Inside OPA Kipos, Mumbai’s Luxe Greek Dining Experience Where Kefi Is Embraced With A ‘Smash’

When I first watched the Meryl Streep-starrer Mamma Mia!, I was mesmerised by Grecian life. The power of that piece of cinematic adventure had persuaded me that Donna and Sophie had the life I aspired to live. Every day would be a celebration; all islanders would join in on the merriment — some in coordinated dance steps — with song and dance; and I shall ruminate nonchalantly sitting across the turquoise waters and scenic coastline from a Greek island. I considered island life to be the happiest. Cut to the twenty-twenties, I find myself on a completely different island —  Mumbai. On one of the seven islands that formed the base for Mumbai City, Worli, a Grecian paradise bringing a slice of Santorini to all has landed, laced with oodles of kefi. Fonázo, “OPA” (fonázo=exclaim)!

Back to the bay after a two-year hiatus is OPA Kipos, the Greek fine-dining destination from Dubai known for the cultural experience it offers its diners. Here, dinner is backed with an exuberant show in which the plates that are shared are also smashed. Music fills the room, coordinated dance moves make way to celebrate life. And, you hear “Oooopppaaaa” every other minute.

The Danes have Hygge, the Japanese have Ikigai, but it is the Hellenic philosophy of Kefi that has colour me impressed! Kefi is a Greek philosophy that represents joyousness, enthusiasm and passion for life. And, boy, does that come alive when you dine here!

Located in brand-new Ascent Worli, you walk in and say hello to two large statues inspired by the Greek Titan, Atlas. Only here, instead of carrying the weight of the world (celestial sphere representing the sky) on their individual shoulders, they carry ultramarine-hued pots respectively. Inspired by a Santorini garden with foliage, bougainvillaea,  plastered white walls and Santorini blue doors, you make your way upstairs, where lie the dining areas. But, hold on, the walk itself is like meandering through a starry-skied lane of the Grecian paradise, so enjoy it.

Spread across 6,500 sq ft, this 130-seater is playing well to your senses. Your feet touch Greek-inspired stone flooring, and your hands can touch the limestone-plastered walls that have been hand-trowelled. You see deep-blue pots, shutters, and dining chairs, banquettes, etc, adorning key places. Lush bougainvillaea intertwined on the ceiling and around the lamps, along with the Atlas sculpture adorning one of the walls, give you a sense of being in Greece. At places, the ceiling with star-pin lights mimics the Mediterranean sky. The sensorial stimulation is orchestrated by folks at Dubai-based Creative Clinic, who have done the interiors. And, it is a job well done.

As for the senses of smell and taste, Opa’s menu is concocted by Executive Chef Timothy Newton. Think Mediterranean-Greek fare with touch Middle East. I was one of the first to try the renewed menu. I have previously dined at the earlier Opa, too, which was an authentic experience. So, here, a part of me expected the same attention to detail and finesse.

Food is meant to be shared, and the sense of community dining can be seen in their shareable plates. The laying of the dishes in front of you is also a show! Like the way the hummus is brought to your “tableside” with a selection of garnishes like harissa, pickled red peppers, toasted pine nuts, feta, minced parsley, and fresh spring onions. The condiments are added enthusiastically by the server while humming and jiving to Greek and Arabic music that fills up the space.

We started with Mezze comprising the tableside hummus; Truffle Galotyri, a Greek cream cheese topped with truffle, grapes and nuts; Tyrokafteri, a traditional Greek feta cheese dip with harissa and roasted peppers; some marinated beetroot and mandarin in extra virgin olive oil; and some pita bread. I loved the OPA Hummus and Truffle Galotyri.

Then came a flurry of starters like Chicken Gyro — grilled thighs tzatziki, pickles in mini pita; Lamb Kebab — spiced minced lamb in spicy tomato sauce with garlic yoghurt; OPA Manti — chicken and feta dumplings, coriander pesto, warm Greek yoghurt sauce with chili butter; Calamari — crispy baby squid, lemon aioli; Chicken & Cheese Pie — braised chicken, Kashkaval, feta-dill sauce; and more.

I enjoyed the manti and kebab the most. The mini pita in gyro didn’t hit the right spot for me. What did hit was the chili butter-laced manti and crispy Calamari. The vegetarian fare at Opa is not an afterthought; they have a wide range of mezze, mantis, gyros, and kebabs, too. It’s the variety of cheese-filled dishes on both veg and non-veg menus that has piqued my interest. The mains keep at the same ethos.

The Greek Gods may have preferred their nectar straight up, but here at Opa, the cupbearers bring you molecular alchemy laced with Greek mythology. You see it in their signature cocktails bearing names like Cicones, Sirens, Helios, Calypso, Penelope, and more borrowed from Homer’s Odyssey. Teetotalers have Athena, Hera and Ambrosia. The cocktail program is done in-house by the experts, and the bar is stocked with premium spirits.

Traditional Greek dining is just one of the many things that Opa offers. The main pull is the smashing of the plates, the ceremonies and the Dabke-like dance that exhilarates all. I partook in circular dancing, screamed “OPA”; smashed POP (Plaster of Paris) plates, screamed “OPA”;  coughed up POP dust, screamed “OPA”; you get the drift! The plates that are smashed, the shards are collected, and are given a new lease of life by artisans at various NGOs who turn them into mosaic art or installations.

A first for me was the fennel shot ceremony, wherein you are to pull off a balancing act on your head with the hopes that the “OPA” smash moment doesn’t happen on your own head. They place a plate on your crown, then a shot glass and then pour in the fennel drink through an apparatus that reminds you of your Chemistry Lab days. You balance, you drink up, and smash the plate and exclaim, you guessed it, “OPA”!

All of this combined: the food, the drinks, the dance, the exclamations, the ceremonies constitute the feeling of kefi! The passion for life, liveliness and the loud song-and-dance. But do not mistake this place for a nightclub. “It’s not a nightclub or party space. At Opa Kipos, the dance and smashing of plates is part of your dining experience,” says Hitesh Keswani, Managing Director, Aspect Hospitality.

Spreading kefi, Hitesh says, “It is all about celebrations. It is all about happiness. In Greece, when people are happy or they want to celebrate life, occasions, what they do is feast. But other than lavish food and drinks, they break and smash plates as a part of their happiness. Since India was missing this experience of smashing plates, along with a performance by the Greek dancers, Opa Kipos had struck a chord with Mumbai because it wasn’t just a restaurant; it felt like an escape. I’m glad that it’s reopening.”

With all things Greek, even the music, the place fills me with hope that, even if it is for one night, I can live my ebullient Grecian dream like in the movies whenever I wish. With kefi on my mind, I left and ruminated in a secluded alley overlooking the Arabian Sea stretch that doesn’t remotely resemble the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. But, I’ll always have Opa for that!

Where: Ascent Worli, Plot No. 248B, Lower Parel. Mumbai 400025

When: Monday to Saturday: 7 pm onwards | Sunday: 12.30-3.30 pm and 7 pm onwards

Cost: ₹4,000 for two people (approx) without alcohol

OPA Kipos opened doors to the public on October 14, 2025.