EL beckons Mumbai’s skyline

Inside JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, a new rooftop port of call awaits

19 Dec 2025

A destination reached through experience rather than instant arrival. Such a place does exist. EL at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar is set at the highest accessible point of the hotel, revealing itself gradually. As you walk up to a sculpted staircase, the pace slows down, the mood shifts and a sense of anticipation arises. With every step, the bustle of the lower floor fades, and a more intimate atmosphere takes hold. The venue spans 2,500 sq ft across three distinct yet concordant settings – the refined indoor bar, the private BubbEL Room and the open-air deck. Together, they form an environment that is slightly removed from the everyday.

"With EL, the intention was to give our guests a feeling of rising above the everyday"

- Sachin Mylavarapu, General Manager, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

EL Clàssico

EL is carefully designed to be three zones which are interconnected and yet can read independently, but work as one close-ended environment. The social and aesthetic core of the venue is an indoor bar, the centrepiece of which is a very impressive counter, surrounded by close and personal seating arrangements. Textures are stacked on top of one another, the smoothness of wood, the brushed metal, the upholstered shapes, put in compositions that invite convivial interaction. The BubbEL Room is more rarefied and smaller. It is downsized to intimacy and the walls are hung with curated artworks. The largest expression is the open-sky dining deck. Tables are placed along the edge, so diners have a unique experience of looking over the city. It is here that time hovers: the play of air, the changing light over the city and the feeling of openness create a memorable atmosphere.

EL stands on its own, where confident architecture, refined cuisine and contemporary nightlife meet, creating evenings that reverberate long after the last descent

A gourmand’s ascent

From the moment one begins the ascent, the staircase sets the tone. It rises in a smooth, graceful arc from the lobby, and with every step, the ambience gradually shifts. The lively hum of the hotel below gives way to a quieter, more intimate soundscape as one reaches higher. At the final step, there is a distinct sense of arrival, the hotel recedes, and EL reveals itself as a world of its own. Golden hour is particularly arresting. The outer wall seems to ignite, and the transition from natural daylight to warm, traditional lighting is subtle and atmospheric. After sunset, the atmosphere becomes richer and more saturated, conversations slow, and a sense of height settles in. The experience is not one of mere elevation, but of poise and precision, an architecture that is confident, self-assured and exact, without ever needing to boast.

The outer wall seems to ignite, and the transition from natural daylight to warm, traditional lighting is subtle and atmospheric

Dine across continents

At EL, the food philosophy is based on global motion and restrained clarity. The menu traverses Japan, South America and the Mediterranean. Expect citrus-forward tiraditos, precise sushi, charcoal-grilled meat, and vegetal dishes in combinations that feel both globally familiar and exploratory. Texture is key. Crunch, softness, acidity and smoke are handled masterfully. Seasoning is measured, sauces appear rarely. The result is a cuisine light in form yet deep in flavour, perfectly fitting for the languid pace of evening dining. Vegetarian dishes receive equal attention, echoing nuance, diversity and shareability. Courses are created to unfold over time, supporting a long, extended meal.

Sip happens

The bar programme at EL is defined by clarity, not spectacle. Cocktails are grouped into three families: fruit-forward, floral-herbal, and strong-stirred. Profiles are intentional: citrus lifts, smoke grounds, salt accents. Glassware is elegant, and the garnish is minimal. Mixology is architectural: structured, layered, and designed with intent. Drinks are companions to conversation, not centrepieces. The approach is disciplined, sophisticated and contemporary.

Cocktails at EL are grouped into three families: fruit-forward, floral-herbal, and strong-stirred

Up above the world

EL offers distance from the world below. It is lofty yet unassuming, atmospheric yet quiet. Guests seek it for long horizons, an ambient setting, and a composed environment. The rooftop offers a perspective over height, a distinction that defines the experience. The result is a rooftop destination that is current, distinctive and self-assured. EL stands on its own, where confident architecture, refined cuisine and contemporary nightlife meet, creating evenings that reverberate long after the last descent. Design narrative is expressed in the form of a heavy palette of tactile material. The team concentrated on warm, grainy woods, on the silence of dulled metallics, and on the cosiness of the moulded, custom-made seating, all creating a language of touch and natural comfort. The interior lighting is a marvel of self-control: diffused, deliberate pools of light characterise close table arrangements, a diffused light leads movement, and faint illuminations follow the accuracy of architectural lines. In the open air, the transparent balustrades are used to outline the open-sky deck that evanesces into the horizon, giving the appearance of a continuous address to the cinematic boundary.

The Anatomy of Elegance

Design narrative is expressed in the form of a heavy palette of tactile material. The team concentrated on warm, grainy woods, on the silence of dulled metallics, and on the cosiness of the moulded, custom-made seating, all creating a language of touch and natural comfort. The interior lighting is a marvel of self-control: diffused, deliberate pools of light characterise close table arrangements, a diffused light leads movement, and faint illuminations follow the accuracy of architectural lines. In the open air, the transparent balustrades are used to outline the open-sky deck that evanesces into the horizon, giving the appearance of a continuous address to the cinematic boundary. The image of the city is not a mere panorama – it is a seamlessly built part of it, actually a spatial border of the experience.