Make Mumbai Green Again: How The Bombay Canteen Is Turning Dinner-Table Talk Into Real Green Spaces

Every few months, someone in Mumbai announces they've planted a thousand saplings. And every few months, half of those saplings quietly die.

The Bombay Canteen has a different idea. Its Make Mumbai Green Again series starts from a simple, slightly uncomfortable truth: a greener city doesn't begin with planting. In the restaurant's own words, that's not even the beginning. It starts with finding the right spaces, species and people.

The series so far

Chapter 1: Greening Where You Live (19 September, The Nest, Malabar Hill)

The first session focused on the small stuff we can all do: balconies, windowsills and terraces. How green is your space already? Which plants actually survive in it? Where do you source them, and how do you keep them alive?

Chapter 2: Restoring Green Spaces (28 October, Rani Baug Zoo, Byculla)

The second chapter went bigger, looking at how to restore shared green spaces so that birds, butterflies and pollinators can thrive. It also promised stories of residents who've turned vacant neighbourhood plots into green pockets. Held with WRI India and YUVA, in collaboration with the BMC Garden Department.

Yes, a restaurant hosted a sustainability talk at the zoo. Only in Mumbai.

Why it matters

Mumbai is one of the most densely built cities in the world. Green space here isn't a luxury, it's survival: shade in brutal summers, drainage in monsoon floods and a little breathing room in a city that rarely gets any.

What makes this series interesting is the mix of partners. WRI India brings research on urban greening. YUVA works closely with communities. The BMC controls a lot of the land. And The Bombay Canteen brings what restaurants do best: getting people in a room and making them care.

My take

I love it when a food brand does something that isn't about food. The Bombay Canteen has always been about celebrating local ingredients and seasonality. Extending that to the city's trees, birds and open spaces feels completely on brand.

Chapter 2 has already happened, so if you missed it, follow The Bombay Canteen for news of chapter 3. And in the meantime, maybe start with that sad balcony plant. It's a beginning.

Frequently asked questions

What is Make Mumbai Green Again?

It is a series of public sessions by The Bombay Canteen, with WRI India and YUVA, on how Mumbaikars can green their homes and restore shared green spaces.

Where was Make Mumbai Green Again chapter 2 held?

Chapter 2, on restoring green spaces, was held on 28 October 2026 at Rani Baug Zoo in Byculla, in collaboration with the BMC Garden Department.

How can I attend the next session?

Follow The Bombay Canteen on Instagram for announcements. Previous sessions were booked through District.