One of Dubai’s most famous Michelin-starred vegetarian Indian fine dining restaurants, Avatara arrives in Mumbai. The visionaries behind Avatara, Chef Himanshu Saini and Chef Rahul Rana, took it upon themselves to break through the mould and create a fine dining restaurant with a veg-first approach. The restaurant has been designed by Vinay Mathias of hCube, who says, “The design drew significant inspiration from its parent restaurant in Dubai, seamlessly fusing Dubai-inspired aesthetics with Himalayan natural motifs, innovative use of materials such as stainless steel and three-layered glass partitions, meticulously curated design elements, and a tranquil ambiance, offering patrons a transcendent dining experience amidst contemporary elegance and cultural richness.” Spread across 2,000-square-feet, the restaurant features two private dining rooms, a live kitchen, a wine room with seating for tasting, and a main dining room.
Otra
Sahil Behal
Chef Alex Sanchez and Restaurateur Mallyeka Watsa of Americano launch their second restaurant in the city. Brought to life by Case Design, balances cultural nuance and contemporary design with effortless grace. Otra’s deep green exterior is hard to miss, yet it isn’t overly obtrusive. The main door’s design takes inspiration from Central American architecture, finished with a solid copper handle. Once inside, however, you are transported into a clandestine den, almost cavernous in its appeal. Barclay explains, “We drew inspiration from Latin America and megalithic architecture, relating it to similar work in Hampi and parts of Rajasthan.” The interior evokes a sense of mystery and allure; dark and sultry, softened only by accent lighting as the smallest amounts of natural light filter through the windowless restaurant. At the heart of the space lies a striking semi-circular granite bar, finished in weathered wood. A backdrop of backlit green onyx sourced from Rajasthan clads the wall. Commanding equal attention are two wholly impressive geometric granite chandeliers, crafted by Case Design.
Santa Maria
Santa Maria Bandra
Santa Maria Bandra
No sooner have you passed through the four-lite doors of , a new restaurant in Bandra, Mumbai, than you’re whisked off into another world. This is not just another new restaurant—it’s a quiet stance against the rapid gentrification of the neighbourhood, where ages-old homes and bakeries, guarding this city’s Catholic, Goan, and East Indian history, are torn down and replaced with upscale cafés, high-street fashion, and jewellery boutiques.
The community aspect of the new restaurant in Bandra becomes clearer once you learn that Diego Miranda and Glenice D’sa are two-thirds of the trio behind the quaint sandwich shop—the couple also helms Andheri-based Bambai Nazariya, a café dedicated to empowering and employing trans people. Fragments of Bandra’s past come through in the kitschy-cool space that’s a little bit like a menagerie of objects gathered from surrounding homes in the ’90s. Picture rickety tables laid out with red-and-white gingham tablecloths; Rotação chairs brought to life by a local chair weaver in a bid to preserve the art form, traditionally from Benaulim, Goa; and parrot-green walls adorned with makeshift shelves propping up sewing machines and frayed jumbo cassette players.
Waikiki
NIVEDITAA GUPTA
NIVEDITAA GUPTA
Maximalist, vibrant, and wholly unique, Waikiki is a vibrant tiki bar with contemporary culinary offerings. Here, verdant junglescapes and placid tropical vistas come together to create a singular aesthetic; across the indoor and outdoor dining areas, every detail offers an immersive escape to Hawaii. Apart from its standout F&B programme, Waikiki serves as a creative platform wherein talented local designers weave their art into the restaurant’s visual narrative. The artists include Kabann (Bali), Botanical Bias (Delhi), Namrata Kumar (Delhi), One O One Studios (Mumbai), Hyderi Design Studio (Hyderabad), Harshita Jhamtani (Mumbai), and Gate Fine Art Studio (Chennai).
The Bread Bar
Bread Bar 2.0