Interior designer from 'The city that does not sleep' designed the most happening place of 'The garden city'. Yes, we are talking about the three-in-one restaurant, which has of late become talk of the town. Opium-the restau-bar, Kapalua-the coffee shop and Dhanush-the ethnic North Indian restaurant, designed by Mumbai based interior designer, Prakash Markar.

Welcome to Opium- the magnificent restau-bar which serves oriental food and cocktails. As you enter the bar, you pass the velvet coloured floor and begin your decent into the 'opium den'. The décor (like the cuisine) is a fusion of French and Pan Asian cultures. The end result - an alluring, inviting and comforting ambience.

With dim light, soft music….Opium is the perfect place to sit and relax after a day's tiring work, sipping your favourite drink and nibbling some exotic appetisers. Opium is the biggest and the longest bar in the city. It also provides a fabulous, semicircular dance floor, perfect for those who want to let down their hair and shake a bit with the music. The slush cocktail Daiquiri with flavours like orange, pineapple and strawberry are a speciality here.

" Opium functions more as a restaurant than a bar on weekdays. We serve oriental dishes here. But Fridays and Saturdays are the most happening days", said Alok Totlani, the manager of the restaurant. "On the weekends the crowd pours in and there is no place to even stand", he adds. Opium also hosts a variety of events like The Bacardi Fashion Show and special corporate parties.

The price is slightly on the higher side, but then chic ambience and exquisite decor don't come cheap! Cocktails start at Rs 175. You can get a bottle of beer at Rs 100. And for the Whisky lovers: Black Dog comes at Rs 250 a peg.

What do the regulars have to say about the place?
"The ultra-cool, trendy crowd that Opium has been attracting is full of praise for the place. That is why I am here every second day. The food served here is exceptional", says Prakash, a regular at Opium.

From here let us move on to Kapalua.

Kapalua - have you heard this name before? Sounds somewhat familiar right? Well, you must have read about it in your Geography book - it is one of the exotic Hawaiian Islands. But here we are talking about the coffee house cum restaurant, which has been christened Kapalua. It serves a variety of coffee, tea as well as milk shakes. Different types of soups are also on offer. On the weekends there is live cart presentation where the chefs cook in front of their customers and serve instantly. A Coffee Day outlet is also opening here very soon. The coffee shop is open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. So, now you know where to drop in for a late cup of coffee.

From the opulence of a restau-bar to the lightness of a coffeehouse, to the richness of a Rajasthani Haveli - the journey is complete.

With authentic Indian paintings, mirror worked walls and colourful artifacts, Dhanush offers a typical Rajasthani atmosphere. This ethnic Indian restaurant mainly serves North Indian cuisine. Raan Dhanush and Dal Dhanush is a specialty here. For those interested you can watch the chef cook for you through the large glass window. It boasts of the latest equipment in the kitchen and has a well equipped bar. They have a mouth-watering array of starters and desserts to complement the sumptuous main course. "The place is immaculately clean and the quality of the food is very good," says Ms. Saxena, a regular visitor at Dhanush.

So, for an enchanting experience step into the luxurious haven of the three-in-one restaurant: The restau-bar, the coffee house and the ethnic Indian restaurant. Soon, you would be recommending it everybody!

Address:
Opium, Kapalua, Dhanush
N.M. Hospitality
Carlton Towers,
No 1 Airport Road
Bagalore-560 017
Phone: 5276770/ 1

Deepa Pictures by Ravindra Nayak C H   |