Margaretzcd at 08:24, 4 May 2026

2026-05-04T08:24:04Z

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{{Short description|Iranian style of café in South Asia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
[[File:Yazdani Bakery in Fort.jpg|thumb|[[Yazdani Bakery]] in [[Mumbai, India]]]]
'''Irani cafés''' are [[Iranian cuisine|Iranian]]-style cafés in the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |author=Jayshree Bajoria |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4485523.stm |title=India's Iranian cafes fading out |date=27 April 2005 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2007-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008115339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4485523.stm |archive-date=8 October 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/06/02/711946179/parsi-cafes-a-centuries-old-tradition-in-india-are-vanishing|title=Parsi Cafes, A Centuries-Old Tradition In India, Are Vanishing|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-14|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712223124/https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/06/02/711946179/parsi-cafes-a-centuries-old-tradition-in-india-are-vanishing|url-status=live}}</ref> They were originally opened by [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] [[Irani (India)|Irani immigrants]] to [[British India]] in the 19th century, fleeing [[Qajar Iran|Qajar]] persecution or looking for better economic prospects.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Emigration of Iranian Elites to India during the 16-18th centuries | url = http://asiecentrale.revues.org/480 | access-date = 2013-12-17 | first = Haneda | last = Masashi | journal = Cahiers d'Asie Centrale | date = October 1997 | issue = 3/4 | pages = 129–143 | archive-date = 14 July 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130714180857/http://asiecentrale.revues.org/480 | url-status = live }}</ref> In India, [[Mumbai]], [[Pune]] and [[Hyderabad]] have a number of Irani cafés, which are popular for '''''Irani chai''''' (tea).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/Quintessentially-Hyderabadi%E2%80%94Irani-Tea/2015/03/05/article2699181.ece |title=Quintessentially Hyderabadi—Irani Tea |date=6 March 2015 |website=New Indian Express |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-date=24 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924025426/http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/Quintessentially-Hyderabadi%E2%80%94Irani-Tea/2015/03/05/article2699181.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=iraniloss>{{cite web |author=Naomi Lobo |date=20 May 2007 |url=http://www.fravahr.org/spip.php?breve260 |title=Irani cafés: Inheritance of loss |publisher=India Express |access-date=2007-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206100038/http://www.fravahr.org/spip.php?breve260 |archive-date=6 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the 1950s, there were 350 Irani cafés in Mumbai; only 25 remained in the city as of 2005.<ref name=bbc /> Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, it is estimated that the number of Irani cafés has shrunk from 450 in the 2000s to 125 in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2024-08-12|title=Hyderabad: Why Irani cafes in this Indian city are dying out|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg2rn0kexxo|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref> [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]], was also home to many Irani cafés.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1196370/|title=Where have the Iranian restaurants gone?|work=Dawn|date=26 July 2015|access-date=26 July 2015|archive-date=28 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728205214/http://www.dawn.com/news/1196370|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Noorani">{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1176209/looking-back-at-karachis-irani-cafe-culture|title=Looking back at Karachi's Irani cafe culture|work=Dawn|date=10 September 2016|access-date=10 September 2016|first=Asif|last=Noorani|archive-date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910142212/http://images.dawn.com/news/1176209/looking-back-at-karachis-irani-cafe-culture|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
They were originally opened by [[Zoroastrian]] [[Irani (India)|Irani immigrants]] to British India in the 19th century after they fled from Safavid persecution in [[West Asia|West]] and [[Central Asia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/irani-cafes-make-a-millienial-comeback/article24280012.ece|title=Irani cafes make a millenial comeback|last=Krishna|first=Anubhuti|date=2018-06-28|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-31|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705132940/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/irani-cafes-make-a-millienial-comeback/article24280012.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

Writing for the ''Hindu Business Line'', on "Mumbai's Irani hotspots", Sarika Mehta stated, "The classic format of these cafes is basic with a subtle colonial touch; high ceilings with black, bent wooden chairs (now cane in some cafes), wooden tables with marble tops and glass jars that allow a peek into the goodies they hold. With huge glass mirrors on the walls to create a feeling of space, visitors are greeted with eagerness and a whiff of baking. The speed of operations is impressive and service quite hassle-free."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2006/10/06/stories/2006100600020100.htm|title=The Hindu Business Line : Mumbai's Irani hotspots|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002220028/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2006/10/06/stories/2006100600020100.htm|archive-date=2007-10-02|url-status=dead|access-date=2007-12-24}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
B. Merwan and Co., Grand Road, Mumbai (6).jpg|Menu at Merwan Cafe
Irani chai and osmania biscuits.jpg|[[Irani chai]] and [[Osmania biscuit]]s served in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]
Britannia irani cafe.jpg|Britannia Café, an Irani café at [[Ballard Estate]], [[South Mumbai]]
Brabourne restaurant dhobi.jpg|Interior of Kayani and Company, an Irani café
</gallery>

==Fare==
Irani cafés may serve ''bun maska'' (bread and butter)<ref>{{cite book | last=Miguel | first=H.S. | title=Mumbai | publisher=Intellect Books | series=Intellect Books - World Film Locations Series | year=2012 | isbn=978-1-84150-632-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0_v3jr6TCAC&pg=PA58 | language=id | access-date=21 February 2018 | page=58 | archive-date=11 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811082957/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0_v3jr6TCAC&pg=PA58 | url-status=live }}</ref> or brun-maska (hard buttered croissants),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/alvida-brun-maska/226888|title=Alvida, Brun-Maska {{!}} Outlook India Magazine|last=Koppikar|first=Smruti|date=28 March 2005|website=Outlook India|access-date=2020-03-14|archive-date=5 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105065015/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/alvida-brun-maska/226888|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Noronha|first=Paul|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/leisure/byebye-to-brun-maska/article4034217.ece|title=Bye-bye to Brun maska?|date=2012-10-27|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-03-14|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830092952/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/leisure/byebye-to-brun-maska/article4034217.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''paani kam chai'' (a strong Iranian tea, {{abbr|lit.|literally}} 'tea with less water'), or ''khari chai'' (very strong tea), mutton [[samosa]]s, and ''[[kheema]] pav'' (minced meat served in bread rolls), [[akuri]] (scrambled eggs and vegetables), berry [[pilaf|pulao]], vegetable puff, vegetarian/chicken [[dhansak]] (a spiced lentil dish with meat and vegetables) and [[biryani]], cherry cream custard, cheese khari biscuits, plain khari biscuits, coconut jam and milk biscuits and [[Duke and Sons|Duke's]] raspberry drink.

Many Irani cafés offer sweet and salted biscuits<ref>{{cite book | last=Damle | first=J.Y. | title=Pune: Tradition to Market: a Study of Changing Trends in Consumption with Special Reference to Service Sector in Hotel Industry | publisher=Kalpaz Publications | year=2011 | isbn=978-81-7835-895-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S95pZp81RSsC&pg=PA117 | access-date=21 February 2018 | page=117}}</ref> like ''rawa'' ([[semolina]]), ''til-rawa'' coconut, ''[[nankhatai]]'' (sweet, crisp flaky Irani biscuits), [[Madeira cake]] ([[Tutti frutti (food)|tutti-frutti]] biscuits).{{fact|date=November 2025}}

== Cultural references ==
[[Nissim Ezekiel]] wrote a poem based on instruction boards found in his favourite Irani café: the defunct Bastani and Company in [[Dhobi Talao]], Mumbai.<ref name=aol>{{cite web|url=http://newsblog.aol.in/bloggers/sunanda-sudhir/|title=Sunanda Sudhir|publisher=newsblog.aol|access-date=2007-12-25|archive-date=11 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111155431/http://newsblog.aol.in/bloggers/sunanda-sudhir/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4485523.stm India's Iranian cafes fading out by Jayshree Bajoria for BBC News, Mumbai]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071002220028/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2006/10/06/stories/2006100600020100.htm Mumbai's Irani hotspots – Sarika Mehta in Hindu Business line]
* [http://newsblog.aol.in/bloggers/sunanda-sudhir/ AOL News Blog - Sunanda Sudhir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111155431/http://newsblog.aol.in/bloggers/sunanda-sudhir/ |date=11 January 2008 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Irani cafe}}
* [http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/irani/cafe.htm Irani Cafés and Bakeries: An Irani Zartoshti Tradition]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irani cafe}}
[[Category:Irani (India) people]]
[[Category:Indian drinks]]
[[Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in India]]
[[Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Bakery cafés]]
[[Category:Indian fusion cuisine]]
[[Category:Pakistani fusion cuisine]]

Irani café - Revision history

Margaretzcd at 08:24, 4 May 2026