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Best cafes in India: Serving aesthetics, fresh brews and delish bites are these spaces to visit for a caffeine fix

You’ll agree, there is this mutual hobby amongst all of us that often isn’t said out loud when talking about our wishlist or things we love doing. No, it’s not collecting cool kicks or Netflixing and chill. It’s that endless itch to discover the best cafes in India (or wherever you live) where a great cup of coffee, delish desserts and savouries are served generously with superb aesthetics.

To save you the time of digging the depths of the internet and asking recommendations on Instagram, here is your checklist for the best cafes in India to bookmark now.

ARAKU Coffee, Bengaluru

Brewing pure Arabica in the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh is ARAKU Coffee. Crafting a unique social distribution model wherein farmers and agricultural experts work together, Araku Coffee cafe brings to the table an authentic seed-to-cup experience. With its flagships in Bengaluru as well as Paris, the award-winning coffee house also offers organic range of coffees and contemporary coffee accessories to stock up on.

Photograph courtesy ARAKU Coffee India / Instagram

Beyond Designs Bistro, New Delhi

Hosting a modern dining experience, Beyond Designs Bistro in New Delhi is where fine food meets fine design and art. With a pre-existing menu serving recipes and coffees day to night, the bistro has also launched an appetising selection of pre-packaged meals called Breakfast in Bed. A rather pampering way to kick start the day, the concept combines artisanal baked goods and other healthy foods prepared with fresh ingredients delivered directly to your doorstep!

Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru amongst other Indian cities

Experimenting with artistic approaches to farm-fresh coffee at the harvest level is Blue Tokai Coffee. With a mission to make crisp and enticing taste of estate coffee along with a menu of fresh bakes, desserts and breakfast bites accessible to all, the artisanal roastery chain has its charming cafes across India in Mumbai, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Hyderabad amongst other cities.

Photograph courtesy Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters / Instagram

Cafe de Meet, Surat

Located in Surat is Cafe de Meet designed by Studio M’s principal designers Moiz Faizulla and Samad Sheikh. Illustrating a one-of-a-kind design identity, the cafe unveils a comforting escape for coffee lovers and even those who could use a tasteful break in calm away from the daily chaos. A befitting pairing to their brews is a hearty menu of avocado toasts, hummus bowl, ricotta bagels, pancakes along with other indulgent breakfast options.

Something’s Brewing, Bengaluru

A dedicated destination addressing the needs of all coffee enthusiasts with everything coffee is Something’s Brewing in Bengaluru. Featuring a curated collection of brewing tools and a trove of coffee ranging from Bili Hu, Third Wave Coffee to Araku and many more, the experience cum retail centre exhibits ‘Be your own Barista’ initiative allowing customers to choose their own beans, grind them and brew their own blends behind the counter.

SUBKO, Mumbai

Spotlighting a straight crop-to-cup java encounter is SUBKO in Mumbai. Making it to our list of best cafes in India, both its outposts, in Bandra and Byculla are known as speciality coffee roasters and a bakehouse. With interiors modelling a modern yet traditional design outlook, SUBKO is evoking a newfound passion amongst coffee connoisseurs to experiment and savour coffees originating from the Indian subcontinent, sourcing export quality grounds from across India including Chikmagalur and Ampthill Downs in Tamil Nadu.

The Flat White Coffee House, Surat

Crafting a soothing conversational space is The Flat White Coffee House in Surat sketched by Neogenisis+Studi0261 nested as a spruced-up bungalow bistro that strikes a seamless balance between modern and minimal design. Complete with a barista’s coffee bar and a bakery offering scrumptious selection of sweet and savoury treats, the outlet is an ideal hub to reset from the bustling crowd of the city.

Echoing a fusion of distinct flavours of India is Jalsa restaurant in Kolkata by A Square Designs

Imagine a cauldron perched on simmering heat with a medley of tantalising Indian spices, culinary delights and traditional contemporary interiors rustled up together—seems like a tasteful vision to behold. Precisely expressing this, is the Jalsa restaurant in Kolkata that crafts the nuances of the country’s culture.

The 4000 sq ft modern Indian restaurant located in the old colonial Harrington Mansion on Harrington Street has over 100 years of history. Designed by Ajay Arya, Founder and Interior Designer of A Square Designs, the restaurant celebrates life with spaces that evoke a joie de vivre.

“The concept and the cuisine of the restaurant presented an opportunity to create a fusion of sorts. Just like authentic Indian cuisine, with a contemporary twist, I had a chance to blend the old with new, the stereotypical with inspiring, and the traditional Indian with modern,” recalls Ajay.

Jalsa restaurant in Kolkata — The narrow entrance passage is painted in deep red with striped black and white flooring and concealed mood lighting; Photographs by Atul Pratap Chauhan

The restaurant celebrates the many ingredients of India — its cuisine, art and design, and the modern Indian woman rooted in traditions, yet conquering the world with her independent spirit. Inciting enigma and interest upon entrance is the narrow passage painted in deep red with striped black and white flooring and concealed mood lighting.

As it is rightly pointed out, ‘earth’ without ‘art’ is just ‘eh’, the restaurant interiors pop a peppy mood with its artistic flair. A 7ft painting of a woman behind the bar in the central dining hall personifies the idea of an urban woman—traditional yet modern. The adjacent walls are decorated with paintings of women in various moods on one side and imagery of arches on the other put together with dazzling chandeliers that enhance the Indian vibe. Gold metal screens, custom-made vintage seating and cushions in rich fabrics and vibrant florals add just the right dose of exuberance to the ambience.

Decked in wooden flooring, the private hall crafts a more sober and elegant mood. Arched window panes, a hand painted old door by a local Kolkata artist and a series of small arches, like ‘aalas’ in pastels accentuate the interiors of this space.

The party lounge features a rich shade of burgundy and teal paired with mouldings, stained glass details and black and white chevron flooring that furnishes a vibrant and royal dining experience. Just like the cuisine it offers; the restaurant interiors create a nostalgic world that takes you straight to royal dining rooms.

Ajay Arya enunciates a regal atmosphere with hand painting techniques, old lead work on glass used in the churches of yore, and a captivating colour palette to present a new taste and character to the city. There is a tasteful play of art, patterns, bright colours and arches that echo the flavours of India in all the three parts of the Jalsa restaurant in Kolkata.

If you loved the vibe of Jalsa Restaurant in Kolkata, then do check out this charming Mumbai restaurant Donna Deli

Three Yellow Circles—This restaurant in Ahmedabad poses a visual balance between minimal and whimsical

For two distinct thoughts of design — minimal and whimsical, suggestive but subtle — to come together and exist parallelly in one space can yield results worth catching one’s attention. This is precisely the play of contrast this restaurant, Eat Punjab in Ahmedabad envisions and embraces, ever so effortlessly.

This design project is helmed by the creative minds at Compartment S4, a collaborative of eight architects focussed on offering design solutions across architecture, urban design, rural infrastructure and interiors.

Lending a true blue North Indian chain of restaurant Eat Punjab, a design vocabulary of its own that is readily idiosyncratic yet can be reimagined in more ways than one at other outposts, Compartment S4 sketches a melodic mood board that is understated yet absorbing.

The core concept of the restaurant, the three yellow circles, appear as the main attraction crafted on the flooring design; Photographs by Palak Jhaveri

Kishan Shah and Manuni Patel, Architects and Co-founders, Compartment S4 muse, “The client wanted to bring elements in design that remind the guests of a royal house or palace in Punjab, but in a subtle and abstract way.”

Sprawling a generous 1,450 sq ft area, Eat Punjab stands right in the heart of the city in Gujarat. Clean, commodious and perched in a commercial complex, the restaurant models a large rectangular column-less space, easy to navigate in and out.

A long Forest-Green sofa swathes the walls with randomly shaped mirrors matching up; Photographs by Palak Jhaveri

But why Three Yellow Circles? Kishan and Manuni inform, “A little whimsical story forms the basis of the design idea of this project. Three large yellow circles floating in the midst of infinite matter, collide and stick to one another to form a glowing center.”

The flooring here grabs the limelight with the rest of the interior elements falling right in sync with it. Fashioned entirely out of easily available natural stones, the flooring design brings alive a striking visual impact as one enters the restaurant. “Almost like bright objects floating in space or like kebabs floating in delicious Mughlai gravy!” aver Kishan and Manuni.

The green hues of the sofa creates a visual play with the fluted wall panels and mirrors; Photographs by Palak Jhaveri

If you do a double take at the floor, which rightfully draws attention, three large golden-yellow Jaisalmer stone circles coincide with black and white terrazzo of industrial waste cut pieces of Ambaji marble and Kadappa stone. On these circles are stationed three circular tables meandering into beautiful curvy forms pinned with hues of green and wood, washing ashore a naturally soothing colour palette.

A collection of brass utensils and decor accessories is neatly placed near the large dining table; Photographs by Palak Jhaveri

On the other side of the restaurant, a long Forest-Green sofa swathes the lengths of walls. While on the other side sits a row of diagonally placed square tables. A bigger table is placed astutely on the adjacent back side to host a bigger number of patrons and families.

An interesting juxtaposition of materials and textures is witnessed at Eat Punjab with mud-orange tiles and fluted wooden panelling on the walls. Teak furniture and natural flooring tunes in with hanging brass lights, brass utensils, and randomly shaped mirror panels on the walls.

Diagonally square tables and seating arrangement is hosted at the other side of the restaurant; Photographs by Palak Jhaveri

Kishan and Manuni sum up the design approach of Compartment S4 for this space, revealing that, “All these elements create nostalgia of being in a haveli or a palace, somewhere in Patiala, reminiscent of the spaces, culture, landscape, and most importantly, the food!”

If you loved this restaurant in Ahmedabad, then check out this Mumbai restaurant OPAKipos offering Greek food and interiors

Portraying a piquant picture of nostalgia is the red-hot reimagination of Karim’s Jama Masjid in Bhubaneshwar by ma+rs

Serving stories of nectorous nostalgia at this revamped restaurant in Bhubaneswar, principal designers Sabyasachi Routray and Anisha Menon of ma+rs craft the contemporary reincarnation of the ever classic institution Karim’s Jama Masjid, New Delhi.

Established on a 2,000 sq space on the first floor of a commercial building in Patia, the eatery is enveloped by a county of institutes and offices, packing the area with a hub of hideaways.

Illustrating imagery inspired by the locale of the original outlet, the Routray and Menon incorporate innuendos from the bewitching backdrop of the Jama Masjid in the striking space.

Custom made teak wood chairs upholstered with a tan brown leather, and royal green velvet fabric rattan seats make up the snug seating space at the eatery, floral wallpaper by Asian Paints Nilaya Wallpaper; Photographs by Arjun Krishna

Embodying an enamoring mood board inspired by tints, textures and traces of Mughal and Islamic architecture, the dive is a reminiscent reflection of Old Delhi and the aura it invokes in its interior decor and design.

Drawing inspiration from the divine red sandstone of imperial architectural marvel, the Jama Masjid, most of the walls at the dive are decked in a brick red colour. The designers at ma+rs strive to sketch an authentic space, which stays true to the context it originates from.

Green Beret wall with a Marble stucco finish by Asian Paints, custom built teak wood chair upholstered in tan leather; Photographs by Arjun Krishna

As you make your way into the stunning space through the majestic monumental arched entryway, a Green Beret toned wall with arched niches in a marble stucco finish and monochrome patterned tile flooring greets your step into the magical portal modelling a reimagined rendition of the old Delhi milieu.

Arched niches exhibiting antique brass artefacts dating back to the Mughal era, offer ganders and glimpses of the decadent dining area. Accommodating a triad of distinct seating options, past the accent green wall are intimate booths overlooking the busy streets of Bhubaneshwar.

Strategically places mirrors reflect an illusion of a larger and voluminous space, glass lights by The Hesperus Store; Photographs by Arjun Krishna

Front-lined in glass, silhouettes reminiscent of the Masjid’s facade emanate a dappled light effect within the space. Upholstered in a royal green velveteen fabric, the seating manifests a touch of luxury, taking the diner back to the traditional era of the Mughals.

Crafting a contemporary character in the central space comprising four and six seater tables with custom teak wood chairs, cladded in a contrasting combination of tan brown leather in its seating and royal green velvet in its rattan backrest on the adjacent sofas.

Antique brass artefacts emanate an old world charm in niches of the Green Beret wall by Asian Paints; Photographs by Arjun Krishna

Lastly, outlining snug seating in the booth section with a background of floral patterned Patiala green wallpaper by Asian Paints’s Nilaya Wallpaper range, mirroring Mughal gardens is a long wall lined with minimal metal arches in gold evincing elements of exquisite elegance.

Accomplishing the effect of an expansive voluminous space are strategically placed mirrors on the walls and ceiling panels in the remindful restaurant.

Remaining cognizant to the culture and history of its brand, Karim’s Bhubaneswar by ma+rs cooks up an Old Delhi Charm in not only its carte and cuisine but also reflects its roots in its revamped contemporary character.

The 2000 sq ft space incorporates innuendos from Islamic architecture in its interiors; Photographs by Arjun Krishna

Meet The Craftery by SUBKO in Mumbai that houses a cafe, bakery, retail zone and more designed by STaND

If one takes a moment to ruminate, a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee holds an unavoidable vigour that echoes in your senses and memory interminably. This profound interaction with coffee is squarely bundled up into The Craftery by SUBKO, a destination in Mumbai co-founded by Rahul Reddy and Daniel Trulson.

Beyond the palate of the grounded coffee beans, the duo fixated their attention on the flavours of the interiors. Sauntering the unruffled lanes of Byculla, The Craftery stands on a paved alley in the JAK Compound drenched in Kerala green.

Previously an abandoned industrial warehouse and printing press, the cafe rebirthed on the drawing board of STaND architecture + design studio by Siddhant Tikkoo and Nikita D’Silva.

Partitioned by clear glass and metal frames, the cold room at The Craftery spotlights the croissant motif designed by Anuranjini Singh overlooking the equipment section and the teakwood island; Photographs by Kuber Shah

The key brief was to metamorphose the 2,100 sq ft space into a production and hospitality venue that would engage in a routine dialogue with the patrons about SUBKO coffee’s journey from plantation to table. At the entrance, original barn doors stand refurbished romancing the greenery around.

A monopoly of materiality is seen inside with a synergy of brick, crafted metal, granite, concrete, Indian spotted marble, teakwood and glass. The walls dressed up in exposed bricks and creamy beige hues are structured with lean black metal frames, which flare up softly with the luminosity of accent lights.

At the Experience Zone, a wall with brick infills faces custom furniture framed with teakwood, woven jute and metal finishes, the floor is imprinted with SUBKO’s multi-script logo; Photographs by Kuber Shah

To encapsulate a holistic coffee escapade, the architect duo apportioned The Craftery into a bar, a roastery, an experience zone, a sensory lab and a cold room, every turn splattered with custom designed furniture, machines, decor and biophilic details peeping in from all sides. The outlet at large is stamped with a rectilinear layout for people to seamlessly explore every area and its function.

The cradle of The Craftery is the cold room bordered with transparent glass and metal partitions yet visually tethered to the whole space. It hosts a specially crafted teakwood island sourced from Auroville, Pondicherry where the baking processes take shape, literally!

The Bloom Bar serving fresh brews rests over a wooden flooring enhanced by copper and teakwood inlay; Photographs by Kuber Shah

The ocular tour of this zone is incomplete without the croissant motif that maps the wall designed by Anuranjini Singh. This delicious emblem was screen printed on a massive marble panel by Pritam Arts, then erected and plastered meticulously by the masons.

This venue being SUBKO’s second outpost, the first one located in a revived colonial-style bungalow in Bandra, the interposition of STaND to reshape the decrepit site that was once a landmark locale meant retaining an essence of the old times and coalescing it with SUBKO’s language that aspires to pour unique Indian brews into the cups of globally discerning consumers.

Loved The craftery by SUBKO in mumbai? Explore more on it in the latest ELLE DECOR India’s February – March 2022 issue…

Mithais play dress up this Holi—Here’s a colour bombed edit of the best artisanal mithais in India to binge on!

The spring flowers have blossomed to its fullest, the weather softly but swiftly transitions from cool to warm, the landscape around oozes brighter colours than last month and before we know it- Holi arrives.

The famous festival of colours probably means different things to different people. Some like to go all out with their hands full of gulal, while some of us only wait to gorge on mithais, artisanal but desi at core.

To help you savour the best artisanal mithais in India, check out our curated edit of the glacé sweets, you’ll probably want to overdose on (at your own caution!) Happy Holi.

BARFILA, Matcha tea green fudge (barfi)

Bright and bold, the green tea fudge by Barfila is probably the best of both worlds, with generous tinge of matcha flavour and concept of barfi moulded into one artisanal mithai.

Find out more here

holi artisanal mithais india Barfila — Photographs courtesy Barfila

NIHIRA, Lavender ladoo

The classic motichoor gets a stunning spin laced with lavender extract that gives its a striking purple tint that neither your taste buds and your eyes will forget!

Find out more here

holi artisanal mithais india Nihari — Photographs courtesy Nihira

BOMBAY SWEET SHOP, Nolen gur, coconut kheer kadam

If you can’t be in Kolkata, let the city of delectable sweets come to you. Bombay Sweet Shop brings its luscious take on handmade Nolen gur-coconut kheer kadam, rolled into adorable balls of malai ped, stuffed with palm jaggery-infused rasgulla and touched up with desiccated coconut!

Find out more here

Holi artisanal mithais india bombay sweet shop — Photographs courtesy Bombay Sweet Shop

SAUGAAT, Lemon de leche

With a palatable portfolio of Indian artisanal mithais, macarons and brownies, too, Saugaat by Bikanerwala is a sweet destination to bookmark. However, our eyes are fixated on the lemon de leche, a rich blend of smooth milk solids and that electrifying tang of lemon.

Find out more here

artisanal mithais india Saugaat bikanerwala — Photographs courtesy Saugaat

KHOYA, Pink coconut ladoo

When your favourite things are splashed with delightful colours, the joy of savouring it doubles up. Khoya introduces pink coconut ladoo, made of coconut, filled with dry fruits and then rolled on a carpet of coconut again!

Find out more here

artisanal mithais india Khoya — Photographs courtesy Khoya

GUR CHINI, Wild rose and honey gunjiya

A staple during Holi, gunjiyas are a favourite at every home, and Gur Chini wants you to add some twist to it with their special wild rose and honey gunjiya. Deep red hued and stuffed with taste-tickling mixture, these sweets are sculpted into gorgeous compact shapes that you’d have a hard time deciding whether to gorge on it or not!

Find out more here

Holi artisanal mithais india — Photographs courtesy Gur Chini

LE15 PATISSERIE, Thandai macarons

We have no intentions of separating the timeless bond of Holi and thandai and Pooja Dhingra’s Le15 Patisserie thinks alike! Available until 18th March, from the ever inventive kitchen of the brand emerges delightful macarons imbued with flavours of Thandai, white chocolate ganache and some colourful splatter.

Find out more here

holi mithai india le15 patisserie — Photographs courtesy Le15 Patisserie

SALTT KARJAT, Apple and raisin gujiya

Sculpted, crisp, moist and saccharine, gujiyas effortlessly embellish the Holi platter. Saltt restaurant in Karjat is plating up scrumptious gujiyas curated especially for the festival of colours, made with green apples, oats, raisin and deep fried in ghee and draped with rose sugar syrup. Available until 20th March at the outpost!

Address: Saltt, Oleander Farms Pvt Ltd, Karjat chowk road, vavarle village karjat, khalapur, Maharashtra

You may also like: Loved our edit of artisanal mithais in India? Now cook yourself the best recipes with ED’s curated list of cookbooks

A coffee episode: The best, innovative coffee blends in India you should be pouring in your cup right now!

There’s no alternative to coffee. Coffee is the alternative to everything else. These wise words of sweet (or bitter) awakening come from the clucking of my keyboard while I indulge in my cup of routine caffeine.

If you’ve been looking to stock up on some good dose of coffee brews to get through the work from home hours or while enjoying your solitude, check out this curated edit of the best coffee blends in india and equipment that you can use at home with ease and finesse.

Bili Hu

Grounded in the essence of India, unique palate-tickling coffees by Bili Hu, a brand founded by Bharat Singhal, sources from plantations across India. From a selection of coffees, including Harley Estate, Mysore Nugget Extra Bold to Monsooned Malabar and more, the roasts are available for hot and cold brews, both.

The brand also curates its own at-home-perfect coffee equipment, from a hand grinder, reusable cold brew coffee bags and Chemex filter paper to wooden collar Chemex to mokapot!

Find out more here

Bili Hu Chemex; Photograph courtesy Bili Hu

El Bueno Coffee Roasters

There’s good, better and then, oh-so-good! El Bueno Coffee Roasters by Manvi Gupta exemplifies the latter, where the brand name translates to ‘the good’ in Spanish. Making coffee a rather fun experience, El Bueno christens its blends as Hello, Monday, Bloombae, Sweet Sangria and suchlike. Besides its blends, it also offers coffee equipment and speciality coffee concentrate!

Find out more here

El Bueno Coffee; Photograph courtesy El Bueno Coffee

Nandan Coffee

The winning goal at Nandan Coffee spells the joy of indulging in quality coffee while being conscious of the environment. A brand run by Yahvi and Parthivi Mariwala, Nandan produces intriguing coffee blends such as Royale, Gold and L’lmore working in tandem with coffee expert Sunalini Menon, dubbed as Asia’s first lady of coffee.

Find out more here

Nandan coffee; Photograph courtesy Nandan Coffee

SLAY Coffee

Coffee but make it easily available and double the fun! SLAY Coffee founded by Lakshmi and Chaitanya, is where certified baristas whip up the tastiest brews from freshly roasted and ground premium coffee beans. They call it coffee outside the cafe, or the cloud cafe, curating not just the delicious coffee blends, but also their prosonalised packaging, merchandise, instant freeze dried coffee concentrate and more!

Find out more here

SLAY Coffee; Photograph courtesy SLAY Coffee

Toffee Coffee Roasters

Inventive and well, taste-tingling, Toffee Coffee Roasters founded by Nandini Shrivastava and Rishab Nigam birthed in Bandra back in 2019. With a focussed thought to only brew and serve the most freshly roasted coffee, the brand has bolstered to offer not just coffee blends but a host of coffee equipments, a coffee blog to help you learn your java better and some specialty blends and microlot coffees that are defining the coffee trends today!

We particularly are also eyeing Toffee Coffee Roasters’ Cabernet Sauvignon-Wine Barrel Aged Coffee, coffee sourced from highest hills of Karnataka laced with the ageing process in Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Barrel. Heady but delicious, sounds like your next cuppa?

Find out more here

Toffee Coffee Roasters; Photograph courtesy toffeecoffeeroasters.com

Ellementry

Where nature meets tradition, Ellementry founded by Ayush Baid doesn’t just fence off at advancing products but also inspires lifestyles. Rooted in wisdom and adapted to modern sensibilities, all of the brand’s creations are an expression of function and love for the environment.

Specialising in homely luxury through handcrafted homeware range, Ellementry’s modern Masai Brass coffee sets and Filters in gold emanate the taste of traditional South India with every sip.

Find out more here

Ellementry Home; Photograph courtesy Ellementry Home

KC Roasters by Koinonia

Shannon D’Souza, founder of KC Roasters aims to reframe the closed conception touching on Indian coffee by promoting present-day international practices in partnership with our farmers.

Apart from brewing batches of hand-selected specialty coffee roasted in their top-of-the-line Roaster, the coffee house also crafts its own clever equipment in its pursuit of creating a united culture of great Indian Coffee.

Find out more here

KC Roasters by Koinonia; Photograph courtesy kcroasters.com

Nykaa Home

There’s only one thing that goes with the best coffee blends in india and that’s a good home-friendly coffee equipment. Consistent in its commitment to curate a luxe lifestyle exhibiting exceptional taste and style, Nykaa Home offers an assortment of smart coffee machines from international outfits like Nespresso, Solis, Budan, and Wacaco with a series spanning across Nanospressos, Minipressos, and other portable machines in a mélange of shades to suit every mood.

Find out more here

Wacaco, Nykaa Home; Photograph courtesy Nykaa Home

Loved our edit of best coffee blends in india? Check out If Dark Academia was a coffee shop, it would look a lot like Soros Coffee by Studio Goya

Steeped in centuries of history, the Royal Heritage Haveli Jaipur narrates fables of the 18th century Rajasthan

Travel back to the time of the royals at this dreamy venue in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Dubbed the Royal Heritage Haveli, it was built in the 18th century by his highness Madho Singh Ji as a hunting lodge, now refurbished after 150 years as a stunning boutique hotel in India.

Today, the splendid lodging is acclaimed for its amiable hospitality and heartiness, trickling to the very elements of luxury and leisure, providing personalised experiences of the bygone era for every guest.

Royal heritage haveli jaipur in Rajasthan — Bold, bright hand-painted frescoes adorn the walls in an Indo-Mughal approach; Photographs by the Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

Enveloped by emerald green gardens flushed with flora, stretched over 100,000 sq ft the estate is blanketed with lush lawns, comfortable courtyards, opulent ornamentation and luxurious living areas.

Including a total of 14 suites and one apartment, featuring exclusive themes and decor washed in individual colour schemes each, the Royal Heritage Haveli is devoted to delivering private and pacific sanctorium to their visitors.

All spaces are furnished with first-rate amenities and fittings fit for the au courant individual; Photographs by the Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

The radiant resort is reminiscent of rooted Rajasthani culture and customs

Reflecting rooted Rajasthani craftsmanship inherited round generations, the resort illustrates an image of traditional time-honoured architecture mingled with modernist minimal details. The property grants its guests a glimpse of the area’s abundance of history and hospitable visit apt for the 21st century.

Adorned in an Indo-Mughal approach to its aesthetics, with bright and beautiful hand-painted frescoes dressing the walls, all-embracing arches allowing in an abundance of natural light and baroque block and tile, each room exudes an old world charm and opulence of its own.

Intricate archaic interior details in the hotel’s architecture including hand painted ceiling frescoes strike the observer’s eye; Photographs by the Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

Baroque block and tiles craft a classic clean canvas for the colourful chrome schemes in the suites; Photographs by the Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

Repurposing a number of the authentic antique furnishings festooned with rich fabrics, the suites are an impeccable example of courtly conduct perfecting the melange of a charming, conscious and cultural way of living.

Suite 104, informally known as the blue room is surpassingly sought after. Luxury fit for a maharaja, the royal repose opens with an imposing door and an attached heirloom brass knocker, into a striking indigo-couloured marvel.

The resort’s cover reflects Rajasthani craftsmanship inherited round generations; Photographs by the Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

Also reputed to be one of the regal rooms in the hotel, the blue room owes to its history as a private zenana, where bachelorette women would lodge in yesteryear.

Set in the exteriors of the dwelling, a lap pool fenced by sand-coloured Jaisalmer stone and marble sunbathing sections boasts views of umbrella palms and frangipani trees. Also relished in the warmth of the sun is the long veranda, serving as the optimal breakfast post.

Flushed with flora, lush lawns and charming courtyards the estate is stretched over 100,000 sq ft; Photographs by the Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

The Baradari, a stunning stone and marble veranda is available for reservations for more intimate, exclusive dinner settings. Custom bevelled glass trophy shields at the art-deco inspired Mehrab bar curate a milieu of an old-world hunting lodge set in a contemporary backdrop.

Enveloped by emerald green gardens, each room at the resort exhibits a distinct design scheme of its own; Photographs by the Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

All lodging at the hideaway warrant paramount privacy and comfort, equipped with blackout curtains, linen service air conditioning and some even include additional leisure expanse such as balconies or terraces. Operated on solar power, the hotel is as ethical as it is exquisite. Walk into a world of archaic and whimsical enamour and visit the Royal Heritage Haveli Jaipur for a royal repose at the hidden gem.

Food Fort(e) — Ekaa Restaurant in Mumbai blends minimal aesthetics with Chef Niyati Rao’s inventiveness

Celebrating the nuances of Indian spices and sustenance, Ekaa Restaurant in Mumbai is centred around bringing out individuality of the recipes and ingredients. Ekaa that recently opened up in a quaint lane of Azad Maidan in South Mumbai is helmed by co-founder, Sagar Neve, and head chef and partner Niyati Rao who bring to their patrons an interpreted cuisine that intrigues with nostalgia.

Sagar, a restaurateur for a decade, joined hands with Niyati, who has impressive cooking and curating experience in and out of the country. The latter was driven by her brief stint in Noma, Copenhagen and on returning to Mumbai, she wanted to use her insightful experience in a way that impacted the Indian culinary world.

Chef speaks

In her words, “This is an ode to my motherland. The chefs at Noma make optimum use of what is available to them and create magic. How they focus on a humble local ingredient and celebrate it to the best of its capability is a work of art itself. That is probably why the world respects them, because they respect what is around them first. Our country has so much to offer, and many indigenous ingredients and techniques remain untapped.”

You may also like: 7 document worthy restaurants that promise great food

Ekaa Restaurant in Mumbai — Key characteristics of Kitab Mahal tie the restaurant to its context and history, imbuing rustic vibes; Photograph courtesy Ekaa Mumbai

The menu at Ekaa: Spice and sustenance

The menu at Ekaa does not adhere to any particular cuisine. An interpreted menu, where the ingredients are protagonists, liberalises the chef’s creative constraints and also aids in curating non-niche dishes that are as unique as the visitors. Three different experiential menus, namely a Tapas Menu paired with the Bar Menu, A la Carte menu and a 10-course Chef’s Tasting Menu grant visitors the reign to steer their experience at Ekaa.

The Chef’s Tasting Menu features fresh, fun, and inventive dishes. The A la Carte menu presents textures and combinations of flavours in a single offering, with variants for every palette, dietary requirement and food preference. The Tapas Bar inspired by Indian Ecosystems serves as a backdrop for relaxed settings.

Designer speaks

Adopting the ‘less is more’ Japanese and Nordic style of architecture, a clean and minimalistic space that does not take the focus away from the food fuses with the context. By retaining 131-year-old architectural characteristics, the natural charm of Kitab Mahal (est. 1890) stays intact. Creamy ceramics and wall installations compliment the earthy tones of handmade wooden furniture and moulded lamps crafted by local artisans.

Ekaa has an open kitchen space that lets guests walk in and interact with chefs. The Tapas and Bar area has an intimate setting that catalyses unwinding. The restaurant also has a private dining room for people who like a private dining affair and exclusively curated experiences for an occasion.

If this celebration of Indian spices and sustenance appeals to you, you may also like Foo Bandra for your Asian cuisine cravings

6 ways to create design calming spaces in your home with H&M HOME’s collection inspired by bright hues and playful shapes

The moment we all have been eagerly waiting for is finally here. Our favourite apparel brand has marked a scintillating debut in the home decor segment with H&M HOME—a digital store at hm.com and on the e-commerce platform Myntra on 3rd March 2022. Carrying their trademark style-forward, H&M HOME offers fashion-forward decor and accessories for every room and style.

From high-quality bedlinen and timeless dinnerware to diversified textiles, with contemporary style and attention to detail at its core, the vast assortment transforms your space into a place that feels like home. Merging modern design and quality with sustainability and affordable prices, here are 5 ways with which the collection aids in creating a personal and modern space—

Working with different style platforms, H&M HOME ensure that their design embraces everything from the eclectic to more muted and minimalistic; Photographs courtesy H&M HOME

Lovely prints such as hand painted flower patterns and a dreamy ‘sun and moon’ call for simplicity and a spiritual vibe; Photographs courtesy H&M HOME

LIVING ROOM

With a wide range of home accessories, your living space is in for a treat and a much needed makeover. Without much ado, choose your pick from colourful cushions to cosy blankets, classic curtains to stylish storage, there’s something for every decorating style.

BEDROOM

Surround yourself with comforting bohemian chic details and find pleasure in your everyday life at home. With H&M HOME, it’s easy to transform your bedroom interior through a great selection of duvet cover sets, sheets, bed skirts and spreads, blankets, curtains, pillowcases, rugs and more.

Add printed cushions made from organic cotton and store a cosy crinkled blanket in stylish baskets made with FSC certified rattan; Photographs courtesy H&M HOME

KID’S ROOM

A plethora of art, architecture, fashion, food, folklore, and the cultures of the world amalgamate into H&M HOME, identifying styles that are of the moment and adapting trends to create collections that stimulate. This is your sign to add some colour and playfulness into your kids’ room interior with their exceptionally fun toys and inspiring accessories.

Soft waffled towels in pastel tones will make your me time moment feel extra soothing while scented candles envelop your senses; Photographs courtesy H&M HOME

BATHROOM

Cosy towels, dressing gowns, snuggly bath mats, eye catchy shower curtains—you name it and they have it. Prepare your bathroom for everyday luxury with H&M HOME’s golden bathtub shelf that keeps all your home-spa essentials in place. Let your feet sink into the fluffy patterned bath mat and escalate other senses through scented oils and candles.

KITCHEN

Whether you’re planning an intimate supper, gala dinner or cosy night in with the family, H&M HOME’s tablecloths, place mats, chinaware, aprons and other decorations will make you an instant hit amongst your friends and family.

Utensil holders in ceramic will keep your gear in place and wooden boxes provide the perfect open storage for groceries; Photographs courtesy H&M HOME

OUTDOORS

Prepare for brighter days ahead and spruce up your outdoors for al fresco adventures with the outdoor home range. Be it picnics in your garden or long, lazy days at the beach, there is something for everyone!

The collection is bound to leave you reinvigorated and peaceful enabling interior lovers across the world to create a personal and modern space; Photographs courtesy H&M HOME

This March, as spring beckons, decorate your homes with soft neutrals, abstract prints, and edgy shapes. Design-driven and fashion forward, H&M HOME is offering decor accessories for every room and style.

With products for living, dining and kitchen, bed, bathroom and kids, the assortment will be available on hm.com and Myntra from 3rd March, 2022.