A First Look at Dough & Joe Bandra: Slow-Fermented Pizza, Thoughtful Coffee, and a Space You Won’t Want To Leave

Nikita Nikalje
Nov 24
4 min read

Dough & Joe Bandra is built for slow living. Expect airy pizzas, comforting small plates, a strong coffee program, and a space that makes you stay longer than you planned.

A warm cookie being dipped into a foamy coffee drink served in a red Dough and Joe cup on a checkered table.

Walking Into Dough & Joe Bandra

Hill Road has a way of throwing everything at you at once, from honking rickshaws to last-minute shoppers. But Dough & Joe Bandra feels like someone pressed pause.

You notice it right at the entrance. That old Sony TV catches your reflection and you slow down for a second without meaning to. Inside, the red and blue palette unfolds gently, the textures feel warm, and the light makes everything look softer than the outside world.

It is a space that knows how to calm you without trying.

Entrance lobby at Dough and Joe Bandra featuring a vintage Sony TV, wavy mirror, red checkered tiles, and warm ambient lighting.

The first thing that pulls you in is the open kitchen. You can see dough being stretched, flames flicking inside the oven, someone cracking a joke behind the counter. It feels familiar, almost domestic, as if you walked into a friend's home where everyone is comfortable doing their own thing.

This is when you realise Dough & Joe Bandra is not a cafe and not exactly a restaurant either. It is that middle space you always wish existed more often in Mumbai.

The Story Behind The Space

The founders of Dough and Joe Bandra enjoying a meal with their young son at a red and white checkered table inside the restaurant.

The team behind Dough & Joe is young and warm. Priyanka and Khushal Kotak created this space with their son, Vansh, as the emotional anchor. They call him the CEO of cravings, and you sense that childlike joy in the brand’s spirit. What started as a playful kitchen table idea has now turned into a 2,400 sq ft neighbourhood piazza. The word piazza sounds indulgent, but as you walk around the room, it fits. People talk softly, the aroma from the oven drifts constantly, and there is no rush for you to leave.

The Interiors: Vintage Whimsy, Modern Mood

Designed to make you relax

Outdoor terrace at Dough and Joe Bandra with red chairs, string lights, central tree, and a red Vespa installation above the main entrance.

The space has been shaped by Studio 6158. They lean into nostalgia without leaning on cliches. The Vespa on the terrace feels charming, not staged. The oversized coffee mugs make you smile. The TV at the entrance is a perfect Mumbai wink. Everything feels intentional, but not calculated.

A terrace made for unhurried evenings

If you go upstairs, the terrace opens up like a private pocket of the city. The Vespa sits against the skyline and immediately sets the tone. This is where golden hour becomes a ritual. Sit here with a cold latte or a slice of pizza and it feels like the evening moves one notch slower.

The Menu at Dough & Joe Bandra: What You Should Order

This is where Dough & Joe Bandra shifts from a cute neighbourhood story to an actual destination.

Freshly baked pizza with greens and shaved cheese placed on a red Vespa at Dough and Joe Bandra, served with a specialty iced beverage.

The Pizza: Slow-fermented, airy, comforting

The pizzas here are slow-fermented and cooked with a restraint that Mumbai often forgets. Mine arrived with a gently blistered crust, a soft chew, and toppings that let the dough breathe.

If you want a playful hit, go for the Thecha Prawns Pizza. If you want something spicy and street-inspired, the Bombay Kheema Pizza is your move.

Both have that perfect balance of indulgent but not overwhelming.

The Small Plates: Simple, flavour-forward

The Ghee Roast Ravioli is a standout. Comforting, rich, and exactly the kind of dish you eat slowly because you do not want it to end.

The Coffee: Their strongest suit

This is where Dough & Joe separates itself from most pizza spots.

The coffee program is layered and thoughtful. My first sip of the Joes Special Vietnamese was nostalgic and sweet but balanced. The Nutella Iced Latte is pure joy, while the Butterfly Lychee Matcha has that pastel-hued, refreshing energy you need on a Bandra afternoon.

Try at least two coffees when you visit. It is that kind of place.

What Makes Dough & Joe Bandra Work

Slow fermented pizza with blistered crust, pesto drizzle, and melted cheese on a red checkered Dough and Joe box.

It respects your pace

Some places demand that you post, talk, click pictures, or rush through a meal. Dough & Joe Bandra lets you be. You can sit alone with your coffee or share pizza with someone you love. Both work equally well.

It feels like the start of a ritual

Dough & Joe is not dramatic. It is gentle. And that is its charm. It is a place that becomes part of your routine without you realising it.

You come once, and the next week you are already planning a second visit.

It brings something new to Hill Road

Bandra has energy. Dough & Joe brings ease.

It is the kind of place you stop at after a busy day, or before meeting friends, or on a quiet Thursday when you want to sit somewhere that feels kind.