Dumbo

House-made focaccia, cut Florentine style and filled to order, is the daytime argument at Dumbo, in New Delhi. After dark the same small room turns down the lights and starts making cocktails.

Sandwiches, matcha and an Espresso Martini

The sandwiches are where the kitchen is most specific. The Mamma is the vegetable-led one, stacked with fresh vegetables, cheese and inventive condiments. The Amalfi is the one that disappears fastest, often gone within hours of opening. The Paradiso is the third name guests keep returning to. All three sit on bread the kitchen bakes itself, which is what separates them from a cafe toastie.

Drinks carry equal weight. Ceremonial matcha is a core daytime order, and the specialty coffee side comes through the team's association with Perch and their kiosk project, The Window, covering cold brew and espresso-based drinks. At night the Espresso Martini takes over as the signature. Focaccia by day and a coffee-led cocktail by night is the whole rhythm of the place.

A small red room in Meherchand Market

Dumbo is compact and dressed down, with a bright red storefront and a minimal interior that keeps attention on the counter, the sandwiches and whichever half of the day you have walked into. It opened in September 2025 from the team behind Café Dalí and VINCI, which is a fine-dining pedigree applied to a deli format.

Its setting in Meherchand Market matters. Lodhi Colony turned into one of Delhi's busiest food corners in 2025, and Dumbo landed among the most talked-about openings of that year. Read it as a focused sandwich, coffee, matcha and cocktail room rather than a broad all-day cafe.

What to order

Start with a sandwich. The Mamma is the vegetarian-leaning choice, built on vegetables, cheese and condiments over house focaccia. The Amalfi is the one to ask for early, since both it and the Mamma have a habit of selling out. The Paradiso is the third to try once the first two are familiar.

For drinks, ceremonial matcha is the daytime signature. If coffee is the priority, the Perch-linked specialty side is the stronger route, particularly cold brew or an espresso-based drink. When the room shifts, the Espresso Martini is the first cocktail to order. A complete visit is one focaccia sandwich, matcha or coffee with it, and the martini if you stay.