A Royal Blue Rum Bar in New Delhi

New Delhi-based Pantone Collective channels royal blue and Rajasthani richness in modern Indian cocktail bar Barrumbar, where traditional elements blend with a contemporary aesthetic

Tucked away in Connaught Place, New Delhi’s bustling commercial centre, cafe-bar Barrumbar draws lunch and dinner crowds with modern Indian-inspired bites (think curry mayo, paneer baos and masala hummus) before it turns into a rum-focused cocktail bar at night. It’s only fitting then that its design, spearheaded by New Delhi-based architecture studio Pantone Collective, follows a similar approach, blending Indian vernacular elements with a decidedly contemporary aesthetic.

The design team nicknamed the project 'Blue Baoli' after the baoli (multi-tiered stepwells) found throughout Delhi and western India. They served as inspiration for the interior's main focal point: a blue statement wall bedecked with a three-dimensional pattern of criss-crossing steps and rounded arches.

Further inspiration came from trips through Rajasthan, one of India's most storied states, where Pantone Collective’s principal architect Tanya Chutani gathered design references from opulent royal palaces and ancient stepwells. The project's primary colour finds its source in Jodhpur, Rajasthan’s second-largest city, where crumbling havelis (traditional townhouses or mansions) and winding alleyways are swathed in royal blue.

Other walls in the restaurant reference more Rajasthani hallmarks. Created in collaboration with local artisans, elaborate murals depicting tropical birds and flora flank parts of the dining room. Opposite, the boldly patterned Leopard Walk wallpaper by the British heritage brand Cole & Son surrounds the bar. ‘Traditional Indian interiors are known for their royal touch and what animal better captures this elegance than a leopard?’ Chutani says.

Hardware and furnishings add to the Indian character: chrome fixtures and antique mirrors give the space an aged touch, while cane dining chairs add a rustic balance to the decidedly modern space. Around the restaurant, upholstery and cushions in tropical prints and blush pink match with the hand-painted murals.

Thanks to the central glass-walled atrium, the light in the restaurant changes throughout the day. ‘The space has been designed to achieve varying light and shadow effects during different times of the day,’ Chutani explains. ‘We played with ambient light to keep the atrium looking bright and alive, while dramatic artificial lights like the custom-designed pillar lanterns and glass globe sconces with antique brass details set the scene after dark.’

Melding hints of Rajasthani richness with a contemporary outlook on Indian design, Blue Baoli is an eye-catching addition to Delhi’s dining scene.

Text / Chris Schalkx
Images / Anirudh Datta