Ahead of the Mumbai premiere of ‘The Odyssey’, director Christopher Nolan and actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland took a break from the film's promotional schedule to experience one of the city's most cherished culinary traditions, chai and bun maska.

The Hollywood trio, joined by Academy Award-winning producer Emma Thomas, visited the iconic Olympia Coffee House in Colaba, where they were photographed enjoying steaming cups of tea and freshly buttered buns. Images and videos from the visit quickly spread across social media, with fans delighted to see the Oscar-winning filmmaker and his cast embracing a classic Mumbai snack.

The outing came before the film's premiere on July 11 and followed a photocall near the Gateway of India, where the team interacted with the media and greeted fans during their visit to the city.

A quick stop at Olympia Coffee House

The cast and crew chose Olympia Coffee House, one of Colaba's oldest and most recognisable eateries, for their tea break before heading to the premiere.

Photographs from the café showed Nolan, Damon and Holland raising glasses of hot chai before enjoying bun maska, a timeless Mumbai favourite. The group was surrounded by security while curious customers and fans gathered around to catch a glimpse of the visitors. 

Universal Pictures India also shared a photograph from the café on social media with the caption, "Quick tea stop before The Odyssey Mumbai Premiere. A big night awaits, but chai comes first!"

The relaxed outing offered a contrast to the packed promotional schedule and quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from the team's visit to India.

Why Olympia Coffee House is a Mumbai landmark

Located in the heart of Colaba, Olympia Coffee House has been serving customers for more than a century. The restaurant was established in 1918 by Iranian businessman Syed Mohammed Merab and has since become a favourite among locals, office-goers and visitors alike.

Known for its simple, comforting food, the café is especially popular for dishes such as keema pav, bhurji pav, biryani and other Mughlai specialities. However, its chai and bun maska remain among its most beloved offerings, drawing regular patrons across generations.

The café's old-world charm and reputation for serving classic Mumbai comfort food have made it one of the city's enduring culinary institutions.

Nolan's long association with India

Nolan's latest visit also reflects his long-standing connection with India. The filmmaker previously shot the memorable prison pit sequences for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in the country and later returned to Mumbai while filming ‘Tenet’, which also featured veteran actor Dimple Kapadia.

His return to India ahead of ‘The Odyssey's release once again brought him closer to Indian audiences, both through the film's promotions and his exploration of the city's food culture.

A food tour before the premiere

The visit to Olympia Coffee House wasn't the only culinary stop during Nolan's Mumbai trip.

A day earlier, the filmmaker was seen dining with his family at the celebrated Trishna restaurant in Kala Ghoda, renowned for its coastal cuisine and seafood. Videos of Nolan leaving the restaurant soon circulated online, adding to the excitement surrounding his visit.

From sampling seafood to enjoying a traditional cup of chai with bun maska, Nolan and the ‘The Odyssey’ team made time to experience some of Mumbai's most iconic food spots before walking the red carpet for the film's premiere.