EDITION Expands Its Global Footprint with a Landmark Debut in Cape Town

 Framed by Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is defined by the interplay of nature and urban life, heritage and artistic spirit, and local identity and global influence. EDITION marks its African debut with The Cape Town EDITION – a gathering place poised to become a social nexus and a gateway to discover the city.

Cape Town joins EDITION's global portfolio of hotels in some of the world's most sought-after destinations ranging from Lake Como and Tokyo to London, New York, Riviera Maya and beyond, where thoughtful design, carefully curated culinary experiences and a strong sense of cultural relevance come together in a way that is distinctly EDITION.

“Cape Town has a distinctive energy shaped by extraordinary landscapes, diverse influences and an exceptional culinary scene,” said George Fleck, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, EDITION. “As one of the world’s most compelling cultural capitals, it is a natural home for EDITION. This opening marks an important milestone for the brand as we continue to grow in destinations that sit at the intersection of culture, creativity and global influence.”

Opening at Quay 7 on the V&A Waterfront, The Cape Town EDITION occupies a coveted position within Cape Town’s historic working harbor, a gateway that has connected cultures for centuries. Overlooking the V&A Waterfront’s new superyacht marina and facing Table Mountain, the hotel sits at the intersection of the city’s maritime heritage and vibrant cultural scene, surrounded by leading museums, art galleries, acclaimed restaurants, elevated retail and the dynamic atmosphere of the Waterfront neighborhood.

“The opening of The Cape Town EDITION is an important milestone in the V&A Waterfront’s continued evolution and a strong expression of confidence in Cape Town as a globally competitive tourism and investment destination,” said Graham Wood, Chief Executive Officer of the V&A Waterfront. “At Quay 7, the EDITION brings an exceptional international hospitality brand into a working harbor and connects it to the wider Waterfront neighborhood through new dining, cultural and public-facing experiences. It also signals the next chapter for Granger Bay: a well-connected waterfront district that creates long-term value for Cape Town, our visitors, and the communities we serve.”

Where Minimalistic Design Meets Maritime Heritage

Designed by Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based architects and professional firms, The Cape Town EDITION draws on the industrial maritime character of Quay 7. The architecture references the warehouse structures that previously occupied the site through a long, low-slung form, pitched rooflines and a material language inspired by the working harbor. More than six million bricks were laid by hand in shifting patterns that bring texture to the façade, transforming a humble material through meticulous craftsmanship and creating a distinctive architectural identity rooted in place.

At the center of the hotel is The Drum, a soaring cylindrical space open to the elements above. Here, Cape Town's shifting light and sea air are welcomed in. A spiraling staircase ascends to an outdoor viewing platform, gradually revealing the city: the harbor, Table Mountain, the Atlantic and the rhythm of the Waterfront below. Part arrival experience, part public lookout, The Drum invites guests, visitors and locals alike to discover Cape Town from a new vantage point.

The hotel's 142 guestrooms and suites balance refined comfort with a distinctly residential sensibility. Bespoke furniture, natural finishes and cleverly integrated joinery inspired by 19th-century travel trunks create warm, layered interiors designed to feel both intuitive and deeply comfortable, while large windows frame sweeping views. Custom furnishings and rugs woven by KwaZulu-Natal-based Shuttleworth Weaving layer local craft into the experience. The 240-square-meter Penthouse and 112-square-meter Harbour Suite crown the hotel, with generous living spaces and panoramic outlooks.

Throughout the hotel, art and design serve as a reflection of Africa's creative landscape, connecting guests to the people, stories and traditions that shape the destination. Design Network Africa sourced progressive pieces from makers across the continent, including Zulu ukhamba vessels and mouth-blown recycled glass from Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Cape Town’s Southern Guild curated an art collection of established and emerging African voices, including Zanele Muholi’s black-and-white photographic portraits in Punch Room, EDITION’s contemporary take on the traditional punch house; Usha Seejarim’s Fading Dish Cloth, assembled from hundreds of wooden clothes pegs, appears in the spa; and Chuma Maweni’s smoke-fired ceramics lend a sculptural presence to the lobby and dining spaces.

The Cape Gathered Around the Table

With experience spanning Berners Tavern at The London EDITION and some of the Cape's leading restaurants, Executive Chef Phil Carmichael and award-winning South African beverage partner George Hunter lead the hotel's food and beverage program across a collection of distinct restaurants and bars, shaping experiences that move seamlessly from morning through late night.

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Shale, brings the Cape to the table through a seasonal menu, drawing on farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers and independent producers. Meat is dry-aged in-house, while a predominantly South African wine list carries the regional story into the glass. Dishes are recognizable yet quietly unexpected, such as Saldanha Bay mussels in a curry velouté with seaweed salad and braised black rice. On the rooftop, EAVE offers a relaxed, yet refined, setting with broad views. Set beside the heated pool, the indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar moves from leisurely afternoons to sundowners, dinner and curated music programming after dark. The menu pairs refreshing cocktails and a thoughtful wine list with small plates that showcase the flavors of the Winelands and the surrounding coastline. The adjoining Pool Terrace follows the sun, from breakfast and easy midday bites to sunset cocktails and light dinners.

On the ground floor, EDITION’s signature Lobby Bar takes on the warmth and ease of a Cape Town living room, where hotel life and local rhythm meet. Anchored by a striking bar and pool table, the space seamlessly transitions from morning coffee meetings to light bites and evening drinks. Punch Room revives a centuries-old drinking ritual once carried along the trade routes that passed through the Cape. Wood paneling, velvet banquettes and low lighting create an intimate, opulent retreat, where punches are served in generous bowls for sharing. Local character finds expression in Brandewijn, a punch combining brandy, Pinotage, rooibos, pineapple, lemon and winter spice, offering a modern interpretation of the region's rich cultural and culinary heritage.

Moments of Renewal

The spa sits below sea level, cocooned from the energy of the waterfront above. Alongside five treatment rooms and a couples’ suite, the spa features a sauna and steam room, while infrared beds and Therabody recovery boots offer targeted support for rest and recovery. The treatment menu combines skincare, massage, fascia work and aromatherapy with Omorovicza’s mineral-rich formulations. The focus on wellbeing continues with a 24-hour gym and a daily program of yoga, breathwork, sound baths and movement sessions beside the heated rooftop pool and sun deck.

The hotel offers a collection of light-filled areas for meetings, gatherings and celebrations. At its heart is the flexible ballroom with a capacity of up to 200 people, complemented by a boardroom, two meeting studios and a private event terrace. Wellness programming, destination dining and social venues offer a more flexible approach to events, from harborside receptions and rooftop cocktails at EAVE to exclusive gatherings at Vantage, the hotel’s rooftop event space, and dinners at Shale. 

“We want The Cape Town EDITION to feel as relevant to a Capetonian as it does to someone visiting the city for the first time,” said Leonie Andereya, General Manager at The Cape Town EDITION. “Inspired by the warmth and authenticity of South African hospitality, we have created a place where locals and travelers come together through food, culture, creativity and conversation. Sophisticated but never formal, it offers a distinct lens on Cape Town and the feeling that you have discovered a side of the city, and a community within it, that you genuinely want to be part of.”

ITC Maratha Marks World Sustainability Day with a Continued Commitment to Responsible Luxury

Mumbai, October 2026: On World Sustainability Day, October 26, ITC Maratha, Mumbai, highlights over a decade of integrating sustainability into luxury hospitality. From reusing or recycling over 99% of solid waste to meeting approximately 80% of its energy requirements through renewable sources, the hotel continues to demonstrate how luxury and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

Part of ITC Hotels, recognised by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for having the highest number of LEED Platinum-certified properties in its portfolio, ITC Maratha further strengthens its environmental credentials with the LEED Zero Carbon Certification from USGBC.

Sustainability at the hotel extends across dining, banqueting and everyday operations. Responsible Dining encourages mindful food choices, Alert Meets offers wholesome gourmet fare centred on seasonal produce, while One Bite Wonder features thoughtfully prepared bite-sized creations. Through Green Banquets, the hotel incorporates locally sourced menus and resource-conscious practices into meetings and celebrations.

The hotel also uses 47% less water than the USGBC benchmark for large luxury hotels and harvests rainwater across 100% of its area. Its Sunya Aqua initiative enables drinking water to be purified and bottled in-house, helping reduce transportation-related emissions. An in-house biogas plant converts wet waste into kitchen fuel, diverting approximately one lakh kilograms of organic waste from landfills. Organic Waste Converters further support responsible waste management, while alternatives such as glass bottles, paper straws and bamboo amenities have replaced single-use plastic products.

Extending its commitment to events and celebrations, ITC Maratha offsets event-related carbon emissions through carbon credits at no additional cost to guests.

On World Sustainability Day, ITC Maratha reaffirms its commitment to responsible luxury, demonstrating how thoughtful choices, efficient resource management and measurable environmental action can contribute to a more sustainable future for hospitality.

Ramee Group Announces Premium Sea-View Resort with 70-Key Property in Dapoli, Maharashtra

~Positioned as the Ultimate Coastal Getaway for Mumbai and Pune Residents, the New Property Offers Sea-View Rooms, Premium Wellness Amenities, and Expansive Destination Wedding Venues~

National, October 2026 - Ramee Group of Hotels, a globally acclaimed hospitality brand known for its vibrant lifestyle experiences and guest-centric service has officially announced the extension of its leisure portfolio with the launch of its new resort property in the coastal town of Dapoli, Maharashtra. Featuring 70 keys comprising premium rooms and serviced apartments, every single guestroom commands panoramic and unobstructed views of the Arabian Sea.

Commenting on the landmark launch, Saurabh Gahoi, Senior Vice President – India, Ramee Group of Hotels, stated: "Our robust expansion plan lays emphasis on delivering immersive experiences wrapped in authenticity. You will see that with all our new upcoming property launches. Dapoli is rapidly emerging as India's next prominent weekend getaway, strategically serving major urban clusters including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and surrounding regions. The addition of the Dapoli property marks an exciting milestone in our resort portfolio. By offering sprawling sea views from every room and comfortable, thoughtfully designed stays, we are creating a unique sanctuary for guests.”

"We are delighted to partner with Ramee Group of Hotels, one of the most respected hospitality brands in the lifestyle & leisure space. Phatak Developers is committed to elevating Konkan’s tourism, and this collaboration marks an exciting step toward bringing world-class hospitality to Dapoli. We have complete trust in Ramee Group's operational expertise and we look forward to setting a new benchmark for coastal hospitality together” said, Akshay Phatak, Owner of Agatsya Hospitality (a subsidiary of Phatak Developers)

Designed to meet the growing demand for experiential upscale and leisure, the property features an array of premium hospitality facilities. Culinary experiences are centered around a flagship All-Day Dining restaurant serving a curated mix of global favourites and authentic local coastal cuisine. For recreation and relaxation, guests can access a fully equipped state-of-the-art gymnasium, a rejuvenating spa, an expansive swimming pool, and a dedicated indoor/outdoor Kids Play Area. Furthermore, the property addresses a major market gap in the region with its massive indoor and outdoor banqueting spaces, specifically configured for corporate retreats and large-scale celebrations.

The resort is designed for modern experiential travellers, families, and destination wedding planners seeking a deeper connection with nature and coastal heritage. With its pristine coastal beauty and Ramee Group’s signature standard of hospitality infrastructure, the new Dapoli resort is poised to redefine Western India’s tourism landscape.

IDORU Sets the Table for a Mexican Culinary Takeover by COMAL

From COMAL’s Mexican kitchen to Dave Switch’s vinyl selections, The House Guests brings a new flavour to the IDORU experience.

Mumbai, October 2026: What happens when the flavours of a Mexican cantina meet the sound of vinyl? IDORU is bringing the two together as it welcomes Bengaluru-based COMAL for the third edition of their monthly IP, The House Guests - an evening built around good food, music and the pleasure of discovering something new. Taking place on Wednesday, 28th October, from 6 PM onwards, the gathering will feature a special kitchen takeover by COMAL, accompanied by a vinyl set from Dave Switch.

At IDORU, The House Guests is built around the idea of inviting different culinary and creative voices into its space, creating experiences that go beyond the everyday dining occasion. Each edition brings a new perspective to the table, whether through food, music or the people behind them. This time, the spotlight is on COMAL, a Mexican cantina founded by Chef Varun Pereira and Pratheek Reddy with a desire to explore the depth and diversity of Mexican cuisine.

Chef Varun Pereira is bringing COMAL’s distinctive take on Mexican cuisine to Mumbai at Idoru, drawing on his travels through Mexico City to shape a menu centred on honest cooking, house-made masa, slow-cooked meats and vibrant, balanced flavours. 

That philosophy comes through in a menu that balances comforting classics with bold, layered flavours. Chilaquiles Poblanos brings together crisp tortilla chips, earthy poblano salsa, crema and Chihuahua cheese, while the Jackfruit Flauta pairs jackfruit barbacoa and pinto beans with fresh salsa Mexicana, cilantro-lime aioli and queso fresco. For a lighter, citrus-led bite, Costa Cítrica features sweet water shrimp with a bright citrus cure, chile de árbol oil and tobiko. 

The Tinga combines grilled chicken thigh with smashed baby potatoes, smoky chipotle crema, Cotija cheese and salsa macha, while the CDMX Fried Chicken gets a fiery finish with salsa macha and banana hot sauce. Carne Asada rounds out the plates with beef, mojo de ajo, burnt chile butter and scallion salsa. The tacos continue the interplay of flavours, with Cerdo Asado pairing roasted pork with pineapple-jalapeño salsa, cilantro and crema, while Calabaza offers a vegetarian option of butternut squash, queso fresco, pine nuts and salsa macha.

Complementing the food, Dave Switch will take over the decks with a vinyl set, bringing an analogue touch to the evening. He’s closely connected with Mumbai’s vinyl and DJ circuit and is known for spinning rare 45s and vinyl records.  The combination of COMAL’s vibrant Mexican cooking and a music-led atmosphere sets the tone for a relaxed gathering centred on food, sound and conversation.

From the first plate to the last record, the evening is designed to be enjoyed without a rush. With COMAL’s Mexican flavours and Dave Switch behind the decks, The House Guests offer a reason to gather around the table, discover something new and stay a little longer.

Sterling Opens Bandhavgarh Resort , Bringing Together Tiger Country, Heritage and Culture

New addition strengthens Sterling's Central India wilderness portfolio and creates opportunities for connected journeys across Bandhavgarh and Kanha.

Chennai, October 2026: Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL) has announced the opening of Sterling Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh, strengthening its presence across Central India's leading wildlife destinations and adding another distinctive forest experience to its growing wilderness portfolio.

With resorts across 15 celebrated wildlife landscapes of India, Sterling is deliberately building wilderness travel as a distinct leisure category. Bandhavgarh strengthens this strategy by bringing one of India's most recognised tiger destinations into a portfolio designed to offer travellers different forests, different experiences and more reasons to explore.

The opportunity goes beyond the excitement of a tiger sighting. Bandhavgarh combines dense sal forests, open meadows and rich biodiversity with an extraordinary historical landscape. Ancient sculptures, caves, the heritage of Bandhavgarh Fort and the reclining Vishnu at Shesh Shaiya reveal a destination where wilderness and centuries of human history coexist.

For families, this creates a more complete holiday proposition. The anticipation of a safari can be combined with birdwatching, village walks, nature trails, regional cuisine and relaxed time together, allowing travellers of different generations to discover Bandhavgarh in their own way.

Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL), said: " “India's wilderness destinations are far more diverse than the wildlife they are famous for. Every forest has its own landscape, history, culture and cuisine—and therefore a different story to discover.

Bandhavgarh is particularly compelling because it brings together one of India's celebrated tiger habitats with centuries of heritage and the distinctive culture of Baghelkhand. As Destination Architects, our ambition is to bring these dimensions together so that a safari becomes part of a richer, more memorable holiday for families.

With Sterling's growing presence across wildlife and nature destinations, we also have the opportunity to connect individual forests into compelling journeys, such as Bandhavgarh and Kanha.

We are not simply adding destinations to our wilderness portfolio. We are giving travellers more reasons to discover India's forests—and more reasons to return.

With Bandhavgarh joining our growing presence across Central India, we also see the opportunity to develop richer journeys that connect different wilderness landscapes.

Our ambition is to make wildlife holidays about discovering the forest and everything around it, not just the sighting."

Located in Tala village, approximately 2.5 km from Tala Gate of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Sterling Bandhavgarh offers an intimate retreat with 26 rooms across four distinctive categories - its Machan Suites feature private machans and outdoor showers, while Courtyard Rooms with Balconies offer garden-facing outdoor spaces. Safari Tents with Private Sit-outs bring a sense of adventure to the stay, complemented by comfortable Forest Rooms. A swimming pool, gardens and outdoor relaxation spaces create easy downtime between excursions.

Speaking on the launch Mr. Pranav Sharma, owner of Mahalaxmi Commercial Service Pvt Ltd, said :  “Our association with Sterling at Kanha has given us the confidence to extend this partnership to Bandhavgarh. Sterling brings strong operating expertise, brand reach and an understanding of how to create distinctive destination experiences. We are delighted to build on this successful relationship and bring another compelling wilderness retreat to travellers”

The resort's location provides convenient access to Tala Gate, with opportunities to explore other safari zones such as Magadhi and Khitauli, subject to Forest Department permits and regulations. Birdwatching, village walks, nature trails and cycling offer additional ways to experience the surrounding landscape, while the region's historical and cultural attractions add depth to longer stays.

Baghelkhand's culinary heritage provides another connection to the destination.

At The Sal, regional preparations such as Birra ki Roti, Saal Patta Murgh, Baans Mein Pakaya Chawal and Kumhde ki Kheer draw on traditional cooking methods, local grains and forest-inspired ingredients. Alongside Indian and international favourites, the resort's culinary proposition explores experiences such as the Jungle Thali, showcasing the flavours of Baghelkhand, and Gaon ki Rasoi, inspired by the cooking traditions of local communities. Outdoor dining and bonfire evenings add to the experience of being close to nature.

Bandhavgarh also opens up opportunities for travellers to explore more of Madhya Pradesh's wilderness. With Sterling's presence in Kanha, the two destinations offer the potential for a Bandhavgarh–Kanha forest journey, bringing together distinct habitats, landscapes and wildlife experiences within a single holiday.

With Bandhavgarh joining its growing wilderness network, Sterling is moving beyond individual wildlife stays towards a more connected way of discovering India's forests. From the tiger landscapes of Central India (Madhya Pradesh) to the distinctive wilderness of Rajasthan  , Maharashtra, Uttarakhand  each destination adds a different experience to the portfolio—giving travellers more choice, families more reasons to explore together, and Sterling greater opportunity to build journeys that extend beyond a single safari or destination.

Black Rock Hotels & Resorts Announces Nearly 900-Room Expansion, Enters Hotel Ownership with 241-Key Udaipur Project

Hospitality group targets six upcoming hotel openings, with signed projects in Jim Corbett and Vrindavan marking its expansion beyond Rajasthan

Jaipur, October 2026: Black Rock Hotels & Resorts has unveiled an expansion pipeline of approximately 900 rooms, marking a significant new phase for the Rajasthan-based hospitality company as it moves beyond third-party hotel management into hotel ownership and enters new markets across North India.

The company, which currently operates seven hotels with approximately 950 rooms, is targeting six additional hotel openings through 2027. The expansion includes its first owned hotel in Udaipur, two signed properties in Jim Corbett, Uttarakhand, and a hotel project in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. The proposed additions are expected to take Black Rock's total inventory close to 2,000 rooms, subject to development and opening schedules.

The centrepiece of the expansion is Kingsbury, a 241-room hotel under development in Udaipur, which will mark Black Rock's entry into hotel ownership. Located alongside a lake and surrounded by hills, the property is scheduled to commence operations with approximately 160 rooms in March 2027.

The project has been designed with substantial infrastructure for destination weddings, conferences and large social gatherings. Its planned facilities include two ballrooms measuring approximately 4,000 sq. ft. and 14,000 sq. ft., an 11,000 sq. ft. courtyard, a 6,000 sq. ft. pool deck, a 10,000 sq. ft. rooftop event space and three lakeside venues. The property will also have five garden spaces ranging from approximately 10,000 to 50,000 sq. ft.

Beyond Rajasthan, Black Rock has signed two hotels in Jim Corbett, comprising 115 and 135 rooms respectively, with openings indicated for October 2027. The company has also signed a project in Vrindavan, establishing a foothold in Uttar Pradesh.

Commenting on the expansion, Anshul Bhargava, Founder & Chairman, Black Rock Hotels & Resorts, said, “We have built our business around operating hotels where weddings, conferences and leisure contribute substantially to revenue. Our next phase is about taking that experience into new markets while also developing assets of our own. Udaipur will be an important milestone because we have been able to plan the property around the operational requirements of these segments. With a sizeable pipeline ahead, we are moving towards a larger, geographically diversified portfolio while remaining focused on commercial viability and operating performance.”

The expansion also reflects Black Rock's distinctive management approach. Unlike conventional hotel management agreements based primarily on management fees, the company operates through revenue-sharing arrangements, assuming responsibility for staffing, operating expenditure and day-to-day hotel management while providing property owners an agreed share of revenue.

The addition of owned assets will introduce a second growth model alongside these management agreements, allowing Black Rock to participate directly in hotel development while continuing to expand through partnerships with independent property owners.

With the next phase of development underway, Black Rock is positioning itself as a larger hospitality owner-operator with a focus on destination resorts, weddings, MICE and leisure markets

Summit Hotels & Resorts Signs Offbeat Retreat in Samthar, West Bengal

The property, scheduled to open in October-November 2026, will mark Summit’s entry into the relatively unexplored Himalayan destination


Siliguri, 2026: Summit Hotels & Resorts has signed a 24-key property in Samthar, an emerging mountain destination in West Bengal, as the hospitality company continues to deepen its presence across lesser-explored destinations in the Eastern Himalayas. Scheduled to open in October-November 2026, Summit Samthar – The Offbeat Collection will become part of the company’s recently introduced Offbeat portfolio, which focuses on destinations beyond established tourist circuits.

Located approximately 30 km from Siliguri, Samthar is surrounded by forests, tea gardens and Himalayan landscapes. Unlike the region’s more established hill stations, the destination remains relatively underexplored, with potential for nature-led and slow travel, hiking and birdwatching.

The upcoming property will have 24 Kanchenjunga-facing rooms, all with private balconies, along with an in-house restaurant, private lawn, a tea garden, children's play area, common sitting spaces and extensive outdoor areas.

“Samthar represents exactly the kind of destination we believe has considerable potential for the next phase of leisure travel in the region. Our experience in the Eastern Himalayas has shown us that when hospitality reaches a lesser-known destination, its impact goes beyond the hotel itself. It creates local employment, generates demand for transport and other services, and allows us to source produce and everyday requirements from local shops and suppliers. We have seen this around properties such as Summit Bougainvillea Tea Resort in Tindharia, Summit Tashi Ghang Heritage Resort in Pelling and Summit Enigma Resort & Spa in Lamahatta. Our aim in Samthar is to become part of the local economy while introducing more travellers to the destination without taking away the character that makes it worth discovering,” said Sumit Mitruka, Founder & CEO, Summit Hotels & Resorts.

The signing also builds on Summit’s strategy of expanding beyond established tourism centres into smaller destinations across the Eastern Himalayas. The company has identified destination development as a key part of its Offbeat Collection, with hospitality investment expected to support local employment, tourism services and longer visitor stays in these markets.

For Samthar, Summit expects the new property to help introduce the destination to a wider leisure audience while encouraging travellers to extend their North Bengal itineraries into lesser-known parts of the region. The development comes as Summit Hotels & Resorts broadens its portfolio through three distinct propositions, Offbeat, Signature and Mandir, spanning emerging destinations, premium destination hospitality and spiritual tourism respectively.

One Less Thought: Thought Coffee opens in Bandra with quality coffee

Founded by Kush Kachhara, Kshitij Patil and Jhanvi Shah, the Mumbai-born quick-service coffee brand is bringing single-origin AA Arabica coffee, grab-and-go convenience and sub-five-minute service to the everyday coffee run, with plans to build density across Mumbai.

Mumbai, 2026: Mumbai has no shortage of good coffee. But for something that has become such a regular part of urban life, a good cup can still feel like a destination, a decision or a considerable part of the day. Thought Coffee wants to change that.

The Mumbai-born quick-service coffee brand is opening its flagship in Bandra with a simple idea: good coffee should fit into the day, not require the day to be built around it. Founded by Kush Kachhara, Kshitij Patil and Jhanvi Shah, Thought Coffee was born from a gap the founders saw in Mumbai’s rapidly growing coffee culture. While quality coffee is becoming increasingly available across the city, the combination of quality, accessibility and speed is still harder to find in an everyday format.

Thought Coffee is built to bridge that gap, bringing together good-quality coffee, an accessible proposition and a grab-and-go experience designed around the pace of modern city life.

“China showed us how quickly coffee can move from a café experience to an everyday habit. We started asking whether India could be at a similar inflection point,” says Kshitij Patil, Co-founder, Thought Coffee.

Quality coffee, made approachable

Thought Coffee’s everyday coffee offering centres on single-origin AA Arabica beans, sourced from a single estate and roasted to the brand’s own profile to create a balanced, approachable cup. The thinking is straightforward: quality should not make coffee feel intimidating, and convenience should not mean compromising on what is in the cup.

For customers who want to explore beyond the everyday, the menu also features more experimental offerings, including rum barrel-aged and wine barrel-aged coffees, alongside Colombian Castillo coffee. These speciality coffees offer a more distinctive expression of the bean while sitting within a menu designed to remain approachable.

The wider menu extends beyond coffee to flavour-led matchas and ubes, baked goods, croissants, croissant sandwiches and tea cakes, alongside smoothie bowls including Sunrise with passion fruit and Berry Berry with mixed berries.

“Good coffee shouldn’t feel like something you have to compromise on. We wanted to create a format where quality and accessibility could exist together, without making the experience feel complicated,” says Kush Kachhara, Co-founder, Thought Coffee.

One Less Thought

The idea behind Thought Coffee recently evolved into One Less Thought, a simple philosophy for how the brand wants to fit into everyday life. A day is already full of decisions, from what to eat and what to wear to where to go and what to finish first. Where to get your coffee from should not have to be one of them.

One Less Thought is about creating that familiarity: knowing where your coffee is coming from, knowing it will be good and knowing you can get it without having to build time around it. Thought Coffee wants to become the place people can simply default to, not because coffee has to be an occasion, but because it can be one less decision in an already busy day.

“We wanted to create a coffee brand that fits naturally into the rhythm of the day. You should be able to know that you can get a good cup of coffee without having to overthink the experience,” says Jhanvi Shah, Co-founder, Thought Coffee.

Built for the five-minute coffee run

The format is designed around the moments when coffee is needed most: before work, between meetings, on the way somewhere or simply because the day calls for it. Its compact, takeaway-focused format and machine-driven brewing are designed to keep service quick, with orders targeted to be served in under five minutes.

The proposition is deliberately uncomplicated: walk in, order, get your coffee and keep moving.

Thought Coffee plans to spend its first 15 months building density across Mumbai before expanding nationally. Its longer-term ambition is to make a Thought Coffee location accessible within three minutes of its customers, with the format designed to work across neighbourhoods, tech parks, shopping centres and other high-footfall locations.

A coffee brand designed for Mumbai

The Bandra flagship reflects the same philosophy. Glass walls, rattan pendants and terrazzo floors create a space that feels considered without being formal, while the three-dot logo represents a pause, a thought in progress and whatever comes next.

But the ambition extends beyond one café. Thought Coffee is building for a city where coffee is increasingly part of the daily rhythm, and where the opportunity is not simply to get people to drink better coffee once in a while, but to make good coffee an effortless part of every day.

Because sometimes, the best coffee experience is the one you do not have to think about.