The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food license of Olympia Coffee House in Colaba after an inspection found several hygiene and food-safety violations at the century-old Irani cafe.
The action was taken following a consumer complaint filed under the Safe Food Safe Maharashtra campaign. The suspension came into effect on September 16, with the establishment ordered to stop purchasing, preparing, storing, selling and distributing food until the reported deficiencies are addressed and the premises pass a fresh inspection.
The 108-year-old cafe, one of Mumbai’s remaining Irani establishments, recently attracted attention after Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon and Tom Holland visited the venue for chai and bun maska in July. The group made an unplanned stop at the cafe ahead of the Mumbai premiere of The Odyssey, with staff reportedly realising only later who their visitors were.
FDA Suspends Olympia’s Food License
Olympia Coffee House’s Food License No. 11519001000511 has been suspended under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
The FDA said the suspension will remain in place until the identified shortcomings are fully corrected and the cafe clears a follow-up inspection.
Olympia is among fewer than 40 Irani cafes that remain in Mumbai, compared with more than 400 establishments at the peak of the city’s Irani cafe culture.
What FDA Inspectors Found
The inspection report listed several food-safety and sanitation concerns at the premises. Inspectors reported finding a urinal inside the food storage area and blood residues from meat inside a refrigerator.
The report also noted cockroach and fly infestation, food being handled directly on the floor and the use of unclean water for food preparation. Raw vegetarian and non-vegetarian food was not properly separated, while wooden chopping boards were found to be damaged and unhygienic.
The FDA further reported that food handlers were not wearing protective clothing. Of the 35 food handlers at the establishment, 34 were found to be untrained in food safety.
Inspectors also said mandatory records relating to water testing and sanitation were not available during the inspection.
According to the FDA, the shortcomings represented a potential risk to food safety and public health. The cafe will need to demonstrate that the issues have been completely addressed before its license can be restored.
Who Is Tukaram Mundhe?
The action against Olympia comes during the tenure of Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005-batch IAS officer who took charge of the department in May 2026.
Mundhe, who was born into a farming family in Beed district, secured an All India Rank of 20 in the 2004 UPSC examination. Over his administrative career, he has had 25 transfers and has become known for his strict enforcement approach.
One of his most prominent assignments was as Nagpur Municipal Commissioner during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since taking charge of the Maharashtra FDA, Mundhe has overseen thousands of inspections, along with seizures of food products worth crores of rupees and license-related action against several establishments. These have included Mumbai’s K. Rustom & Co. ice cream parlour and Shalimar Hotel.
He has been popularly referred to as Maharashtra’s “Singham” because of his enforcement style. However, speaking to reporters in August, Mundhe said his priority was improving systems rather than building a personal profile, stressing that the institution should remain more important than the individual.
What Happens to Olympia Now?
Olympia Coffee House cannot resume its food-related operations until the deficiencies identified by the FDA have been rectified and the premises successfully pass a re-inspection.
The FDA has not specified when that inspection will take place. The cafe’s ownership has also not issued a public response to the suspension order so far.