Tucked behind Olive Bandra’s white walls, a new presence emerges quietly. Call Me Sofia, positioned as Mumbai’s first Italian-style aperitivo bar, is designed to create a transitional moment between day and evening. Conceived by AD Singh and developed by the Olive Group, the space is shaped around atmosphere rather than definition.
Sofia is imagined as a mood — a pause in the city’s rhythm where light softens and the evening begins to take form. Her character unfolds gradually and playfully, inviting visitors into an experience that is meant to be felt rather than described.
A first-of-its-kind aperitivo experience
Call Me Sofia opens with the evening light, revealing an intimate, semi-open bar that feels like a whispered secret. Soft breeze, warm glow, and the quiet clink of glasses set an easy rhythm. A playful touch defines the space too — a small window where guests can ring a bell and receive a cocktail, adding a hint of whimsy to the experience.
Low-ABV cocktails that set the evening’s tone
At Sofia, the cocktails command the spotlight, – driven by a low-ABV philosophy that champions aperitifs, lighter spirits, and a style of sipping that keeps the evening unfolding with charm and conversations that refuse to be rushed. Think Select, Campari, Vermouths and infused apéritifs layered thoughtfully to capture the lightness of Italian drinking culture, while still offering the comfort of familiar spirits like gins, vodkas, and bright house blends.
There is whimsy in the glass: a traditional Caprese salad reimagined as a cocktail, a cantaloupe-infused selection that tastes like summer with a secret, or a house-made lemon–strawberry blend softened with merlot that flows like satin across the palate.
A food menu designed to complement, not compete
The food here does not overshadow; it enhances. The menu is made of small plates alone – beautifully plated, thoughtfully crafted, satisfying without weighing you down. Certain cocktails come with their own petite edible companions, flavour accents that create a sensory duet between sip and bite. And unlike traditional wine bars where dishes lead the conversation, Sofia flips the script: bartenders step out from behind the counter, move across the floor, speak to guests, and guide them first to the right cocktail.
Interiors shaped by rustic Italian warmth
The interiors echo this same philosophy of surprise and softness. Designed by Sabina Singh, Group Director of Design, and her in-house team, the space has rustic Italian influences, brought alive with a refreshed palette. Sofia’s space feels warm, tactile, and modern without losing its rooted charm. The iconic tree, present since the beginning, is now the heart of the bar – literally. The space is looser, airier, more intimate, holding a playfulness that mirrors Sofia’s character.
A new chapter for the Olive Group
“Call Me Sofia captures that rare moment when daylight softens and the night begins to find its shape,” says AD Singh. “She is designed for closeness, where the ambience, the cocktails, and the conversations blend to create evenings that feel magical, meaningful, and deeply personal.”
