BOMBAY, 1949

A sultry June evening. Lights glow golden.

Candles flicker in the warm breeze that arrives gently through the large open windows of the café.

I watch, entranced, as Ruby brings the last bars of her song to a wistful close.

Cheers erupt from the audience. She stands at the microphone, grins bashfully.

Her sari, draped and perfumed, is bottle-green and gold. She bows slightly.

Welcome to Dishoom Covent Garden

Early silver screen talkies brought an intoxicating world of adventure and liberty to Bombay. Thrilling “all talking, singing, dancing” Indian-made dramas cast a glamorous spell over picture houses, and over the city.

The thrill and amazement of the Talkies era is captured within ‘New’ Dishoom Covent Garden. Open all day, every day, serving Bombay comfort food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening tipples. All are welcome.

Food & Drink at Dishoom Covent Garden

Begin your day at Dishoom with breakfast, which might be a Bacon Naan Roll, Akuri or The Big Bombay. Then, lunch deliciously on a Paneer Roomali Roll and fancy Salads, or linger with a feast. Refresh your afternoon with a drop of Chai and a small plate or two. Dine early or dine late. Or just join us for a tipple – perhaps an India Gimlet, or the Premier Padmini Negroni?

Covent Garden
Specials

PRAWN PATHIA

Most celebratory dish, befitting for auspicious occasions. Succulent prawns are marinated overnight in ginger, garlic and lime juice, lightly charred by the grill then nestled in a fiery-sweet-tangy tomato masala. All is accompanied with an onion salad for freshness and Roomali Roti for mopping. Best when shared.

RUBY ROYALE

Swashbuckling mix of Cointreau, cranberry and Finlandia vodka, with chilli and lime shrub. A nostalgic nod to films starring stuntwoman ‘Fearless Nadia’, who captivated 1940s Bombay.

Sate the audience, hold their gaze

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Reservations at Covent Garden

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Dishoom is mostly a walk-in café. All are welcome, any time, no reservations needed. However, if you'd like to make a reservation, groups of any size may book during the day. After 6pm, we accept bookings for groups of six or more.

It’s 1949, and the thrill of the Talkies era is in full swing. While cine stars chatter self-importantly, the wealthy hobnob with the beautiful, the rakish and the occasional ne’er-do-wells. Stop – admire our walls. The myriad of artefacts, photographs, portraits, collectables. In their stillness they depict the vivacity, life and glamour of 1930s and 40s Bombay.

The intrepid, swashbuckling stuntwoman, fearless Nadia

Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman in “C.I.D”

Liberty Cinema showing Bicycle Thieves in 1949

Devika Rani – Tagore’s granddaughter and founder of Bombay Talkies Film Studio with her husband Himansu Rai

A film poster for Beti Bete from 1964

Co-founders (and cousins) Shamil and Kavi’s grandmother. Her name is Hira-bhen

Leela Chitnis was a much-loved actress in the Indian film industry

Bombay via London

Planning your visit

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Dishoom Covent Garden

12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane

London

WC2H 9FB

She dreamed again, this time to turn the café into a place where everyone could be everything they imagined and more.

Fellow guest-walla

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