Get your artisanal bread fix from these 9 Mumbai bakeries

From dalgona coffee to banana bread to mug cake, lockdown saw many of us turn to cooking for a much-needed respite. But the most unlikely star was sourdough, which unanimously swept the world away with its bubbly persona. Even though lockdowns have long been lifted and life as we know it has returned to normal, sourdough continues to ride the wave of popularity. It has also led to an increased love for artisan breads in general–ones that are slowly-fermented and baked with organic flours and no yeast.
If you’re one of the converts that gave up their beloved white bread for crusty artisanal loaves instead, scroll through our list of places to get your dose of carbs from.

Mag Street Bread Co. 

Our pick: Nachani sourdough bread 

Mag Street Bread Co. is South Bombay’s go-to for all sorts of baked goods—their sinful Korean cream cheese garlic buns are a crowd favourite and the croissants have dedicated fans all over the city. But of course, for a bakery named after bread, it’s their selection of loaves that is the true star. From multigrain burger buns to sourdough baguettes, you have a plethora of breads to choose from. There’s also a section of pullman loaves on the menu that come pre-sliced for ease. 

Get your bread: Order via Zomato, Swiggy or the website magstbreadco.in. Pick up from Mag St. Bread Co. Colaba; Mag St. Bread Co. Khar or Mag St. Bread Co. Byculla.

Deli by the Blue

Our pick: Bagels 

Next time you’re hankering for a traditional New York-style bagel sandwich, look no further than Deli by the Blue. Their bagels, freshly baked and smattered with black sesame seeds, come in a pack of four and will satisfy your cravings for sure. The cafe also does a mean cocoa nibs sourdough loaf that will go down well with chocolate fans. Want to play it safe? Opt for the French sourdough loaf. 

Get your bread: Order via Swiggy, Zomato, or delibytheblue.dotpe.in.

Subko 

Our pick: Goan choriz and cheddar sourdough

One of Mumbai’s favourite cafés, Subko is known for its top-notch coffee and elaborate croissants, but their sourdough collection is just as good. Pork fans should definitely give the Goan choriz and cheddar sourdough a go. Don’t worry, there’s something equally extravagant for vegetarians too—the gluten-free podi BG loaf has spicy mulgapodi folded into the dough, which is made with rice and millets. If you’d like to go the simple route, the Subko sourdough is a trusty option. 

Get your bread: Order via the website subko.coffee. Pick up from Subko outlets Mary Lodge in Bandra or The Craftery in Byculla.

Commis Station 

Our pick: Brioche loaf

Most popular for their decadent tiramisu, the team at Commis Station also whips up rustic loaves, soft burger buns and bagels that are covered generously with sesame seeds. Don’t miss their versatile brioche loaf, which is characteristically fluffy and rich but holds well against fillings. Use it to make an indulgent French toast or even a good ol’ chutney sandwich. 

Get your bread: Message @commis.station on Instagram or call +917506430004 for orders.

La Folie 

Our pick: Seeded multigrain sourdough 

La Folie, famous for their bean-to-bar chocolates and too-pretty-to-eat bonbons, also bake a wide variety of slow-fermented sourdough breads that should find a place on your next brunch spread or cheese board. All their breads are made using organic, stone-milled flour–pick your favourite from crowd-pleasers like the garlic and olive sourdough or the unique quinoa sourdough. Since the breads are baked to order, they take 24 hours to deliver, so do plan ahead. 

Get your bread: Order via the website lafolie.in.

TwentySeven Bakehouse 

Our pick: Challah 

The newly-opened TwentySeven Bakehouse has a mind-boggling number of breads and whole loaves on its menu, which the team bakes freshly at their Laxmi Mills kitchen. Pick from French baguettes, brioche loaves, and New York bagels. If you’ve ever come across a shiny, golden-brown braid of challah on your Instagram feed and have instantly craved it, then it’s time to order in a loaf of your own from TwentySeven Bakehouse. 

Get your bread: Order via Thrive or Swiggy; pick up from TwentySeven Bakehouse, Shree Laxmi Woolen Mills, Shakti mill compound, Mahalaxmi.

Suzette Bakery 

Our pick: Sourdough baguette

Suzette regularly features on lists of Mumbai’s best breakfast spots, so it’s not a surprise that their bakery would churn out boules, buns and baguettes that have captured the heart of bread lovers in the city. Among their offerings is a gluten-free version as well, made with a variety of grains including buckwheat and corn. Their open-crumbed sourdough baguette is best enjoyed in a classic jambon-beurre –slather the bread with butter, layer some thin slices of ham in between and dig in!

Get your bread: Order via Swiggy or the website suzette.in. Shop in-store from Suzette Bakery, shop no. 10, Gasper Enclave, St John St, Bandra West, Mumbai.

Zen Cafe 

Our pick: Sundried tomato, capers and thyme sourdough 

Zen Cafe should be on your speed dial if you’re looking for a large and dependable loaf of bread that gets the job done, and well. Can’t resist add-ins in your sourdough? Then their sundried tomato, capers and thyme sourdough is the one for you. Complement its savouriness with a basic avocado toast drizzled with chilli oil or toast it and have as is, smeared generously with butter. 

Get your bread: Order via Thrive, Zomato or Swiggy.

Suchali’s Artisan Bakehouse 

Our pick: Croissant loaf 

Having made a mark with their signature sourdoughs in Delhi-NCR, Suchali’s Artisan Bakehouse now delivers across Mumbai and Kolkata too. The bakehouse, founded by Suchali Jain, a finance expert turned food entrepreneur, offers a range of five sourdoughs—everything from a simple country loaf to a version studded with jalapeno and cheese finds its way on the menu. Gluten-free bread seekers will especially enjoy the hearty adventure bread that is studded with seeds and oats. If you’re in the mood for something more indulgent, their buttery croissant loaf will surely hit the spot. 

Get your bread: Order via suchalisartisanbakehouse.com or from Blue Tokai outlets.
 

Lead image: La Folie