💬 Our evening chai spot got too crowded. Where do you go with friends?

For about 4 years our group of 6 had a spot. A small chai stall near Tolichowki, opposite the old petrol pump. We went there every Thursday around 7. Same bench, same man, same order. He didn't even ask anymore. It was a quiet place, with a plastic table and a tube light that flickered. It was perfect. Then someone posted it on Instagram. A reel about hidden chai spots in the old city. That's all it took. Now there's a queue on Thursdays. People with phones filming the tea being poured from a height. The owner has put the price up and added 3 new things on the menu. Chocolate chai, which is a crime. We went last week and couldn't find a place to sit. The bench was occupied by a couple taking pictures. My friend Faisal said, I'm not standing for my own chai. And he led us out like a protest march. We walked around for an hour looking for another spot. Everywhere was either too fancy or too noisy. 1 place had a DJ. At 7:30 in the evening, for chai. I don't understand what's happening to this city. Finally we sat on a pavement near a closed shop and bought tea from a flask. It was strangely perfect. But we can't do that every Thursday. The police will move us and it's not very comfortable. So here's what I'm after. A calm spot for evening tea, with space for 6, not too much of a crowd. Doesn't have to be in Tolichowki. We're happy to travel up to 30 minutes for the right place. Good tea, a place to sit, and no music. That's all we ask. Is that too much? If you have somewhere that has survived social media so far, please tell us. We'll keep it secret.

The flickering tube light and the man who stopped asking for your order was the whole charm, and a reel can ruin that in 1 week.

There's a small Irani chai place near Lower Tank Bund that never gets too crowded on weekdays, plastic chairs and all, but the tea is strong and the staff do not rush you out. We used to go somewhere in Banjara Hills but it turned into a whole production trying to find parking every time. This place has become the new default for our group and nobody has complained yet.