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NomNom at Khar – A Harmonious Blend of Asian Aesthetics by Sumessh Menon Associates
- Style Essentials Edit Team
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
There is a certain quiet thrill in watching a familiar dining brand reinvent itself. NomNom, long known for its indulgent Asian comfort food in Mumbai, does exactly that with its newest outpost in Khar. The restaurant sits on a corner where the neighbourhood’s rhythm softens just enough for design to be noticed, and here, Sumessh Menon Associates shape the space into an experience that feels intimate, layered, and instinctively warm.
The 1,400 sq. ft. interior doesn’t rely on spectacle or overpowering themes. Instead, it leans into a gentle Asian sensibility — rooted in earthy textures, soft tones, and an atmosphere that suggests a sense of calm even before you settle into your seat. The designers approached the space almost like a meditation, allowing materiality, lighting, and form to hold the narrative without ever overstating it.
NomNom Khar opens with a gesture that sets the tone immediately: a sculptural burgundy metal tree anchoring the alfresco dining area. It rises with a quiet confidence, its silhouette delicate yet striking, almost ceremonial in the way it invites guests into the restaurant. There is something unmistakably Asian about this moment — not because it imitates regional motifs, but because it borrows from the continent’s instinctive relationship with symbolism and nature. It feels like a prelude to a story, one where food, memory, and design meet at an easy intersection.
Further inside, the restaurant unfolds through an interplay of tones and textures. Stone, coir, cane, and wood appear and reappear, not in predictable ways, but with a rhythm that feels organic. The designers have used these materials not as decorative accents but as carriers of atmosphere. Their presence lends the space an earthy quality, almost like a grounding force that softens the edges of the bustling city outside.
The bar becomes an early focal point, especially because it straddles the indoor–outdoor threshold. Rendered in chip mosaic artwork, the bar façade tells its own story — visual fragments of Asian landscapes portrayed in a language that’s artistic and slightly nostalgic. It’s the kind of detail that reveals itself gradually, more expressive when lit in the evening, more textured when sunlight grazes it during the day.
Above, the ceiling installation catches the eye for a different reason. Its grid-like pattern is inspired by the traditional paddy hats worn across parts of Asia. The reference is subtle yet unmistakable, turning the overhead canvas into a cultural gesture. The light it casts is warm, diffused, and calm — the sort of lighting that makes meals linger longer, conversations stretch further, and the bustle of the city feel distant.
Seating at NomNom follows a similar philosophy of quiet visual pleasure. Wood and marble tables anchor the dining pockets, while grey two-toned flooring ties the space together with a sense of continuity. Pod seating introduces gentle pops of colour through art, while custom banana-fabric light installations hang like soft lanterns. They glow rather than shine, contributing to an atmosphere that is intentionally unhurried.
The restaurant’s dramatic bell installation at the entrance adds an element of theatre — not loud, but memorable. Rendered in a scale that feels sculptural, it immediately shifts the visitor’s perception of the space. This is not a typical Asian-themed restaurant; it is a space shaped through nuanced references, layered textures, and a sensitivity to mood.
Even the corners — those often overlooked pockets in hospitality design — carry careful detailing. The outdoor awning plays with shadow-work that changes as the day progresses. Rope-tied balustrades add a tactile softness to the alfresco area. Columns and walls carry calibrated grooves and structural accents that reveal themselves slowly as one moves through the restaurant. Each detail is a quiet reminder that thoughtful design lies in restraint, not excess.
Natural light filters through sheer curtains, touching the colours and textures with a soft brush. The sofas on one side, upholstered in printed fabrics, sit opposite high-top seating that blends bolder shades with tasselled details. Together, they bring a sense of vibrancy without overwhelming the palette, maintaining the harmony between Asian cues and contemporary elegance.
The pièce de résistance, however, remains the illuminated circular bar installation — imagined almost like a glowing tree sprouting from the floor. Its red-tiled façade, brass footrests, and warm stub lights create a captivating visual anchor for the room. It is glamorous without being loud, playful without being kitschy, and sophisticated without losing the brand’s inherent warmth.
Around it, rustic green bottles, earthen urns, and heritage-style windows complete the visual story. The façade uses deep greens, warm off-whites, and scalloped deep-red curtains to frame the natural light, evoking a hint of nostalgia for traditional Asian homes, but in a contemporary voice.
The lighting scheme across the space deserves its own quiet applause. Ornamental fixtures — shaped from fabric, finished with tassels, suspended delicately — maintain an elegant consistency across the restaurant. They celebrate craftsmanship while supporting the overall aesthetic without competing with it. On the flooring and walls, geometric patterns add rhythm and movement, while vintage terracotta pots bring grounding energy.
Even the greenery feels purposeful. Miniature succulents, creeping plants, small curated pots — they soften the geometry, temper the textures, and echo the Asian philosophy of inviting nature indoors.
Sumessh Menon and his team have created a space that doesn’t rely on the expected tropes of Asian décor. Instead, it distills the emotion of Asian hospitality — warmth, quietness, texture, craft — into a contemporary Mumbai expression. NomNom at Khar becomes a restaurant that not only serves Asian cuisine, but carries an Asian sensibility in how it looks, feels, and moves.
It is a space built to be experienced slowly, through its details, its light, its tactility, and the subtle elegance that runs through its design language.
Project Information
Name of Project: NomNom
Design Firm: Sumessh Menon Associates
Location: Mumbai
Typology: Restaurant
Area: 1,400 sq. ft.
Principal Architect: Sumessh Menon
Photography: Studio Profile
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