A space where agave, artistry, and storytelling come together in food, drink, and design. On a quiet lane in Bandra, Mumbai, a new bar has opened its doors with quiet confidence and bold vision. House of Paloma is a cocktail-forward space where agave, artistry, and storytelling come together not just in the drinks but in the food, interiors, and every corner of its design.
For friends and founders Prathik Shetty, Chethan Hegde, and Samarth Shetty, House of Paloma is a project built on a decade of partnership and trust. The trio has worked together for over ten years, with Chethan bringing nearly fifteen years of hospitality experience and the legacy of founding 1522 in Bangalore. Prathik and Samarth Shetty, who also co-founded The Reservoire, India’s largest cocktail bar and one of the first in the country, carry forward a legacy of innovation and recognition, with accolades including a spot in Tales of the Cocktail’s Top 10 Best Bars Asia-Pacific (2019). At Paloma, the vision is a shared one, shaped by the founders’ travels, their love for contemporary art, and their deep connection to global cocktail culture. Prathik, Chethan, and Samarth bring together complementary strengths and perspectives, blending creativity with operational depth to build a space that feels both intimate and expressive. The result is a bar designed for conversation, discovery, and celebration.
“We wanted House of Paloma to feel like a mini museum, a bar that comes alive with art and cocktails in equal measure,” says Prathik. “The idea was to take inspiration from Spain and Mexico, where Paloma is more than a drink, it is a cultural ritual, and reimagined it in a playful, approachable way.”
Paloma was imagined as an homage to the rich Latin American cultures and ingredients that surround it. The spirit of agave has long been tied to ritual, storytelling, and celebration across Mexico and beyond. For Prathik, the region’s ingredients became a medium to explore not just cocktails, but a broader conversation around how they can carry history, culture, and meaning. The name House of Paloma draws inspiration from Latin America, nodding to the beloved tequila based cocktail Paloma while celebrating its vibrant flavors and energy. The addition of “House of” gives the space a sense of warmth and welcome, a place where guests feel at home while being transported across continents through art, music, and expertly crafted cocktails and bites.
The interiors, designed in collaboration with architect Sumessh Menon, are built as an extension of Paloma’s artistic soul. Spanning approximately 2,900 sq ft, the space opens outdoors with 42 seats, designed for a relaxed yet vivid atmosphere. Inside, 33 covers create a more intimate setting, wrapped in deep teals and fiery crimson reds that draw vibrancy from Latin America while staying tactile and close. Upstairs, a private dining room with 15 seats offers seclusion without losing touch with the bar’s spirit. The first thing you see as you enter is the gently rotating Paloma Man, a striking emblem of art, culture, and festivity that sets the tone for the bar. From there, natural textures meet bold artworks, bespoke ceramic chandeliers, and sculptural details that feel both personal and expressive. The founders believe that bars can be cultural institutions as much as creative spaces, and Paloma embodies that spirit. They collaborated with Goan contemporary artist Siddharth Kerkar, whose large-scale artworks anchor the design narrative of the bar. His pieces, bold and evocative, transform the space into a gallery-like experience where cocktails and canvases exist in dialogue. Suspended from the ceiling is the glowing Agave Lamp, a dramatic design centerpiece that anchors the room. Playful touches like the Paloma Cats and shimmering Paloma Crowns weave the bar’s identity across ceilings and corners, while Zahabiyah Gabajiwala’s ZAworks handmade pieces from a striking cheetah to intimate artifacts add a tactile, museum-like touch.
At House of Paloma the bar is the beating heart. Head Mixologist M Sunil Prathab along with consultants Rahul Raghav and Karl Fernandes has developed a menu that draws from Latin American inspirations and channels them through craft. Caliente mixes Patron Silver with green apple, dill, vanilla spice cordial, and a chili kick, finished with a crisp green apple salad — hot, herbaceous, and unforgettable. Mogo Mogo blends white rum, raspberry, thyme, and Mogo Mogo tea, lifted with coconut jelly for something fruity, floral, and lightly tropical. Paloma 1950, the house’s ode to its namesake, reimagines the classic with Patron Silver, in-house grapefruit cordial, fizz, and a rim of tajin dust, both nostalgic and refined. For the late-night drinker, 3AM Confession layers vodka, melon liqueur, and in-house Champa wine into a pour that feels floral with a sweet touch. Red Room leans bittersweet, chocolatey, and refined, with cacao gin, Ross, Campari, cacao butter, coffee bitters, and a shard of in-house chocolate bark. And for those who prefer depth and smoke, Don Pablo brings together Patron Reposado, Amaro, Ross, and Palo Santo smoky, herbal, and introspective. Playful rituals like the communal Arriba, Abajo, Al Centro, Pa Dentro shot tie the program back to its roots of togetherness and celebration. Ingredients are shared between the bar and kitchen, creating pairings that feel seamless across the table. With seasonal menus and limited-edition runs, Paloma’s bar is always evolving, familiar, yet surprising each time you visit.
The kitchen is led by Chef Pranay Shinde, whose career spans Indigo, The Clearing House, Massive Restaurants, Mabel, Sage and Saffron, and Masque, with Chef Sombir Chaudary, Co-Founder of SOKA Bangalore, serving as House of Paloma’s food consultant. Together, they’ve shaped a menu that is playful and borderless, celebrating authentic global cuisine, from temakis to tacos with a few dishes that carry inventive twists on Indian flavors, all while embracing sustainable techniques.
The plates look familiar at first glance, but never behave the way you expect. Bar bites set the tone with the Amber Sweet Crunch, crispy sweet potato hiding green pea and truffle cream, and Cheesy Swirls, golden spirals lifted by a hit of desi Schezwan gel. Cold plates stay bright and sharp — Hamachi Crudo lands with coconut leche de tigre and yuzu gel pristine, while Farm Tomato Aguachile strikes with clean heat. Small plates are playful but confident. Wok and Wild Belly glazes pork belly in bourbon, finished with toasted sesame. Butter Kori Rotti transforms a Mangalorean staple into spicy grilled chicken drumsticks in smoky tomato butter sauce with a crisp rice sheet. Nori–Teriyaki Chicken Temaki brings crunch and comfort, with savory-glazed chicken wrapped in seasoned sushi rice, fresh cucumber, and pickled ginger. Larger plates carry the same rhythm. Shoyu Ramen layers rich chicken tare broth with fried egg and teriyaki chicken. Tan Lobster Risotto marries European elegance with tandoori smokiness, while Grilled Chilean Seabass with burnt leek butter stays indulgent yet restrained. Dessert refuses to end quietly. Cheesecake Swirl arrives in technicolor, playful and indulgent to the last bite, while Dark Bloom, a baked 70% dark chocolate ganache with lemon cream, orange crumble, ice cream, and bourbon caramel, pushes depth and contrast to dramatic heights.
For Mumbai, it is a space that redefines what a cocktail bar can be, not just a drinking den but a cultural institution where art, food and cocktails exist in constant conversation. Where art installations shift with the seasons, cocktails evolve, and the menu grows.
QUICK FACTS
Address: House of Paloma, Number 545, 33rd Road, Near McDonalds Linking Road, Ground Floor Excel Entertainment, Bandra West – 400052, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Timing: 5:30 pm – 1:30 am | Open all days
Price for two: 2800 for 2
For reservation call us on: +91 9892632572
For more information follow @houseofpaloma.bar
Basics: Valet available etc
