MUMBAI: Mumbai’s cafe scene has a new reason to buzz this week. Cocoa and Katli, a contemporary all-day cafe built around the idea of mindful indulgence, has opened its doors in Malad, and it arrives with an unusual origin story: its founder has spent nearly 15 years proving that dessert and diabetes need not be enemies.
The 1,050 sq ft cafe, launched by chefpreneur Harsh Kedia, better known as The Diabetic Chef, along with entrepreneur Arihant Jain, brings together specialty coffee, artisanal desserts and an all-day menu in a space designed for the way Mumbai lives today.
A cafe that fits into your day
From morning coffees to working between meetings, long conversations, family meals, after-school treats and weekend catch-ups, Cocoa and Katli is pitched as the kind of place that slides into every part of the day. The design is deliberately bright and unhurried: clean lines, open spaces and a relaxed atmosphere where guests can settle in for a quick coffee or stay for an afternoon with friends.
What sets the menu apart, the founders say, is that better-for-you choices are woven naturally through it rather than parked in a corner labelled “healthy”. The idea is simple: nobody wants to compromise on taste, but more Mumbaikars are reading labels and thinking about what they eat. Cocoa and Katli wants dessert to feel like a treat, not a transaction you regret an hour later.
The Diabetic Chef’s long road
For Kedia, the cafe is the latest chapter in a personal mission that began when he was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager, nearly 15 years ago. Instead of giving up on flavour, he educated himself on ingredients and built a career around a simple belief: thoughtful ingredients and exceptional flavour can coexist.
He first drew public attention years ago as “A Diabetic Chef”, running a Mumbai bakery devoted to diabetic-friendly sweets, from chocolates to brownies and milkshakes. Over the years he has also spoken out against pseudo-sugarfree products on supermarket shelves, arguing that many “sugar-free” chocolates hide maltitol, whey and vegetable oils that people with diabetes would do better to avoid.
With Cocoa and Katli, that philosophy moves beyond desserts to shape an entire cafe experience. The launch announcement makes the intent clear: great food for everyone at the table, regardless of age, preferences or lifestyle.
Why mindful indulgence is having a moment
The launch lands at a moment when India’s cafe culture is maturing fast. Specialty coffee has moved from a novelty to a daily habit, and a growing segment of diners, especially younger ones, wants food that respects both their palate and their health goals. The guilt-free-dessert wave is no longer a niche; it is a market.
Mumbai, with its long work hours and packed social calendars, is the natural testing ground. Cafes that can be an office in the morning, a meeting room in the afternoon and a family table in the evening have a clear edge, and Cocoa and Katli is betting squarely on that all-day promise.
The “conscious Mumbaikar” the founders talk about is real: label-reading, ingredient-curious, and unwilling to treat dessert as a guilty secret.
What to expect when you visit
- Specialty coffee, artisanal desserts and an all-day menu under one roof
- Better-for-you options built into the main menu, not segregated as “diet food”
- A 1,050 sq ft bright, contemporary space designed for work, conversation and dining
- An unhurried, welcoming atmosphere meant for lingering, not rushing
FAQs
Where is Cocoa and Katli located?
The cafe has opened in Malad, Mumbai, in a 1,050 sq ft contemporary space.
Who founded Cocoa and Katli?
The cafe was launched by chefpreneur Harsh Kedia, known as The Diabetic Chef, and entrepreneur Arihant Jain.
What is on the menu?
Specialty coffee, artisanal desserts and an all-day menu, with better-for-you choices woven naturally through it.
What does “mindful indulgence” mean?
Enjoying food fully without compromising on taste, while making thoughtful choices about ingredients. The menu is designed so that mindful options are the default, not a separate compromise.
Is the cafe diabetic-friendly?
Founder Harsh Kedia built his career on diabetic-friendly desserts, and that philosophy shapes the cafe. Diabetic guests will find options that respect their dietary needs without sacrificing flavour.
If the early buzz is anything to go by, Malad’s newest address might just become Mumbai’s favourite guilt-free habit. For a city that runs on coffee and conversations, Cocoa and Katli seems to have read the room perfectly.
