Dana Bunder Tea Shop

The shop is at 15/1 Masjid Gajanan Estate, on the ground floor. We are quite close to Kapadia Chamber, which is a good landmark if you’re trying to find us. Dana Bunder Tea Shop isn't the kind of place with fancy menus or air conditioning. It’s just a simple ground floor spot where the stove is almost always on. We start very early, before the sun is even up, to get the first batches of tea ready for the workers starting their shifts. The walls have turned a bit dark over the years from the steam and the smoke. We have a few benches where people can sit, but most just stand around and talk. The estate is a busy place, with a lot of people moving goods back and forth. You can hear the noise of the market and the shouts of the loaders all day long. We spend our time washing glasses, boiling milk, and making sure there’s enough sugar. It’s a lot of repetitive work, but we like the rhythm of it. On rainy days, the shop gets really full because everyone wants to get out of the wet. We don't have any fancy decorations, just a small picture of a deity with some dried flowers. It’s a basic place for a quick cup of tea and a bit of a rest before getting back to work. That’s just how it is here. Most people know us by our first names.