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    • Design

    Think Wild, Drink Wild: PCO cocktail bar imagined by Minnie Bhatt is Lower Parel’s next enigmatic place to unwind at

    AUG 18, 2022 | By Shrimohi Shah
    Exposed red bricks, stucco plaster, and alcohol brand Pistola’s logo hand painted on the wall perfectly compliment the wooden and cane furniture at PCO, Mumbai; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat
    At PCO in Lower Parel; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat
    Blue patterned pillows harmonize well with the existing rock walls that are dressed with lots of plants; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat
    The gargoyle with a bunny face in colonial style and an arched metal trellis around it along with the text from their brand manual is the perfect finishing touch; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat
    The bar poses as an inviting section, mainly credited to the visual layers in metal arches; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat
    The facade of the PDR, the natural red bricks, and the artistic wallpaper complete this corner; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat
    Upholstered tan faux leather coaches blend with the white and green Indian marble table tops enable the clients to indulge in the earthy experience; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat
    The patio entails well-crafted striped cement tile flooring, couches against a backdrop of reclaimed wooden louvred doors, and a trellis with creepers growing on it; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

    Visualize this, a speakeasy cocktail bar with a very inconspicuous entrance without any signage — PCO in Lower Parel, Mumbai offers exactly that! PCO that stands for Passcode Only models a stealthy entrance from the back end, making its way into an intoxicating ‘Secret Garden.’

    Designed to perfect details by Minnie Bhatt of her eponymous design studio Minnie Bhatt Design, adventure, freedom, exclusivity and privacy are rather distinct moods captured inside the truly magnificent walls of the ‘Pass Code Only’ open-air cocktail bar. 

    You may also like: La Pôz Place — Imagined by Minnie Bhatt, this Mumbai restaurant in the buzzing Kala Ghoda embraces a European interior story

    An open and airy space at PCO in Lower Parel, Mumbai; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

     

    Blue patterned pillows harmonize well with the existing rock walls that are dressed with lots of plants; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

    Speakeasy- The Concept

    The ‘Secret Bar’ concept, also known as ‘Speakeasy’ primarily came from the Prohibition Era in the United States when the sale, manufacture, and bootlegging of alcoholic beverages were illegal. Hence, patrons ‘speak easy’ or quietly while in public regarding the secret bar.

    Dive into the interiors by Minnie Bhatt

    This quirky, upscale bar in South Mumbai is curated based on the vibe her clients Radhika and Rakshay imagined from the very beginning. 

    Perched across a stately stretch of 3,000sq ft, PCO houses an open-to-sky passage with a natural rocky wall embedded with nature, a truly out-of-the-world open bar, and a private dining area with glass exteriors to give the patrons an ambiance that’s naturistic, calming and breathtaking.

    The facade of the PDR, the natural red bricks, and the artistic wallpaper complete this corner; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

     

    The patio entails well-crafted striped cement tile flooring, couches against a backdrop of reclaimed wooden louvred doors, and a trellis with creepers growing on it; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

    From the faux colonial-style windows set into an exposed brick wall, the kitchen facade is created to resemble a colonial-style structure with wooden arches with louvres in distressed white paint and couch seating with dining tables and a backdrop wall of large mirror frames set amongst an abundance of natural greens in wall planters, making PCO a desired venue for those who envision an evening of good vibes and drinks.

    What to expect

    Overall, Minnie carefully curated this experience with a lot of thought and ingenuity while having retained as much of the charm of the space and enhanced it with various details even in the little things. 

    Exposed red bricks, stucco plaster, and alcohol brand Pistola’s logo hand painted on the wall perfectly compliment the wooden and cane furniture at PCO, Mumbai; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

    What makes this place the new ‘It’ place is its attention to sustainability starting with the retention of the existing rocky walls on the whole periphery of the space, usage of natural red bricks, natural stone for the floor, and lots of natural plants all around making it a serene, mind-boggling experience.

    Onto the other side of fun– The bar!

    “The bar apron is in an interesting Ivory and grey stone which has a lot of character,” says Minnie. What is even more intriguing is its selection of well-crafted Espresso Martini’s, Friday the 13th, Jungle Bird, and classic drinks like the Elderflower Spritzer.

    The bar area at PCO in Lower Parel; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

     

    The bar poses as an inviting section, mainly credited to the visual layers in metal arches; Photographs courtesy Prashant Bhat

    Loved the PCO Cocktail bar in Mumbai? You may also like: Brassa in Bengaluru—a casual eatery in the day and a swanky bar by night is designed by Shruti Jaipuria of MAIA Design Studio