South Asia’s First Armani/Caffè Launches In Mumbai

The newly opened Armani/ Caffè in Mumbai offers a delectable confluence of fashion and gastronomy echoing the Italian fashion house’s, distinct palate and opulent ambience.

  • 18 Sep '24
  • 5:18 pm by Simran Almeida

Collaborations have become a staple entrée for luxury fashion houses and Mumbai’s newest Armani/Caffè establishes that this is not the brand’s first rodeo. This Italian dream, nestled in the heart of Mumbai’s business district—BKC, reflects the Italian fashion house—Giorgio Armani’s commitment to understated luxury, offering a culinary experience that embodies timeless elegance. The cafe opened its doors to patrons earlier this month adjacent to the Giorgio Armani boutique. While this venture represents the brand’s latest chapter, it builds on Giorgio Armani’s pioneering integration of fashion with hospitality, a journey that began with its first culinary establishment in Paris in 1998. Since then the gastronomic journey has left a crumb trail, through Milan, Dubai, Tokyo, New York, Cannes, Munich, Cairo and Osaka, ultimately spawning its Indian account. Through Armani/Caffè, the brand melds Italy’s time-honoured cuisine with the same level of finesse and minimalism that defines its global fashion empire. 

The seating ensemble ensures seamless movement throughout the café, while the track lights softly illuminate the space. (Image credit: Vinayak Grover)

 

Wafting In Subtle Aromas

Since its inception in 1975, Armani has expanded its empire, weaving a legacy beyond fashion into a rich tapestry of lifestyle experiences, with fine dining as one of its most exquisite oeuvres. Like their iconic designs, these gastronomic journeys are crafted with minimalism and precision, reflecting the same flair that breathes through every stitch and seam. 

 

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The café parades an open, temperature-controlled wine refrigerator offering patrons glimpses of the exquisite wine collection. (Image credit: Vinayak Grover)

 

Inside The Elysian Arbour

The brand’s logo, serving as the door handle, ushers one into the 52-seater café drenched in soft muted blue and green hues, subtly highlighted with hints of gilded accents. Across from the entrance, a back-lit, bar that softly gleams with spirits, beckoning entrants to raise a glass and say ‘cin cin’. The mood lighting gracefully accentuates a fluted counter with a gilded top, paired with an affixed seating ensemble, that stands as the undeniable pièce de résistance of the space. The space, eschewing flashy logos, sports a minimalist approach with clean lines and soft hues in the typical Armani signature palette.

 

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The bar offers an assortment of refreshing, yet rich call drinks, that toast to the Italian distilleries and blends. (Image credit: Vinayak Grover)

 

The café cloaks a few select spots with palm-print screens, making them ideal for discreet and exclusive gatherings away from the mall’s bustle. These emblazoned screens, with muted palm illustrations and gilded edges infuse a touch of tropical charm to the otherwise subdued palette. They evoke Italy’s tropical yet rustic landscape, while curtsying to Mumbai’s tranquil coastline, ensuring that each table relishes a sense of seclusion.

The tropical wallpapers reflecting through the mirrors, orchestrate an illusion of spaciousness in the petite space. (Image credit: Vinayak Grover)

 

Couture On A Plate

Capturing the true essence of la dolce vita (the sweet life), the café presents a curated selection of Italian dishes, each crafted to perfection donning rich, complex flavours and ethereal culinary artistry. Armani’s signature dishes— ‘Carpaccio di Gamberi e Sedano Croccante,’ ‘Pappa al Pomodoro e Burrata,’ ‘Insalata Cesare Armani,’ ‘Maiale Con Tonnato,’ and the classic ‘Ciabatta Con Pomodoro Bufala’—reflects the brand’s custodianship toward its cuisine. Armani/Caffè’s menu is a tribute to Italian culinary artistry, crafted with the same meticulous attention as an Armani suit.

 

Reinventing the classics with the ‘Insalata Cesare Armani’ and the velvety Gnocchi alla Sorrentina. (Image credit: Vinayak Grover)

 

While Italian gastronomy is often synonymous with its quintessential dish, pizza, the café elevates this classic with an assortment of Roman-style pizzas and pasta. Accordingly, the café’s desserts include the timeless Tiramisu—served in the shape of a coffee bean—the decadent Éclair alla Nocciola, Panna Cotta Alle Fragole, and Crosta al Limone, among other exquisite confections.

 

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The Beetroot carpaccio is a reinterpretation of the classic, featuring delicate beet layers atop seaweed zeppole. (Image credit: Vinayak Grover)

 

In Jio World Plaza’s glittering landscape, Armani/Caffè emerges as the confluence of high fashion and delectable dishes, migrated from the land of artistic heritage—Italy. With quiet luxury emanating from every teal corner and sweet-savoury aromas wafting through genteel gold accents, the café recounts Armani’s steadfast devotion to finesse and minimalism.