Restaurant India News: CocoCart & Cafe Launches 24x7 Flagship at Mumbai Airport T2 Arrivals

CocoCart & Cafe is set to open its flagship outlet at Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 2 Arrivals this November, signalling a planned transition from a premium chocolate retailer to a broader lifestyle-led food and beverage concept. Located in one of India’s busiest airport zones, the outlet reflects the brand’s strategy to combine global confectionery retail with a full-scale café format designed around traveller needs.

Operating round the clock in sync with airport schedules, the new store targets a specific gap in arrival-area hospitality. The concept is built on the insight that post-flight moments are often driven by fatigue and the need for familiarity, comfort, and quality. Positioning the outlet at the arrivals terminal aligns with Mumbai’s role as India’s primary gateway city and allows the brand to capture both transient and dwell-time-driven consumption.

Karan Ahuja, Co-Founder, CocoCart & Cafe, along with Arjun Ahuja, identified the arrivals terminal as a strategic touchpoint where travellers seek either convenience-led consumption or the option to pause for a complete dining experience. The outlet is designed to cater to both segments, from customers needing a quick coffee to those looking for a sit-down meal after long-haul travel.

The interior follows CocoCart’s “whimsical wanderer” concept, incorporating vintage travel cues through scalloped design elements, striped panels, and a colour palette anchored in Apricot Swirl and Molten Fudge tones. The fully indoor, climate-controlled layout balances visual calm with visibility into the terminal environment. A dedicated quiet zone equipped with charging points extends the space into a functional coworking area, addressing the needs of business travellers seeking post-flight productivity. From an airport retail perspective, the design attempts to balance warmth, functionality, and operational efficiency within a high-traffic setting.

The all-day menu focuses on comfort-oriented offerings with structured execution. Breakfast options include Rosti, Kejriwal, and Paneer Akuri, while mains span ramen and a pasta-your-way format, supported by handcrafted focaccia sandwiches available through late-night hours. Culinary direction has been led by Karan Ahuja and executed by an in-house development team, with chefs trained in global preparation techniques. The approach prioritises consistent quality and ingredient integrity alongside scale-ready execution.

Beverages and desserts draw directly from CocoCart’s established portfolio of international chocolate brands. Drinks such as the Rhine Valley Dark Hot Chocolate and Lindt Mocha are paired with desserts including The Dubai Pistachio Kunafa Cake and the World’s Best Godiva Cookie. The café experience is intentionally integrated with the retail component, allowing customers to move seamlessly from dining to gifting. A customised gifting counter enables travellers to curate chocolate assortments from brands including Neuhaus, Venchi, Godiva, Whittaker’s, Feastables, Ferrero, and Lindt.

“I’ve always believed that when you respect the ingredient, you respect the consumer. Everything we do – from import to cold chain to café service – is rooted in that simple principle. India deserves chocolate that is honest, beautifully crafted, and presented with intention, and CocoCart & Cafe exists to make that standard accessible to everyone,” said Avantika Ahuja, Founder, CocoCart & Cafe.

Ahead of the public opening, the brand hosted a soft launch for select media, influencers, and existing patrons, featuring tasting menus, interactive gifting formats, and immersive brand installations. Seasonal menu updates and limited-edition collaborations with in-house chocolate brands have already been introduced, positioning the outlet as a dynamic offering rather than a static airport café.

As Karan Ahuja, Co-Founder, CocoCart & Cafe, described the concept, the outlet is “where that magic greets you at arrival.” From a hospitality industry standpoint, the launch underscores the growing emphasis on experience-led airport dining and the convergence of retail and food service formats to drive higher dwell time and average transaction value.