La Panthera, the European-inspired restaurant founded by Mickee Tuljapurkar and chef Manuel Olveira, has opened a second outlet in Mumbai’s historic Eros Cinema building in Churchgate. Designed by AD100 architect Gowri Adappa of A Design Co, the new space blends the restaurant’s signature sophistication with South Mumbai’s rich Art Deco heritage.
The brand’s first establishment opened in Bandra Kurla Complex two years ago, introducing European opulence to the business district. However, the Churchgate restaurant takes a different approach, reflecting the neighbourhood’s architectural character and slower pace of life.
“We wanted to respond to the space and the neighbourhood,” says Mickee. Adappa explains, “From the very beginning, the founders and we, as architects, were aligned on creating a balance between the building’s history and original character and the ethos of La Panthera. The brief was never about recreating the past, but about finding a way for the two identities to coexist naturally.”
Inspired by Eros Cinema, a landmark built in the 1930s, the design draws from the residential buildings surrounding Oval Maidan. Rather than creating a conventional restaurant layout, the team envisioned an intimate setting resembling a Mumbai apartment.
“You don’t walk into a place like Eros, that was built in the 1930s, and ignore the building – it has too much personality,” asserts Gowri.
The interiors feature a welcoming foyer, a waiting area that doubles as a library lounge, and cosy two-seater tables positioned beside large windows with Art Deco-inspired architraves. The layout transitions from open communal areas to more secluded dining spaces, creating a sequence of rooms with distinct atmospheres.
A striking bar, finished in timber and complemented by deep rust-coloured terrazzo flooring, forms the central element between the entrance, dining area and open kitchen. Beyond the restaurant, a terrace offers views of Churchgate Station, connecting the experience to the surrounding cityscape.
Architectural references extend to curved window detailing and dramatic drapes that separate private dining rooms, recalling the velvet curtains of cinema halls.
The open kitchen adds another dimension to the experience, allowing diners to watch chefs prepare and plate dishes. “Part of the pleasure of dining is seeing things happen: the movement, the fire, the plating, the chefs working together. A kitchen has its own kind of theatre,” explains Mickee.
With its layered interiors, cinematic influences and residential warmth, La Panthera’s Churchgate outlet combines culinary indulgence with a design experience rooted in Mumbai’s architectural history.
Source: Architectural Digest
