A Guide to Best food stalls at Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2025

Every year, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) redefines the boundaries of artistic expression, transforming the vibrant streets of Mumbai into a cultural melting pot. This year marks a particularly special milestone—the festival’s silver jubilee, celebrating 25 years of creativity, heritage, and gastronomy. With over 300+ events spanning 14 diverse categories, KGAF 2025 is a sensory extravaganza featuring theater, literature, dance, stand-up comedy, visual arts, music, architecture, and, of course, food!

The Vikhroli Cucina team, alongside food enthusiast and vlogger, Shilpa Chawla, took to the bustling lanes of KGAF to explore one of the most frequented sections of the festival—the food stalls! Here’s a glimpse of the must-try flavours and experiences that defined this year’s culinary showcase.

HyLo: A Tribute to the Hyperlocal

Must-try’s: Podi Idli, Palak Chaat

HyLo Food is quickly becoming the star attraction of Kala Ghoda, serving hyperlocal Indian cuisine that satisfies every palate. Each dish offers a nostalgic experience, showcasing a heritage of flavors that stand out for their authenticity, reminiscent of treasured home-cooked recipes. At the Hylo food stall, we tried the Podi Idli and the Palak Chaat, definitely the star attractions.

Here’s what Mayank Bhatt, the owner of Hylo shares with Shilpa Chawla, about his vision of binging the HYperLOcal to Kala Ghoda,

“Our culinary program has been well-researched and thought-through and is a heartfelt tribute to our country’s culinary diversity. Designed by millennials, for millennials, each dish is thoughtfully crafted to celebrate the richness of our culinary heritage, offering a sensory journey that speaks to those with refined tastes. It’s a space where food enthusiasts can experience the depth and diversity of our heritage cuisine, presented in its purest form.”

If you’re visiting KGAF, make sure HyLo is on your list!

RPG’s The Heritage Project: Celebrating the Koli Community

Must try’s: Prawns Biryani

A unique highlight at KGAF this year was RPG’s The Heritage Project, a CSR initiative spotlighting the local Koli community. Women chefs from Colaba Koliwada brought their exclusive home-cooked dishes to the festival, introducing visitors to authentic Koli flavors.

The star of the stall? Their signature Prawns Biryani! We had the pleasure of meeting Sakshi, one of the talented home chefs, who passionately spoke about bringing Koli cuisine to a global audience.

"I’m so happy to share our Koli culture with so many people. This is our heritage, and I love that it’s being appreciated here at KGAF!"

Under the Mango Tree

Must try: Saffron Infused Honey

Another inspiring stop was Under the Mango Tree, a social initiative that partners with local farmers to bring single-origin honey to consumers. Their range of honey—sourced from wild forests, tiger reserves, and the Himalayan flora—showcases how the origin of honey impacts its flavor and quality.

Beyond offering artisanal honey, Under the Mango Tree also trains farmers in beekeeping, supporting both agricultural production and environmental conservation. Their latest innovation? Infused honey, featuring unique flavors like chili and saffron. Definitely a stall worth exploring!

Poetry by Love & Cheesecake

Must try: Blueberry Cold Cheesecake

The Cheesecake Masterclass: A Sweet Affair at Poetry & Love

One of the most delightful experiences at KGAF was a special cheesecake masterclass hosted by Poetry by Love & Cheesecake, the brainchild of Ruchyeta Bhatia and Chef Amit Sharma. As pioneers in Mumbai’s cheesecake scene, their journey began long before cheesecakes became mainstream.

The masterclass was nothing short of an artistic experience. Legendary actor Denzil Smith added a poetic touch, reciting verses about food, followed by the chef preparing an exquisite spread of layered strawberry cheesecake, plating discs of sheet cake and lathering them with fresh strawberry compote, topped with strawberries as the spectators were served with 2 rounds of mini cheesecake! A no-bake blueberry one and a heavenly NY cheesecake concluding it with a third round of freshly prepped layered strawberry cheesecake!

"We wanted to marry the idea of cheesecake and poetry at poetry, and the whole thing coming together was a great experience for us!" — Ruchyeta Bhatia

Ruchyeta shared insights into their journey

"We started back in 2012—an era when cheesecake was still a mystery to many. Back then, you’d typically find cheesecakes only at high-end restaurants, and even they would offer just a couple of flavours—usually a classic New York Cheesecake and a blueberry one. Interestingly, those remain the most popular flavours even today!

Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city, and we quickly realised that we were catering to a diverse audience. When we launched in 2012, we started with just three types of cheesecake. Over time, we introduced an eggless, cold, no-bake cheesecake, followed by a layered cheesecake designed from a healthier perspective—using sponge cake layered with cream cheese instead of whipped cream.

Today, Love & Cheesecake boasts more than 60 different varieties of cheesecake!" — Ruchyeta Bhatia.

As spectators indulged in freshly made strawberry, blueberry, and NY cheesecakes, it was evident that this was more than just a masterclass—it was an ode to the art of dessert-making!

More Than Just Food: The KGAF Experience

At the tail-end of the lane, as we concluded the KGAF experience, here’s how Shilpa reflects on the festival.

“The Kala Ghoda experience is beyond words—it's something you have to feel. It’s like capturing the essence of Mumbai in a single frame, where culture meets food, offering something for everyone. This year, as it celebrated 25 glorious years, I explored some unmissable food spots and experiences that truly stood out. Beyond food, Kala Ghoda is full of artistic wonders, including the iconic horses, each representing a unique concept and perspective on life—whether you're racing ahead or taking a moment to pause, the horses tell a story. The festival also hosts some incredible masterclasses. I attended a Poetry session where poetry intertwined beautifully with culinary artistry, followed by a cheese masterclass at Poetry by love and cheesecake. There are many more to explore, so make sure to visit before the festival wraps up!”

Every aspect of KGAF 2024 resonated with a deep appreciation for creativity, culture, and community. If you haven’t been yet, make sure to visit before the festival ends—you don’t want to miss out on this sensory adventure!

Did you visit the KGAF yet? How was your experience? Tell us in the comments!