Elle Decor India serves you glorious food with a side of nostalgia with this latest collection of restaurants around the country

1. People say that food is an effective trigger of deeper memories of feelings and emotions, internal states of the mind and body. If you are in the mood to reminisce or try something new, Elle Decor India has compiled a list of the newest restaurants around India, built to invoke a sense of familiarity and nostalgia and others that would just leave you wanting more. 

Here we offer you a connection to your past or one that will become a regular fixture in the future. Let us tell you where to spend your evenings, and maybe you’ll be glad you listened.

Ambrai, Udaipur

Designed by Noorein Kapoor, Principal Designer and Creative Head of Noorein Kapoor Design, the restaurant is a culmination of traditional architecture using modern building techniques, all the while framing views of some of the greatest landscapes on the planet. Located on lake Pichola in Udaipur, Ambrai makes the most of the skilled craftsmen and the abundant supply of rich materials that have been sourced locally.

The restaurant features a variety of extensively intricate design processes. The royal colour palette harkens back to the grand old palaces of Rajasthan. A homage to the lake, the ceiling is clad with a hand beaten stainless steel sheet that resembles water. Pichhwai art and line work are on display on the walls painted by master artists. Details of carved wood and marble can be spotted throughout the space that speak of the rich culture of the city. The assemblage of all these elements creates gorgeous intimate spaces and provides a holistic experience!

Veronica’s, Mumbai

Housed inside the iconic St. Jude’s Bakery, amidst the cosy cottages and quaint homes of Ranwar, one can find find Veronica’s at the junction of Waroda Road and Veronica’s Street, off Hill Road in Bandra. Hunger Inc. Hospitality’s latest venture is your neighbourhood, all-day sandwich shop and deli offering, honest sandwiches, freshly-brewed specialty coffees, easy-drinking wines and fizzy kombucha with friendly service to match.

Designed by founder and principal Shonan Purie Trehan of L.A.B. (Language Architecture Body) in collaboration with Please See, the restaurant is inspired by old Bandra homes and bakeries. Adorned with classic, glazed Dado tiles and floral motifs are used to juxtapose the industrial grunge aesthetic brought by the epoxy flooring. Veronica’s rekindles its love for Bandra and pays homage to the ancient art of cramming ingredients between two slices of bread, to offer the most sensational sandwiches yet.

The Bhawanipur House, Kolkata

“A hundred years ago cinema para used to be Cinema Paradiso and the Adda’ was a way of life. Today, life moves faster and the proverbial Adda is a luxury” reminisces promoter Vishnu Sureka at the launch of The Bhawanipur House (TBH) , an age-old heritage bungalow, remodelled to evoke a longing for by-gone days. Inspired to return a familiar piece of Kolkata’s history back to its people, TBH is a window into the soul of the legendary city. The classic colonial construction, complete with its neoclassical mouldings and elegant pendant lighting, induces in you a feeling of nostalgia while sitting over steaming cups of tea and coruscating plates.

The inviting colour palette and intimate dining experience sets the café apart, with its transcendent approach to traditional Kolkata. They say, the way to a Calcuttans heart is through their stomach and a variety of continental dishes from the state-of-the-art-kitchen, like a chicken tetrazzini, moussaka, ragout, risotto, and spaghetti bolognese are own hand to keep your hearts warm and tummies happy. 

Gulati, Delhi

Even with its rich tradition and cultural affluence, Delhi remains a temptation because of delectable delicacies and Gulati’s is a household name that has been drawing in crowds ever since its inception in 1959. Over the years, the legacy outlet has transformed from its humble beginning as a small dhaba to the critically acclaimed fine dining establishment it currently is. The recently opened Gulati restaurant designed by Abhigyan Neogi of Chromed Design Studio at Golf Course road in Gurugram is a blend of the modern and the traditional, transporting you to a time when eating a full meal was an experience to be cherished. 

The restaurant greets you with latticework inspired by the Mughals and the monuments they built lifetimes ago. The attention to detail with the patterned wood flooring, the ornate ceiling tile, golden accents and regal wallpaper, sets the tone of opulence and grandeur. The wood and cane furniture with its plush upholstery adds a richness to the interior making overindulgence acceptable. A fitting tribute to the historic, Gulati’s lives up to its legacy as one of the finest establishments in Indian history. 

SOCIAL, Dehradun

Inspired by the legacy of the city’s long-standing institutions, Dehradun SOCIAL has been crafted using old style desks, complete with a pen holder, and a display for books. From the dorm rooms to teachers lounge the eatery refuses to break character from their theme of  ‘back to school’. Designed by Jarudhi Negi founder of Studio MatterHack & Sanya Desai Experience Designer at Impresario Handmade Restaurants, the purposefully arranged seating facing a blackboard or the portraits hanging above, one will always find themselves sitting in a cosy corner of the restaurant.

Dehradun SOCIAL boasts a variety of rooms that would take you back to your days at school like the basketball court with its DJ parlour, disco lights and neon hoops or the state of the art chemistry lab that serves up the finest drinks. However the most seductive of spaces is framed by the tall windows that look out onto the mountains in the valley of Mussoorie. The material palette and it’s exceptional execution does indeed take you back to the childhood days of innocent fun.

Millo, Mumbai 

One is spoilt for choice when it comes to boutique dining in Mumbai. Located amidst the bustle of corporate life, this newly opened restaurant in Kamala Mills, aptly named Millo designed by Minnie Bhatt, provides a refreshing escape from the chaos. Born out of the fundamental concept to create a space conducive for people to catch up with their family and friends

With minimalist decor and homey artwork on the pastel blue and dead pink walls, Millo is unassuming and approachable, with its informal setting and sprightly interiors. The bar is dressed as an old-world China cabinet, while the corner table features artificial bone inlay as well as the library next to it. The upper level is laid out like your living room complete with cosy couches, warm lighting and hardwood floors. Millo draws you in with its charming appeal making you want to unwind in its comfort. 

Martinoz, Ahmedabad

Inspired by their unique logo, Designer Shivani Bhandari was on hand to resurrect the brand of the popular pizza place, Martinoz. Bringing a flavour of Italy to the streets of Ahmedabad, the famous pizzeria features fresh green accents to the warm brown tufted sofas and the cool white walls. 

The laurel oak and Moroccan tile flooring, bevelled mirrors with its playful curvilinear ceiling complement the space accentuated only by the expansive arched windows to create a light filled effervescent space. Finer details like the choice artwork, contemporary accents and glistening golden counter makes it a fitting space for cheesy indulgence.

Glen’s Bakehouse, Bengaluru

Glen’s Bakehouse is a popular brand based out of Bengaluru, usually operating out of old homes which have been tactfully converted into cozy cafés. The structure for this outlet is reminiscent of a coastal home with its pitched roof and lush trees. The glass extension sits to one side of the plot carefully preserving the existing line of trees while also providing an opportunity for pedestrians to catch a glimpse of the bustle within.

Designed by architects Sabyasachi Routray & Anisha Menon of ma+rs, the kitchen and services occupy the main building while seating is arranged under the shade of the teak wood and mango trees scattered in the courtyard. The space between these two programmes administers to the flow of circulation, to visually and physically connect the interior to its landscape. A highlight to Glen’s Bakehouse is the mezzanine space, an intimate getaway with a wonderful view that keeps you in the company of nesting birds.

The Bayleaf Café, Mumbai

You can feel the joie-di-vivre vibe of The Bayleaf café as soon as you step into into its pebbled courtyard. The chic yet approachable space is littered with materials and textures like the stone flooring, patterned terrazzo, clay tiles, rattan and up-cycled wood. With the use of such environmentally conscious materials, co-founders Upasana Gupta Popli and Vivek Popli of Vipasna Designs describe it as their one true take on sustainable futures that lie ahead for such projects in the country.

Located on the coastline at the famed Juhu beach, the three story structure serves as a tropical retreat for tourists and locals alike. The use of natural materials like cane and jute along with a vivid selection of artwork, only aids to establish the consciously designed equatorial theme, tying it to the locally sourced ingredients used in preparing the lip-smacking dishes that ensure support to the neighbourhood community.

Soba Sassy, Kolkata

Spread over 7000 sq ft, the eatery can be found inside the Harrington Mansion at Ho Chi Minh Sarani road, in the heart of Kolkata. Located in the old colonial building with over a 100 years of history, founder and principal designer Ajay Arya of A Square Designs recreates the interior space to accommodate the two sections of the restaurant – Soba and Sassy.

Soba—the primary fine dining space laid out in vibrant colours evoke a captivating world straight out of Alice in Wonderland. The dark grey walls are adorned with faux flowers while the colourful rib-backed chairs sit on a wonderful selection of terrazzo tiles. The whimsical aesthetic of the space flows Sassy – the bar and lounge with a dancing panda installation, hand-painted wall murals, an eye-catching cherry blossom tree and a majestic counter with its brass arches.

The surprise element of Soba Sassy is the Pink Room which features, you guessed it, pink mosaic tiles. This feminine room boasts bright pink and purple booths, an oval bathtub filled with balloons along with a ‘Kiss My Sass’ neon sign on the wall, exemplifying the design ethos of the entire restaurant.

T-Groove, Noida

Designed by principal architect Ritika Rakhiani of  Urban Mistrii Studio, T-Groove is a dynamic destination for locals within the frenzied landscape of commercial Noida. The design of this microbrewery and rest o-bar attempts to amalgamate themes of animated landscapes with artistic sophistication. 

The entrance foyer offers an outdoor dining experience reminiscent of a tropical rainforest, defined by its murals, plants and chic furniture. If the jungle wasn’t vivid enough, a startling surprise awaits on the inside. The space transforms into a dramatic cabaret adorned by blue-coloured reinforced fibreglass panels with vertical and geometric patterns. Looped sculpture lights flow across the ceiling to bring forth the theme of a starry night with a portion of Van Gogh’s famous starry night on display across its walls. T-Groove offers people a space to unwind, may they prefer a quiet meal or to drown themselves in music under the sculpted night sky. 

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