Serial night club owner Suved Lohia who set up his first nightclub Red Light in Kala Ghoda over a decade ago, is back with a new kid on the block – Villa 69. Located in Juhu, Mumbai, the all-white interiors evoke the decadence and romanticism of a bygone era. It’s mushy but not overwhelmingly so. The glass entrance, and ample use of mirror and leather lend the place its stylish character.
Launched this January, the 12,000 sqft space is split into a café, lounge, bar, fine dine restaurant, and an alfresco area. There is a private dining room (PDR) titled Suite 69, and a beer and barbeque garden is slated to open shortly. “The idea was to have something for everyone from the age of 18 to 50, instead of just a bar or a fine dine restaurant. My personal favourite is the alfresco area,” says Lohia.
Victorian paintings, art deco chandeliers, cupid poses on the wall, eclectic LED lighting in the lounge area, and an open green section with a silver horse installation are other attractions. The alfresco bar, with its muslin-draped cabanas, mosaic-tiled flooring and DayGlo furniture, hosts sundowners with international DJs.
“I wanted the interiors to be Victorian, elegant and classy at the same time, so white was the natural choice. Villa 69 is a place that makes you want to dress up though it’s a friendly neighbourhood bar, and is not an expensive place; but people still come dressed up. It’s the plush interiors that compel you to get dapper!” says Lohia, who engaged Ranjeet Bindra and Minal Chopra to design Villa 69. The decorative items were sourced from China and Hong Kong, he informs.
The pre-dinner spot in the early evening gets increasingly lively as the night progresses and the DJ takes over. People cluster around the well-stocked bar, where the cocktail list favours the classic over the inventive, and a large range of spirits lure consumers.
The menu, designed by chef Dev Singh Negi and Lohia, is multi-cuisine with a wide selection of Asian favourites. The Crackling Chicken with mildly spiced sesame sprinkled on chunks of chicken nestled on a bed of spinach, wood-fired fiamma pizza, Villa 69 Triangles of corn, cheese and spinach served with spicy pesto sauce, are some of the must try dishes.
Villa 69 is a welcome addition for Mumbai’s bar frequenters, and has already become one of the best places in the city to enjoy a perfect sundowner, or a meal with friends and family.
