Huzur Brings Traditional Family Recipes to Bandra’s Dining Scene

Huzur, a new fine-casual restaurant opens in Bandra, Mumbai. Founded by Zareen Baig and Atiq Kapadia, the restaurant brings together family recipes, Old Bombay food memories and culinary influences from across the subcontinent.

The idea behind Huzur comes from Zareen’s childhood memories of watching her mother cook traditional family meals. These recipes were passed down through generations and reflected the food traditions of different regions and communities. While developing the restaurant’s menu, Zareen revisited parts of Mumbai that she had explored with her mother, drawing inspiration from the city’s food culture and her own culinary experiences. 

The menu draws inspiration from Lahori, Shinwari and Afghan cuisines, along with recipes passed down through generations. It features meat-based dishes such as Nihari, Haleem, Kadhai, Chooza Tikka, Lahori Nashta and Huzur’s Pulao with whole rib. The restaurant also offers vegetarian dishes and its signature Kulfi Soft Serve.

The kitchen follows traditional cooking methods, using family spice blends, selected cuts of meat, long marinades and slow cooking techniques. Haleem, Paya and Nihari are cooked overnight, while the Kadhai is prepared and served in the same cooking vessel. Haleem is also made using a traditional wooden ghotni to achieve its characteristic texture.

“These recipes have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I wanted to preserve not just their flavours, but the feeling and care that came with them. Huzur is my way of giving these recipes a new home, where they can be experienced and shared by a new generation,” said Zareen Baig, Co-Founder and Culinary and Creative Director, Huzur.

Spread across approximately 1,000 sq. ft., the restaurant has 45 seats and an outdoor courtyard designed to create a home-like setting. The space draws inspiration from the courtyards where women in Zareen’s family gathered to cook. A fountain, Urdu lettering and storytelling elements are also incorporated into the interiors.

The phrase “Muntazir-e-Mehfil”, meaning awaiting the gathering, features on a wall, reflecting the restaurant’s focus on bringing people together over food. Words such as Riwayat (tradition), Nazakat (refinement), Suroor (joy), Nawaazish (graciousness), Raabta (connection) and Ibtida (beginning) appear across the restaurant’s walls, pots and tissue paper.

Huzur also features a tea counter and takeaway window for customers looking for a quick stop rather than a full dining experience. The design was developed by a Dubai-based team under Zareen’s creative guidance. Huzur aims to bring together traditional recipes and contemporary dining while keeping its focus on family memories, shared meals and the culinary heritage of the subcontinent.