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Mumbai’s historic and iconic Parsi cafe, Jimmy Boy, nestled in Fort near Horniman Circle has closed its doors just a few months shy of its 100th anniversary. A heart wrenching farewell to the culinary institution that has been a part of the city’s soul since its origin as Cafe India in the 1920s, the news is truly saddening.
A century old legacy
Founded in 1925 by the Irani family as a humble all day breakfast cafe, Jimmy Boy gradually embraced authentic Parsi cuisine under the name ‘Cafe India’. In 1999, the restaurant was rebranded to Jimmy Boy, which was then being led by the third generation Nazneen and Sherzad Irani, who infused the place with deeper Parsi flavours like Lagan nu Bhonu, Dhansak, Salli Boti, Patrani Macchi, Berry Pulao, Brun Maska, and traditional desserts like Mawa Cake and Lagan Nu Custard.
Boasting of a charming ambience, featuring chandeliers, wrought iron railings, checker cloth table settings and old English music that carried the patrons to a bygone era, Jimmy Boy has been a heritage cafe in the city through the years.
Sudden closure of Jimmy Boy
On June 20, 2025, a BMC junior engineer flagged the alarming structural cracks in the Vikar Building, which is the heritage edifice that housed Jimmy Boy. After further investigations were conducted by the BMC, fire brigade, and the police, the building was deemed as unsafe. Major vertical cracks were spotted which led to an emergency evacuation and legal notice regarding the demolition of the place under Section 354 of the MMC Act has been issued to be carried out.
The news of this sudden demolition crushed the centenary plans that had been brewing internally amongst the members of the Irani family. The team is currently, however, continuing its operations via their Mahim takeaway outlet, and serves baked goods to Cafe Olive Green in Navy Nagar. The online deliveries of this historic cafe have ramped up too,
Shehzad Irani, who is the Director of Operations of Jimmy Boy has described the closure as a “speed breaker”, however, he is confident that the brand will bounce back even stronger than before and that there are chances of a potential reopening in a restored or a new location.
Legacy and cultural impact of Jimmy Boy
Mumbai was once home to about 350 Irani cafes, however, only a handful of them remain present and operating today. These cafes have been an enduring symbol of the city’s Zoroastrian immigrant heritage and communal culture.
Jimmy Boy with its iconic legacy wasn't a place just associated with delicious and authentic Parsi food, but was a place that symbolised memory and nostalgia. The memories of Irani chai, Keema pav, Brun maska and Mawa samosas set against the backdrop of the ‘Bombay-era’ elegance was something that both the locals and the tourists cherished thoroughly.
The sudden closure of Jimmy Boy marks yet another fading thread in the tapestry associated with old-Mumbai as well as the end of an era. A loss that is far beyond bricks and mortar, the closure of this iconic cafe has severed one of the last living links to an Irani cafe that shaped the city’s culinary story for over a century. Yet, the spirit of the place ensures through its recipes, community and adaptability. The Irani family’s belief in their legacy and the ongoing takeaway operations hints at a phoenix that is ready to rise, perhaps not in the old building, but otherwise in the hearts of Mumbaikars everywhere.
With the sudden closure of Jimmy Boy, here are some other iconic Parsi cafes in the country that are also steeped in heritage and nostalgia and absolutely worth checking out
1. Kyani & Co. (Marine Lines, Mumbai)
Founded in 1904, this is Mumbai’s oldest surviving Irani cafe. Boasting of soaring wooden ceilings, bentwood chairs, and glass jars of confectionery, Kyani & Co. effortlessly transports you back in time. A hot bun maska with chai, the legendary wine (mawa) cake, or akuri on toast, this Parsi cafe boasts of all of this along with a vintage charm.
2. Britannia & Co. (Ballard Estate, Fort)
A 1923 colonial-era bungalow turned cafe, Britannia is famed for its Berry Pulao, where the barberries are imported directly from Iran and blended into a bed of fragrant rice. A popular Parsi cafe under the Kohioor family, the generations have preserved recipes like sali boti, dhansak and caramel custard. A well known spot that has been visited by famous Bollywood stars and diplomats alike, the Britannia & Co. is a well known heritage cafe in Mumbai.
3. Cafe Goodluck (Fergusson College Road, Pune)
A legendary Parsi cafe in the country, Cafe Goodluck in Pune was founded in 1935 and is one of the city’s oldest Irani cafes. Famed for their bun maska, omelettes and Irani tea, this cafe is a beloved hangout spot for students boasting of a rustic charm.