DRNK Bandra Review: My Honest Take on the Overhyped Café

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The first time I came across DRNK Bandra wasn’t on Instagram or in some trending reel. Nope it was way before that, when the café was still tucked away next to Dale’s Eden in Bandra. Back then, it was just another small spot on a buzzing street, and honestly, there wasn’t much hype around it.

I even remember watching Sarah Sarosh’s vlog where she casually mentioned DRNK because the founder happened to be her mother’s student. Still, even after seeing that, I wasn’t tempted to go. Something about the place just never pulled me in.

Fast forward a couple of months, and suddenly DRNK had blown up into an Instagram viral sensation. My explore page was filled with people posing with their famous drinks, especially the DRNK Tiramisu Ice Latte. Even my sister who doesn’t usually obsess over cafés was completely taken by it. She hadn’t tried it yet, but she kept saying, “The next time I’m in Bandra, I want to try DRNK first.”

So one random Thursday afternoon, when I was passing through Bandra and saw there was no rush outside (a miracle, considering the usual 30–45 minute wait), I thought, “Okay, maybe this is the day. Let me finally see what DRNK is all about.”

Drnk Ambience: Not What I Expected

When you hear about a Bandra café that people dress up for, you automatically assume the ambience is going to be stunning Pinterest boards, fairy lights, cozy corners, maybe even a bit of aesthetic chaos (the kind that makes you pull out your phone before you even order).

But honestly? DRNK Bandra didn’t vibe with me at all.

I walked in with my laptop and diary, thinking I could maybe spend a couple of hours working there. Big mistake. It wasn’t work-friendly in the slightest. The music was loud, the tables felt cramped, and there was no sense of that relaxed, café-chill vibe you’d expect.

And if you’re wondering whether it at least worked as a “chill café” to just hang out well, even that didn’t hit the mark. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that DRNK was more about being seen than about enjoying a genuine coffee experience.

Very near to DRNK is Candies. Now, Candies isn’t exactly known for “the best food in Mumbai,” but it has this relaxed charm that makes you want to stay. You walk in, and it feels easy. DRNK, on the other hand, felt like effort.

Would you agree that sometimes a place’s energy just tells you immediately whether you’re going to like it or not?

The Famous DRNK Tiramisu Ice Latte

Alright, let’s get to the real deal the reason I went in the first place: the DRNK Tiramisu Ice Latte.

On Instagram, the drink looks massive kind of like a Starbucks tall (the small size, but still enough to sip slowly on a hot day). Honestly, even that I could finish on my own without thinking twice. But when it arrived in front of me at DRNK? It was literally half the size.

And the price? ₹525. Yes, five hundred and twenty-five rupees for a drink that felt like it wasn’t even worth fifty bucks.

I took the first sip, hoping the size would at least be justified by the flavor. Nope. Like I said earlier, it was just thick cream, cocoa dust, and coffee that didn’t balance well. For the price of one disappointing drink here, I could’ve gotten two solid coffees at Starbucks or an entire meal at a good Bandra joint (Things to eat in Bandra)

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The Thecha Sandwich I Never Ordered

Now, I’ll admit I walked in planning to order both the DRNK Tiramisu Ice Latte and their popular Thecha Sandwich.

What is Thecha?

If you’re not from Maharashtra, you might be wondering: what even is thecha? Well, it’s a traditional Maharashtrian chutney made with green chilies, garlic, and peanuts, pounded together to create a fiery, coarse paste. Thecha is famous for its spicy kick. Traditionally, people eat it with bhakri (a rustic flatbread), but cafés in Mumbai have started modern twists like the Thecha Sandwich.

But here’s what happened: I told myself, “Let me enjoy the drink first, then I’ll order the sandwich.” After that first sip of the latte though, my excitement dropped. The drink was so underwhelming that I immediately thought, “If this is their signature best-seller, then what are the chances the food is any better?” That’s when it hit me maybe the Thecha Sandwich (which so many people rave about) would also just be another overhyped menu item at DRNK Bandra.

So I didn’t order it. And honestly? I don’t regret it. Because if their “signature” drink failed so badly, how much faith could I have in the rest of the menu?

Why Is DRNK So Hyped Then?

This is the question that kept circling in my head while I sat there. Why are people willing to wait almost an hour for this?

Here’s what I think:

• Instagram factor: Let’s be honest half of Bandra cafés thrive on Instagram aesthetics. The more photogenic the drink, the more people flock to try it.
• Location: DRNK Bandra is right next to Chantilly, smack in the middle of one of Bandra’s busiest food streets. Foot traffic = buzz.
• Word of mouth: Once something gets a reputation as a “must-visit,” the cycle feeds itself. People don’t want to miss out.

But hype doesn’t equal quality. At least, not in this case.

DRNK Coffee vs. Bandra Café Culture

If you’ve spent any time exploring Bandra, you’ll know it’s packed with cafés some cozy, some experimental, and yes, some seriously overhyped. That’s why I found it so surprising that DRNK Bandra has become such a massive Instagram sensation, because when you put it side by side with other spots, it really doesn’t hold up.

Take Bokka Coffee in Bandra, for example. I love that place it has this earthy charm, thoughtful interiors, and most importantly, coffee that feels like it’s been made with passion. It’s the kind of café you walk into and actually want to stay for a while.

Or even Boujee Café, which manages to balance the Instagram vibe while delivering food like the best avocado toast in Mumbai that actually feels worth the money. Sure, it’s a little extra (as the name suggests), but at least you walk out feeling satisfied instead of cheated.

That’s the real difference for me: places like Bokka Coffee and Boujee Café remind me why Bandra is home to some of the best cafes in Bandra, while spots like DRNK make me feel like I’ve just added another name to my list of overhyped cafes in Bandra.

(And trust me, Bandra has quite a few of those 🙃).

My Honest DRNK Bandra Review

To summarize my experience:

• Ambience: Overhyped, not work-friendly, and honestly not relaxing.
• Service: Decent, nothing extraordinary.
• Drinks: The famous DRNK Tiramisu Ice Latte was a major letdown.
• Overall vibe: A place to be seen, not to enjoy.

Would I go back? Probably not. But would I write about it? Absolutely because if you’re planning a Bandra café crawl, I’d want you to know where to invest your time and money.

Tips If You Still Want to Visit DRNK Bandra

If you’re still curious about DRNK (because hey, sometimes you just need to see what the fuss is about), here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Avoid peak hours: Unless you enjoy waiting 30–45 minutes, go on a weekday afternoon.
• Don’t take your laptop: This is not a work café.
• Go with friends: It’s more of a hangout spot than a solo café experience.
• Try something other than the tiramisu latte: Who knows, maybe another drink will surprise you.

My Takeaway

If you ask me whether I’d recommend DRNK, my honest answer is this: go if you want to experience the hype, but don’t expect it to change your life.

For me, DRNK was one of those cafés where the hype far outweighed the actual experience. It reminded me why I love exploring Bandra though because for every overhyped spot like this, there’s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

And now i am planning to write a blog on Best Tiramisu in Mumbai.

FAQ’s about DRNK Bandra

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