Long before gourmet cookies and café desserts flooded Instagram feeds, Mumbai’s old bakeries were already perfecting the art of buttery khari, crumbly nankhatai and warm mawa biscuits fresh from the oven.
As America celebrated National Biscuit Day, we visited the city’s iconic bakeries this weekend — the ones that continue to draw crowds with timeless recipes, tea-time nostalgia and the irresistible aroma of biscuits stacked behind ageing glass counters.
From jeera biscuits paired with evening chai to coconut cookies wrapped in paper packets for the journey home, these beloved bakery staples remain deeply stitched into Mumbai’s everyday food culture.
Mawa, Kaju And Coconut Delights At Merwan’s
At Merwan’s Cake Shop, biscuit trays are replenished almost continuously throughout the day.
The bakery offers a wide spread, including:
- mawa biscuits
- coconut cookies
- cashewnut biscuits
- butter cookies
- wheat biscuits
According to a staff member, the baking process starts around 9.30 am every morning to ensure customers receive fresh, warm biscuits throughout the day. The bakery reportedly sells close to 70 packets daily, with anjeer and mawa cookies among the biggest favourites.
Located at Khanna Apartment opposite Diamond Garden in Chembur, the bakery also has outlets across Santacruz, Andheri, Bandra, Khar, Borivli, Mulund, Malad, Thane and Navi Mumbai.
Cost: Around Rs 140 per packet.
Mumbai’s Endless Love Affair With Khari
Few snacks are as closely associated with Mumbai evenings as crisp, flaky khari biscuits served alongside hot chai. At the iconic Kyani & Co, the buttery pastries continue to be baked in small batches to preserve their delicate layers and crunch.
According to a report by Mid-day, customers still return every evening specifically for khari and tea, adding that the taste and freshness remains the biggest attraction.
Located at Jer Mahal Building on Jagannath Shankarsheth Road in Marine Lines, the bakery sells khari at approximately Rs 600 per kg.
Jeera Biscuits Continue To Rule Tea-Time Tables
Across several heritage bakeries, jeera biscuits remain one of the city’s most-loved savoury snacks. At City Bakery, the cumin-flavoured biscuits are known for their crisp texture and earthy flavour. Customers particularly enjoy the strong jeera aroma and crunch.
Located on Dr Annie Besant Road in Worli, the biscuits are priced at around Rs 290 per packet.
Meanwhile, Original Bakery in Sion East continues to attract regulars for its classic jeera biscuits that pair perfectly with evening tea.
Cost: Around Rs 280 per kg.
At Parsi Dairy Farm, the jeera biscuits remain a quick grab-and-go favourite across multiple outlets in Marine Lines, Ghatkopar, Borivli and Thane.
Cost: Approximately Rs 300 per kg.
Coconut Biscuits Bring Back Old Bakery Memories
Crunchy on the outside and lightly sweet at the centre, coconut biscuits continue to evoke nostalgia for generations of Mumbai families. At Original Persian Bakery, the biscuits are prepared using fresh coconut and traditional small-batch baking methods. The biscuits remain popular because of their rich aroma and soft crunch.
Located at Balaram Bhawan on Balaram Street in Grant Road East, the biscuits are priced at around Rs 350 per packet.
In Thane, St Anthony’s Bakery is particularly known for its coconut macaroon cookies featuring a crisp shell and soft coconut-filled centre.
Cost: Around Rs 380 per packet.
Khara And Elaichi Biscuits Carry A Century Of History
Bangalore Iyengar Bakery traces its origins back to 1898 and remains one of Mumbai’s oldest bakery institutions. Founded by HS Thirumalachar, who reportedly learnt baking techniques from the British era, the bakery is famous not only for its Khara Bun Congress (KBC) but also for its khara and elaichi biscuits.
The Mid-day report quoted Manjunath Shetty, who has worked there for two decades, saying that the biscuit-making process can take anywhere between two and four hours. Located on Sir Bhalchandra Road in Matunga East, the biscuits cost around Rs 150 per packet.
At Café Colony, buttery Shrewsbury biscuits, butter khari and mawa cake continue to draw loyal regulars. Located near Tilak Bridge in Dadar East, the biscuits are priced at approximately Rs 300 per packet.
Meanwhile, Shree Ram Bakery remains popular for its light, crumbly elaichi biscuits that pair perfectly with ginger tea.
Cost: Around Rs 100.
Bandra’s Cult Bakery Still Guards Its Secret Recipes
More than a century old, J Hearsch & Co. continues to enjoy cult status among Bandra residents. The bakery is especially known for its distinctive wine biscuits, crisp, lightly sweet treats carrying a subtle wine essence.
Located on Hill Road beside Holy Family Hospital in Bandra West, the biscuits are priced at around Rs 65 each.
Handcrafted Nankhatais Still Draw Early Crowds
At the 73-year-old Yazdani Bakery, traditional nankhatais and biscuits are still prepared by hand using pure desi ghee.
Munna Kumar from the bakery says quality remains non-negotiable, with biscuits baked fresh every day. He also advises customers to visit early if they want the bakery’s highly sought-after Shrewsbury-Nankhatai biscuits before they sell out.
Located on Cawasji Patel Road in Fort, the biscuits cost around Rs 200 per packet.
For those who prefer a richer, buttery version, Gupta Bakery and Farsan Store in Ghatkopar West remains another popular stop for crumbly nankhatais.
Cost: Approximately Rs 250 per packet.
While modern cafés and gourmet dessert chains continue to multiply across Mumbai, these legacy bakeries remain timeless comfort spaces where recipes, aromas and rituals have survived generations. From flaky khari at Marine Lines to coconut biscuits in Grant Road and warm mawa cookies in Chembur, Mumbai’s biscuit culture continues to thrive, one crunchy, buttery bite at a time.
