Restaurant India News: Call Me Sofia Opens in Mumbai: Introduces Italian Aperitivo Culture

Call Me Sofia, an Italian-style aperitivo bar opens in Mumbai, tucked behind Olive Bar & Kitchen in Bandra. Conceptualised by restaurateur AD Singh and developed by the Olive Group, the bar aims to bring slow glamour and the charm of early-evening drinking culture to the city.

Positioned as Mumbai’s first dedicated aperitivo bar, Call Me Sofia opens at dusk, offering an intimate, semi-open space designed to feel like a hidden escape. The bar features a playful service element, a small window where guests can ring a bell to receive a cocktail setting the tone for a relaxed, whimsical experience.

Led by Lead Mixologist Harish Chhimwal and Italian Chef Alessandro Piso, the bar’s beverage programme combines Italian flavours, Mediterranean influences and technical precision. Chhimwal, a Times Mixologist of the Year in Delhi (2022) and Chandigarh (2024), brings a decade-and-a-half of experience, supported by an R&D lab in Delhi. He is joined by mixologists Sreerag and Chong, who add global and technique-driven expertise.

Designed by Sabina Singh, Group Director of Design, the interiors draw from rustic Italian influences with warm textures and an airy layout. The iconic courtyard tree, a longstanding feature of the location, remains the centrepiece of the refreshed space.

The food menu features small plates crafted to complement the drinks, with some cocktails paired with bite-sized edible accents. In a departure from traditional bar formats, bartenders engage directly with guests on the floor, guiding them to the best cocktail choices before food.

The cocktail menu is built on a low-ABV philosophy, focusing on aperitifs, vermouths, infused blends and lighter spirits to encourage slow sipping. Highlights include a Caprese-inspired cocktail, a cantaloupe-forward summer drink, and a house-made lemon-strawberry-merlot blend. Even the bar’s hangover-inspired drink, a coffee-forward mix with cream cheese and citrus carries a sense of playful irreverence.

“Call Me Sofia captures that rare moment when daylight softens and the night begins to find its shape,” says AD Singh, Founder, The Olive Group. “She is designed for closeness, where the ambience, the cocktails, and the conversations blend to create evenings that feel magical, meaningful, and deeply personal.”

With Call Me Sofia, the Olive Group brings Mumbai a new chapter; one that intertwines vintage Italian charm with Bandra’s laid-back heart.