Native Bombay Reopens at Ballard Estate with New Menu and IHCL’s Soulinaire Partnership

Native Bombay is set to reopen at its existing address in Mumbai’s Ballard Estate with a revised menu and a new hospitality partnership with Soulinaire, the lifestyle catering brand of The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). The association brings IHCL’s hospitality and service expertise into the restaurant’s operations as it introduces an updated dining format.

Led by Chef Darius Madon, the restaurant’s revised menu focuses on Indian cuisine influenced by Mumbai’s diverse food traditions, including Parsi cafés, coastal kitchens, street food and regional cooking. The offering places greater emphasis on small plates and sharing, allowing diners to sample a wider selection of dishes.

The menu is organised across sections including Small Beginnings, Bombay Snackery, Small Plates, Curries & Bombay Comforts, Rice & Bread and Bombay Sweets. Dishes include Bun Maska, Ghee Roasted Kathal Taco, Chicken Thecha Poppers, Khaman Chaat, Crispy Palak Chaat and Mutton Galouti Sliders. The small-plates selection features Crab Bake, Maska Prawns, Patrani Macchi, Thechha Chicken Kebab and Tandoori Lamb Chops.

The main course menu includes Mutton Dhansak, Native Butter Chicken, Coastal Prawn Curry, Cafreal Chicken and Malabar Duck Leg. Desserts include Shahi Tukda, Baked Jamun Rabdi and Kesar Phirni. The selection combines familiar Mumbai and regional Indian dishes with contemporary interpretations.

Amrita Malik, Promoter, Native Bombay, said, “Native Bombay has always been very personal to us because it reflects the city we love. Bombay is constantly changing, yet there is something wonderfully familiar about it. We wanted Native to reflect that same spirit. This new chapter brings fresh energy and a more contemporary dining experience while remaining true to the warmth, character and cultural diversity that have always defined the restaurant.”

Chef Darius Madon said, “Bombay has an incredible food culture because so many different communities have contributed to it. With this menu, we wanted to bring those influences together in a way that feels natural and exciting. There are dishes people will recognise instantly, alongside interpretations that offer something unexpected. The small-plates format allows guests to experience more of the menu, share different dishes and make each visit their own.”

The restaurant will retain its existing Ballard Estate setting, with exposed brickwork, timber beams, warm lighting and industrial architectural features. The partnership with Soulinaire adds IHCL’s hospitality capabilities and personalised service approach to the restaurant’s renewed positioning.

The reopening combines a revised food offering with an operational association aimed at strengthening the restaurant’s dining and service experience in Mumbai.