Malaika Arora And Arhaan Khan’s Scarlett House Meets Nostalgic Portuguese Design

Tucked inside a 90-year-old bungalow in Bandra, Scarlett House redefines the dining scene with an immersive experience that goes beyond the plate. A stunning blend of the neighbourhood’s Portuguese history and a love for nostalgia, this new establishment is a great example of design informed by context. The idea for this space came from visiting the site itself sharing Nyishi Parekh from Splendour Living, who worked closely with hotelier Dhaval Udeshi from Gigi, Bandra. Before its restoration, the bungalow was a humble red time capsule, a relic of a bygone era when it once served as office space. Helmed by Bollywood persona Malaika Arora and her son Arhan Khan, this establishment is her first venture into hospitality. The mother-son duo alongside Malaya Nagpal worked with Dhaval Udeshi and Nyishi Parekh to bring their vision for a cosy and chic new cafe to Maximum City. 

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Vintage Chic Meets Modern Dining

“We like to call it vintage chic. The design was inspired by nostalgia, history and the desire to evoke a sense of warmth and timelessness,” explains Parekh. The journey from when they first saw the bungalow to its transformation has been surreal according to the designer. “To me, old buildings come with inherent quirks and imperfections that modern structures simply cannot replicate. I wanted to embrace those imperfections,” shares Parekh. The building underwent several structural changes to meet the many requirements of a restaurant. An example of this was rethinking plumbing and space design to accommodate a restaurant-grade kitchen. 

With a predominantly warm and earthy palette, scarlet is the hero colour. Shades of brown, warm yellow lights and an array of vintage prints adorn the interiors to create a cosy and historical experience akin to stepping inside an ancestral home. In a fast-paced city where high-rise, glass tops and faux tropical aesthetics dominate in interior space, Scarlett House is a refreshing new direction. For instance, the bungalow features charming windows which had to be carefully restored by refinishing the frames and ensuring that they are functional while retaining their period style. Filled with furnishing and upholstery largely from Splendour Living, the interiors are a delightful mix of art nouveau forms and charming European bistros that take you back in time. Parekh admits, “A lot of the rugs and decorative lights in the space have been picked up from the weekend and antique markets of Paris.” She muses how many of her past vacations were essentially sourcing trips. Throughout this project, She muses how every holiday turned into a sourcing trip, gathering unique finds along the way. 

The bold mix of chintz patterns adds an intimate, homely charm, while the aged wooden floors, cabinets, and furniture—reminiscent of traditional homes—deepen the space’s welcoming, lived-in warmth. Despite facing some structural challenges on this ambitious project to convert an old office building into a fully functional restaurant, the design and food work in perfect sync to create a warm and immersive dining experience in Pali Village. 

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A Menu That’s Nourishing and Playful

The food offerings are a blend of international cuisine and healthy food selections. With a dedicated wine and cheese room, a sushi bar and a hydration bar that offers an array of water infusions to boost your health by day and serves up a mean cocktail by night. The space also serves as a platform for small wellness businesses to showcase their offerings. The food menu draws inspiration from the mother-son duo’s travels, their shared passion for cooking, and Chef Beena Norohna’s culinary experiences. Led by Chef Beena, also the head chef at GIGI, Udeshi’s other restaurant, the menu showcases Arora’s charm and her love for nutritious, nourishing dishes.

Celebrating well-sourced ingredients all over India and internationally, Chef Noronha brings a wonderfully glocal spin to the menu. “I enjoy playing around with ingredients, there is an abundance of ingredients in India that are often not looked at closely enough,” she explains. “For example, I don’t think many chefs are working with jamun vinegar,” she reveals. The ingredient is something she uses in her ‘Ross Omelette’ served on the menu. The space also retails a wonderful selection of wines, cheese, infused beverages and protein bars from an array of retailers many of which are women-led enterprises. 

The aim is to offer wholesome food that resonates with all age groups, blending familiar flavours and inspirations. There are elements of Bandra on the menu with options like the ‘Prawn Malabar Curry,’ ‘A Vietnamese Pho,’ and ‘A Jowar Truffle Rissotto’ – all reflective of the neighbourhood’s diverse food culture. On the other hand, Malla’s favourites, like the ‘Masala Khichdi,’ offer a comforting, healthy option that’s unexpectedly special yet universally relatable. 

“If I had to choose one aspect of Scarlett House that excites me the most, it would be the sense of discovery that comes from the combination of furniture, objects and textures that fill the space,” reveals Parekh. With a keen eye for timeless design, Parekh has embraced the idea of wear and tear, allowing the space to evolve and continue telling its story over time. This vision is complemented by Chef Noronha’s passion for keeping diners intrigued with local ingredients, and Malaika Arora’s desire to create a cosy, nostalgic dining experience. Together, they’ve crafted a beautiful new addition to Bandra’s dining scene.