Haji Ali Juice Centre
Where can you get fresh fruit juice at 5.30 in the morning?
The 
Haji Ali Juice Centre at Mahalaxmi opens to morning joggers
at 5.30 a.m. and caters to party animals up to a little after midnight.
Started by Fareed A. Noorani in 1965 to quench the thirst
of visitors to the Haji Ali Dargah, the juice centre has
today become a landmark of sorts.
It all began with Noorani starting a small teashop in the Dargah.
This later culminated in a series of businesses - the Haji Ali
Juice Centre, Café Noorani at Mahalaxmi, Café Gulistan at Santacruz,
Bright Supari Agency at Vashi, Bright Financial Service and
Bright Boutique.
What makes this juice centre unique? One can order for a single
fresh juice costing not more than Rs 20/- to Rs 30/- and get it
home-delivered free of charge anywhere in South Mumbai. It has a
seating arrangement for 35-40 persons on the inside, but it is preferable
to enjoy the cool sea breeze outside, even if it means standing
or using the stone parapet.
About 500 hungry bellies frequent this place every day. The place
serves snacks like pizzas, a variety of sandwiches, ice creams,
fruit creams besides the famous fruit juices. Even though they have
some exotic fruit juices on their list like Anjeer, Strawberry,
etc; the fastest selling is the all-season Mousambi (sweet lime).
We recommend their 'Chikoo Cream' (Rs 65/-), an exotic
dish with flavoured sweetened cream (brought in specially from Agra)
and chikoo pieces. If you like your pizza with a desi touch and
lots of Indian spices, go for the Veg Cheese Pizza (Rs 55).
Try their spicy green chutney sprinkled with chaat masala. It goes
well with both pizza and sandwich. They also offer an assortment
of milkshakes as they do the fruit juices.
The best time to visit: On a moonlit night. You can sit
on the parapet by the seaside and satiate your palate while watching
moonbeams playing traunt on the Haji Ali Dargah. The combination
of fresh fruit and sea breeze can be quite intoxicating.
Haji Ali Juice Centre
Address:
Haji Ali Circle, Opposite Heera Panna, Mumbai
- 400 034, Phone: 492 1632 / 492 0957
By : Anupama Vinayak
Photographer: Vinayak Prabhu
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