Gauri Khan Designed Fielia Opens as India’s First Cocktail Cinema in Mumbai

Fielia, the city’s newest invite-only bar, rises inside the iconic Mahalaxmi Race Course with a concept India has never experienced before: a cocktail-forward aperitivo bar imagined as a Cocktail Cinema.

Think dress-circle seats, a dramatic double-height ceiling, mezzanine balconies that look down like theatre boxes, and a bar that plays the role of the screen — the stage on which every scandal, every sin, every pour unfolds.

The space is the brainchild of Afsana Verma, Amit Verma, and Dhaval Udeshi and comes to life through the design language of Gauri Khan, who transforms the century-old racecourse mill architecture into something cinematic, sensual, and irresistibly modern.

The triangular roofline, the generous height, and the raw industrial bones of the original structure set the foundation for a split-level bar: a moody ground floor wrapped in wrought-iron staircases, leading up to a mezzanine that mirrors the quiet drama of vintage theatre galleries.

“Fielia was designed as a space that reveals itself slowly. I wanted it to feel cinematic yet intimate — where scale exists, but emotion leads. The architecture holds a quiet drama, softened through curves, texture and light, allowing the bar to become the heart of the space.It’s not just about how it looks, but how it makes you feel,” shared Gauri Khan.

The windows frame the bar the way curtains frame a stage. The mezzanine looks down like the dress circle.

“We wanted Fielia to feel like it naturally belongs here,” said Afsana Verma, speaking of the bar’s home at Mahalaxmi Race Course. “The Race Course has a certain romance to it — a history, an aura, a sense of old Bombay that still lingers. For us, it was the perfect setting for a bar that’s intentionally intimate and invitation-only. Fielia isn’t about crowds; it’s about mood, conversation and the thrill of a night that feels slightly hidden from the rest of the city.”

Fielia opens with its first narrative, Sin & Scandal, an evolving edit that explores human indulgence, temptation, and mythology. The cocktails are conceptualised by Beverage Director Fay Barretto — the creative force behind some of the city’s most innovative bar programs. Their work is defined by sensory storytelling, technical craft, and the ability to turn ingredients and gestures into miniature provocations.

And inside this “Cocktail Cinema,” the bartenders themselves slip into crafted personas — the nerd, the jester, the flirt, the speedster — adding layers of character to the service experience.

“The architecture gave us the idea,” added Amit Verma, reflecting on the genesis of Cocktail Cinema. “Once we saw the height, the mezzanine, the way the windows framed the bar, it felt like a theatre waiting to happen. The ‘Cocktail Cinema’ concept came from wanting to build a bar where drinks aren’t just served — they’re experienced. Sin & Scandal is just the beginning. The goal is constant reinvention.”

Chef Hitesh Shanbhag, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, refined his craft across some of India’s most respected kitchens and Michelin-starred restaurants in New York. His cooking — precise, textural, expressive — is grounded in discipline but driven by curiosity.

At Fielia, he interprets the seven sins as a series of aperitivo-style dishes: some indulgent, some restrained, some fiery, some flirtatious. The appèritivo menu moves through temptations — crisp, punchy bites; chilled, fresh plates; slow-cooked richness; smoky warmth; and layered pastas and breads — allowing guests to graze their way through the night, tasting sin in small, elegant portions. The menu includes the full spectrum of bar bites, cold tapas, warm mezzes, breads, and artisanal pizzas curated for shared, lingering evenings.

“Fielia is meant to be more than a bar,” added Dhaval Udeshi. “We wanted a community — a gathering place for people who enjoy culture, conversation, and a touch of irreverence. As we grow, we see Fielia expanding into a network of spaces that speak the same language. This is just the start.”