Stepping out for a meal? Make the most of it by paying a visit to these restaurants in Mumbai that offer a visual treat with their artistic interiors
The act of going out for a meal to a restaurant is something most of us craved for until a few months ago. After several months of their shutters down, the hospitality industry in the city was finally given the greenlight to open their doors to patrons. And with this, Mumbai also saw the opening of many new places in different parts of the city. We checked them out to bring you a list of restaurants that offer good food with a side of great interior design. Take a tour.
Pink Wasabi
As the name goes, this all-day dining cafe in Juhu is designed like a floral wonderland, with an explosion of millennial pink hue in every detail. Dine under a faux cherry blossom tree, or enjoy a sip of your favourite cocktail by the bar that screams ‘hello gorgeous’ on its walls. Pink Wasabi is everything chic but not gimmicky—it offers a delectable spread of Asian favourites like dimsums, baos, Thai salads and more, with a dash of the oh-so-hot wasabi. The candy floss aesthetics make this place one of the most-Instagrammable restaurants in the city, especially for millennials and those who love to pose against beautiful backdrops.
Joshi House
A Rajasthani haveli-inspired restaurant with wabi-sabi aesthetics thrown in for good measure, Joshi House in Bandra West breaks away from the cafe and pub culture of this suburb and pleasantly surprises one with its interiors. Conceptualised and executed by architect Ashiesh Shah and his team, this restaurant promotes the subtle intricacies of Indian craftsmanship through its design. Hand-painted murals on the walls, courtyard-style open-air seating, white marble columns and balustrades, and arches synonymous with Rajasthan bring in the flavour of the state in the midst of a metropolis. The cuisine offered, however, is global in flavour with offerings like lal maas and shammi chaat along with ceviche, pasta and more.
OPA Kipos
If Greece is on your mind, you’ve got to visit one of the newest restaurants in Worli, OPA Kipos, as it will surely transport you to Santorini with its interiors, food and vibe. The classic blue-and-white decor runs throughout, with elements like a cobbled stone entrance, faux bougainvillea foliage spread all across, and large terracotta pots placed strategically. As you take in the space, you spot an enormous sculptural head of Greek god Zeus, as well as wicker chandeliers enclosing dimly-lit bulbs. The food menu sticks to authentic Greek delicacies like lamb chops, manti, baklava and a live hummus station making customised dip for you served with pita. Another highlight of the place is the Zorba dance performance by the staff, and the plate-smashing Greek ritual considered to bring in luck and joy. Don’t forget to say ‘Opa’ as you smash them to pieces.
Bastian
Right next to the Greek restaurant is Bastian which is hard to miss given its glass facade that offers a peek into the restaurant with a 40-foot-high ceiling. The neutral walls provide a canvas to fill up the space with colorful decor elements including decorative plates and chandeliers and fans that drop down from the ceiling. The Worli outpost of Bastian is the second one in the city, with the Bandra one often thronged by Bollywood celebs. Minal Chopra, the interior designer of the restaurant reclaimed the original construct of the mill, including the brick and cement walls, and also made way for a 28-foot-tall bar and a funky elevator. The menu is a seafood lover’s delight with dishes like burnt chili garlic crab, shrimp cocktail, lobster with miso garlic butter, and more.
Plural
Southeast Asian cuisine from the land of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia find their way in this vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant in Kala Ghoda. Plural packs a flavourful punch with its aromatic dishes like mi kieu mach (buckwheat noodles), miso caramel tart, and several curries and stews. With sustainability at its core, Plural’s interiors designed by Tejal Mathur and her team display natural materials like rattan, terracotta and wood in its furniture, lighting and decor. The hues inside are subtle and calming with large windows fitted with frosted glass giving a blurry glimpse of the palm trees outside.
