Restaurant India News: The Rameshwaram Café Debuts in Mumbai

The Rameshwaram Café, one of India’s fastest-growing South Indian café brands, has officially launched its first outlet in Mumbai. Located in the iconic Eros Building at Churchgate, the new café marks the brand’s entry into one of the country’s most dynamic dining markets. Spread across nearly 6,500 sq ft and designed over two levels, the outlet introduces a dining experience tailored to Mumbai’s unique food culture.

After building a strong following across Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, the brand now brings that legacy to Mumbai. Unlike the brand’s typical counter-led service format, the Churchgate outlet introduces a dual-format experience. The ground floor is designed for quick and efficient meals, catering to the fast-paced rhythm of the city. The first floor offers a more relaxed dine-in experience with a wider selection of accompaniments and attentive table service, allowing guests to enjoy the same core menu at a slower, more immersive pace.

The interiors were conceptualised by the brand’s in-house design team, focus on cultural continuity rather than visual spectacle. Inspired by temple architecture and coastal South India, the space features black and red stone, temple-grade Sadarahalli granite and subtle brass accents. The red tones also reflect the architectural character of the Eros Building, grounding the café within its Mumbai setting. 

On the first floor, traditional Tanjore paintings crafted by local artisans introduce another layer of cultural expression. These artworks bring warmth and devotional artistry into the space while maintaining a calm and welcoming atmosphere. The overall design aims to evoke familiarity and cultural memory rather than grandeur. Open from 5 AM to 1 AM, the café caters to both early-morning diners and late-night food cravings, serving everything from idlis and dosas to filter coffee. 

Founded in 2021 by Raghavendra Rao and CA Divya Raghavendra Rao, The Rameshwaram Café was envisioned as a modern South Indian café that could scale without losing its authenticity. Raghavendra’s early experience running a modest food cart in Bengaluru shaped the brand’s deep understanding of flavour, consistency and pace, while Divya’s strategic vision, backed by her background as a chartered accountant and IIM Ahmedabad graduate, helped build a brand designed for sustainable growth.

“Launching The Rameshwaram Cafe in Mumbai is a special milestone for us. The city has always been on our minds, not just because of its scale, but because of its deep love for food and its openness to regional flavours. We’ve always felt that Mumbai would connect with what we do, honest South Indian food, rooted in tradition and served with consistency. Expanding here felt like the right and timely next step in our journey” says Raghavendra Rao, The Rameshwaram Cafe.

Adding to this, CA Divya Rao, Co-Founder at The Rameshwaram Cafe shares “On a personal note, opening in Mumbai has been a dream for both of us for a long time. Over the years, we’ve had guests from the city visit us and encourage us to bring The Rameshwaram Cafe here, which made this decision even more meaningful. We’re excited to finally open our doors in Mumbai and to build something that stays true to our roots while growing with the city.”