This January, the industrial Mukesh Mills is getting a coveted transformation. As much as we love food, a food festival is something that always excites us. But The Gathering’s food festival is not just about food; it is about the art of flavour and feeling. It is about experiencing food through form and intention. The 2nd Edition of The Gathering is back with a one-of-a-kind affair featuring chef and artist collaborations. Spread across three days, Mukesh Mills in Mumbai is transforming into a high-conceptual immersive arena with pop-up restaurants, bars, salons, workshops and live programmes. This is an invitation to slow down and experience India’s creativity in form and on a plate in this limited-time affair.
The Gathering – Edition 2 Food Festival
From January 16, 2026, to January 18, 2026, The Gathering invites you to experience its never-been-done-before menus. The lineup is curated across three days, with culinary experts collaborating with the top artists of the country. Each ‘restaurant’ offers a thematic 5-course tasting menu tailored for 20 guests per seating. Each moment and artistic experience is intentionally choreographed, with music, drama, bounty, and storytelling.
What To Expect In This Year’s Pop-Ups
Taste. Terrain. Tapestry
Chef Niyati Rao X Abraham & Thakore | Conservation
This collaboration reflects on food and fabric as a form of historic memory. You will find the table mapping India’s renowned handweaves like Kasavu, Chanderi, Paithani, and Chikankari. Here, Chef Niyati Rao’s weaved precision meets Abraham & Thakore’s minimalism, channelling an experience where craft guides each course.
The Noodle Factory
Chef Doma Wang & Chef Sachiko Seth X Artist Udit Mittal | Exploration
This story begins with a humble noodle factory in Kalimpong, where Chef Doma Wang began his culinary journey. Architect Udit Mittal interprets the early memories of hand-mixed dough and bamboo poles into a dream-like experience with plays of light and shadows.
Highland Crossroads
Chef Bawmra Jap X Artist Pablo Bartholomew | Exploration
Chef Bawmra’s brings the freshness of his mountainous childhood and Kachin identity through his cuisine. While Pablo’s visual storytelling merges to create an intimate experience that crosses borders and imaginations, to create something deeply personal and meaningful.
The Parisian Fold
Chef Ralph Prazeres X Artist Ankon Mitra | Innovation
Here, Chef Ralph Prazeres intertwines the finesse of European fine dining with the warmth of Goa’s sunny shores. As we explore the chef’s warm childhood and European training, Artist Ankon Mitra melds this duality by folding shapes into sublime forms.
Connective Perspectives
Chef Priyam Chatterjee & Chef Rishabh Seal X Artist Two Odd (Akshita Garud) | Innovation
The chef and artist pair work to give meaning to the feeling of home, or rather, the search for home. The taste is homely, fluid, and deeply personal, while the art reflects fleeting memories, objects and people that make us belong.
Nevertheless, this is just a snippet of what to expect. Expect researchers, writers, chefs, and storytellers to guide you through this multi-sensory odyssey. It gives the perfect opportunity to meet some of the country’s best creative minds. At The Gathering, you are not just a participant but an experiencer and observer who is invited on a journey. For that one and a half hour, let food take you on a voyage into the world of soulful taste and flair of art.
How To Get The Tickets
There are multiple slots on each of the days, and the prices start at ₹ 2,000/-. You can pick the chef and artist collaboration to attend, or get an all-day pass if you want to be an integral part of it all. There is also a festive pass giving access to all three days. However, remember that each seating can only hold 20 people, and each curation is unique. Book your tickets here.
Key Information
📅 Friday, January 16, to Sunday, January 18
⏰ Multiple Slots
🎟️ ₹ 2,000/- onwards
📍Mukesh Mills, Azad Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai