelve seats and opens reservations at 11am on the first of every month, with most slots gone within a few minutes. It is open Wednesday to Saturday for dinner, which makes it one of the hardest seats to secure in Mumbai.
Where is Papa's in Mumbai?
Papa's is above Veronica's on Hill Road in Bandra West, set inside an intimate 1980s-style home decorated with art-deco memorabilia. The dining counter seats twelve and the location is deliberately low-key, in keeping with its dinner-party feel.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Papa’s
Reservations open at 11am on the first of each month and go within minutes; Papa's seats twelve, above Veronica's on Hill Road in Bandra West.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressAbove Veronica's, Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050
NeighbourhoodBandra West (Hill Road)
CuisineModern Indian tasting menu
Price12-course tasting ~₹4,750 veg / ~₹4,950 non-veg, plus taxes
Dress CodeSmart-casual
SeatingTwelve-seat chef's counter in an art-deco Bandra home
ReservationEssential
