In the sweltering heat of Mumbai, which has only just begun, cafes serve as a respite from the burning hell, that’s outside. One might wonder ‘why would anyone even wish to venture outside in this weather, if not necessary?’ But then again, what even is necessary?


Or they might suggest ‘venture outside when it cools down a bit, maybe towards the evening’. A fine suggestion again. But a full-time wanderer who has the entire day to herself cannot resist the temptation of wandering into places, timings be damned! Sunblock is all we need, and a water bottle.


Coming back to where we started from – cafes serving as respite from the heat for people who are about town when the Sun decides to glare at Earth in all its glory. Air conditioning and caffeine aside, a cafe acts as a congregator, attracting diverse people at one place, forming a micro-universe of its own. You feel it the moment you enter its door, inhale the heady scent of caffeine, and catch wisps of conversations floating in the air.


You’re awake. And it’s not just the coffee.


Further still, there are some cafes that defy all rules of how cafes should be, and offer you something even more than caffeine and conversations. They offer you a chance to be privy to the inner workings of a boutique hotel, and a front row seat to the madness that is the hospitality industry.

Welcome to Ettarra Coffee House.


Situated on Juhu Tara Road, just a few minutes from Mr. Bachchan’s residence, Jalsa, this two year old blink-and-you-miss-it cafe is fast becoming Juhu residents’ favourite hangout place. Situated on the curbside, this hamlet of a cafe dares to stand merely a few steps away from the mighty Starbucks. Yet, this tiny joint is no ordinary place.


Stellar coffee being just one of its charms, its biggest distinguishing factor lies in its unique location. As one enters, a counter display of food items and various coffee apparatus stacked neatly on the open shelves meets your eye on one side, and a glass separation wall on the other. Where does one sit? Surely not outside in this heat!

And then, the staff leads you inside towards what appears like a hotel’s reception, but is, in fact, the inside seating area of the coffee shop, with two tables facing the reception desk. Yes, you heard it right. This coffee shop is right inside the reception area of Juhu Residency Boutique Hotel!

Opened by the hotel owner Mr. Dhananjay Shetty himself, one can’t help but admire his space optimization skills, something that everyone who lives in this space-crunched city learns and adapts to. But opening a cafe in a reception area is still a first, from all the cafes you might have been to so far.


At first, my thoughts on seeing the two tables were “I’m lucky to even have one table empty”, because on my subsequent visits, the place was always full, barring the curbside seating area. But then, who wants to sit outisde and hear traffic, when you can watch Rohit, the desk manager, pick up the phone and hear him speak “reception, how may I help you?” Not wander woman for sure.

On your lucky day, when there is space available inside, make sure to make a dash for it, as you’re in for a ride.


From being privy to the staff’s inside jokes, to seeing funny sights like a staff member, on seeing the ‘boss’ come in, running inside and announcing “Aree boss aa gaya”, there’s not a single dull moment for fellow wanderers. The boss’s arrival took me back to the scene in Devil Wears Prada, where Miranda Priestly’s arrival is announced with trepidation, unleashing a domino effect in the entire office!


But here, the boss is no Miranda. It came as a pleasant surprise when Rohit told wander woman that “The owner is the biggest reason I love it here”. For someone who came to Mumbai to become an actor, managing desk and answering phone calls may not be glamorous, but having good people around, who take care of each other, and treat their guests as the foremost priority is the next best thing.


For others, who don’t have this nurturing and supportive environment, this may be the best thing.

Ettarra means ‘Altitude’, as the coffee, (or ‘magic beans’ as the owner puts it) is sourced from the hills of Chikmagalur, in Karnataka, where his native village also happens to be. For team Ettarra, coffee isn’t just something you grab on the go, but savour and romance your mornings with. Ettarra’s website says it best – An authentic beverage, bookmarked by raw South Indian coffee rituals that appease the modern cafe culture.


And one sip of their Latte or Americano (the only ones we’ve tried so far) is enough to know that they stand by their words. Their food menu is just as delectable, with coffee accompaniments like – Baked Vada pav, Pappa Roti, Berliners, and Baked Hyderabadi Keema Pav that compliment your coffee experience, while satiating your hunger.

If one sits here long enough, they may realise that a boutique hotel is as high stakes as a major fashion magazine empire. Or maybe more. There is luggage to be delivered in the guest’s rooms, food reservations to be made, parties to be arranged, and a thousand phone calls to be answered. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.


Witnessing the world of a boutique hotel unfold in front of me, as I sipped on my Iced Americano and munched on banana chips (their signature complimentary snack that keeps on coming), reminded me of my childhood fascination with Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, a show that romanced the hotel industry like no other. Seeing Mr. Rohit at work, managing the front desk took me back to a beloved show of the early 2000s, Gilmore Girls, in which the iconic character of Michel Gerard, the grumpy French concierge at Independence Inn, ends up becoming your favourite.

Stepping inside Ettarra on a sweltering afternoon was as though, for a few moments, I’d stepped inside these shows and become a part of this world in the most intimate fashion. I came for a cup of joe, but sat a while longer, witnessing the the little big things that make a boutique hotel work.

As they say – A lot can happen over coffee.