The more we see, the more we are convinced that Gen Z’s growing attachment to slowness isn’t nostalgia; it’s choice. It’s about reclaiming time, valuing craft, and gravitating towards experiences that feel thoughtful rather than transactional. This shift is visible at Slow, the café by Viraj Ghelani and Palak Khimavat in Kandivali, where the mood mirrors the mindset. At the entrance of this pet-friendly cafe, Khimavat’s dogs, Cortado and Moka, greet us briefly before settling into their favourite corners, entirely unbothered by people’s comings and goings.

Set in Mahavir Nagar, away from the city’s noisier café clusters, Slow feels like a deliberate pause. The design encourages ease — soft light, books on the shelves, open sightlines,  — nothing here pushes urgency. Coffee is brewed with intention, food is familiar without being dull, and conversations unfold without interruption. No visual overload, no menu theatrics, no pressure to perform for the camera.