Let’s be honest—good food will always get us through the door, but lately it’s the design that keeps us talking long after the plates are cleared. Across India, a new crop of restaurants are pushing boundaries with interiors that are as memorable as the menus. From a maximalist cocktail den in Mumbai to a vegetarian fable in Bengaluru, here are six new spots that prove design is no longer the side dish.
Paradox, Mumbai
When Ashiesh Shah takes on a project, you expect drama, and Paradox doesn’t disappoint. Hidden away in Shakti Mills, this bar from Aditi and Aditya Dugar (of Masque fame) leans into an Art Deco mood; mirrored ceilings, harlequin floors, sculptural lighting, and that striking Matka Mirror installation that seems to ripple light across the room. Despite the grandeur, the space still feels like a secret. Shah calls it “theatrical,” and you can feel it: every corridor, every light cue, every intimate booth staged like a set.
Design by Ashiesh Shah Atelier.
Seoul, Delhi
Every city has that one restaurant which quietly becomes a cultural marker. In Delhi, it’s Seoul. One of the capital’s first Korean dining rooms, it recently got a refresh just as K-wave fever grips the city. The interiors remain understated – warm wooden accents, simple tables, no unnecessary frills. What it offers is comfort and familiarity, the kind of design that doesn’t need to perform to make you feel at home.
Under the hands of Ritika Rakhian of Urban Mistrii
Akina, Hyderabad
After its buzz in Mumbai, Akina has touched down in Hyderabad with a breezy rooftop outpost that feels like it was made for long evenings. Spanning 12,000 square feet, the space flows between indoor dining, a poolside deck, and a sprawling open bar. Natural textures, earthy tones, and resort-style layouts make you forget you’re in the middle of a city. It’s glamorous without being intimidating, which is exactly why it’s already a weekend favorite.
Brought to life by Mehak Kapoor, founder of Istaka.
Kalpaney, Bengaluru
And then there’s Kalpaney, which takes you somewhere entirely different. Studio Camarada imagined this vegetarian restaurant as a South Indian home layered with memory and craft. You’ll find old sari borders framed into wooden panels, temple-door carvings turned into tabletops, and a reclaimed boat that reflects rippling shadows onto the ceiling. The artworks – quirky Panchatantra-inspired illustrations keep it playful. It’s warm and familiar, but also surprising, like a story you’ve heard before told in a new way.
Designed by Studio Camarada.
Mirove Artisanal Kitchen, Jaipur
Jaipur knows pink façades, but Mirove gives it a fresh spin. Designed by Tanya Chutani of Pantone Collective, the restaurant’s 60-foot brutalist pink shell was inspired by the monumental geometry of Jantar Mantar. Inside, a sculptural bar, clover-shaped mirrors, and origami-style lights soften the concrete. It’s rooted in the city’s legacy but reads unmistakably contemporary, a space that feels like Jaipur looking forward.
Concept and design by Tanya Chutani, Pantone Collective.
Bomdia Brasserie, Mumbai
Back in Mumbai, Bomdia Brasserie takes a softer approach. Studio RCI split the Matunga space across two moods: downstairs is breezy and coastal, with cane, clay, and terracotta accents; upstairs is moody and refined, where ink-blue tones and sculptural lighting set the pace for evenings. The duality works; casual lunches below, intimate dinners above – all tied together by a design language that’s quietly comforting.
Designed by Studio RCI.
What ties these six together is vision. Ashiesh Shah’s maximalist stagecraft at Paradox, Tanya Chutani’s sculptural ode in Jaipur, Studio Camarada’s nostalgic warmth in Bengaluru, each shows how design can completely shape the way we experience food. These aren’t just restaurants; they’re stories you step into, and maybe linger in just a little longer than planned.
