Why Viraj Ghelani and Palak Khimavat Chose Kandivali Over Bandra for Their Cafe 'Slow'
In a city known for its relentless pace, content creator-actor Viraj Ghelani and his wife, self-taught chef and baker Palak Khimavat, have launched Slow, a cafe and bakehouse that embodies a gentle rebellion. Located in Kandivali West rather than the more obvious neighborhood of Bandra, this 1,500-sqft vegetarian cafe has quickly garnered a loyal following since its opening over a month ago, with waiting times often stretching from 20 to 45 minutes.
A Space Designed for Slowing Down
Housed inside a three-storey residential building in Mahavir Nagar, Slow comfortably seats about 40 people across a mix of solo seating, group arrangements, and community tables. The name, complete with a slightly tilted, laid-back 'O', reflects the cafe's core philosophy. "Mumbai is a very fast city. We wanted people to come here and slow down," explained Ghelani, 32.
The design, curated by Khimavat's sister-in-law Kinjal Goradia of A+iD, mirrors this ethos with warm, understated, and earthy elements. Grey walls, wooden tabletops, and chairs upholstered in muted tones create a serene backdrop, while color is introduced through the food, drinks, and lush plants. The logo was designed by visual artist Too Sid, a friend of Ghelani's, who contributed his talent without charge, and his favorite coffee now features on the menu named after him.
The Culinary Vision Behind Slow
The food and drinks programme is entirely helmed by Khimavat, who sees Slow as a natural progression from her earlier venture, The Messy House – Dessert Bar & Cafe, launched in 2018. While baking has long been her forte, she has spent the last two years mastering coffee nuances, working with matcha, and fine-tuning the savory menu. The result is a compact offering that leans firmly into comfort food, with everything made fresh and from scratch—from French fries and nachos to dips.
"It's food you can keep coming back to," said Ghelani, highlighting dishes like mac and cheese and a gochujang noodle bowl. Desserts, an extension of Khimavat's earlier venture Healthy Mess, emphasize jaggery, coconut sugar, and natural sweetness derived from fruits and chocolate. The cafe is meticulous about ingredient sourcing, using milk from Pride of Cows and daily-delivered cheese from a Gujarat-based farm, while completely avoiding refined sugar and flour. Pastas are made with semolina, noodles are udon, and as Khimavat simply puts it, "Everything is made fresh."
Why Kandivali Was the Chosen Location
Choosing Kandivali over a more established food hub like Bandra was a deliberate decision. "We wanted people to come to this side of the city—Malad, Kandivali, Borivali," Ghelani stated. "We barely have one or two good cafes here. We want to make this the new 'It' pocket." This strategic move aims to cater to an underserved market, fostering a community-centric dining experience.
Since its opening, Slow has seen significant interest, with around 750 visitors on the first day alone. The coffee programme, featuring Aeropress, pourovers, and cold brews alongside regular espresso-based drinks, currently drives a large share of sales. "It's been over a month now. The hype has worn off, but people are still coming," Ghelani noted, expressing excitement over the sustained footfall.
The Challenges and Future Plans
Running a food business is far from easy, as the couple admits. They are present at the cafe daily from afternoon until about 1:30 AM, describing it as a thankless job with new crises emerging regularly. Despite the challenges, they are already planning expansions. From March, the cafe will operate two shifts, opening at 9 AM and closing at midnight, compared to the current hours of 2 PM to 11 PM.
Khimavat hinted at more ventures in the pipeline but emphasized, "But there will only ever be one Slow." This statement underscores their commitment to maintaining the unique essence of their Kandivali cafe, a space where Mumbaikars can truly unwind and savor thoughtfully prepared vegetarian fare.
