Paradox Opens in Mumbai: A New Chapter from the Creators of Masque

There’s something about Paradox that hits different the moment you walk in. Maybe it’s the smolder in the air from the open hearth. Maybe it’s the deep green leather walls, the checkered floors, or that perfect drink waiting quietly at the burlwood bar. Either way, this new venture by Aditi and Aditya Dugar—the duo behind Masque, India's top-ranked restaurant on Asia’s 50 Best 2025 list—feels like the beginning of something major.

Tucked into an old factory space in Mahalaxmi, Paradox carries with it the soul of the city. Not in the way of nostalgia, but in the sense of something confidently modern, layered, and quietly defiant. The space is imagined by Ashiesh Shah, and while it doesn’t replicate Art Deco, it nods to it—flirting with black-and-white checkered floors, glass corridors, and panels of hand-embroidered silk that evoke an Indian forest after dusk.

But make no mistake—this isn’t just a bar with pretty interiors. Behind the counter, Ankush Gamre, Masque’s head mixologist, is pushing the boundaries of what a cocktail can taste like when rules are bent. His drinks don’t shout, they smolder—subtle, complex, and unafraid to play with fire. That same bold spirit flows through the menu, thanks to head chef Varun Totlani. Each dish carries the stamp of heat and play—textures that are charred, combinations that are daring, flavors that lean in and don’t apologize.

Upstairs, the bar is the heartbeat of Paradox. It’s moody and warm, the kind of space that invites you to settle in, sip something slow, and let the evening stretch. It's not the typical Mumbai scene—there’s no thumping bassline, no flash. Just a quiet kind of sophistication that lets the drinks and conversation take center stage. A private dining tent, hidden and luxurious, draped in Chamba Rumal embroidery and Peter D’Ascoli fabrics, adds a layer of intimacy for those who seek it.

For Aditya Dugar, Paradox is more than just a new opening—it’s the realization of a dream twenty-five years in the making. “There are barely any bars in Mumbai where you can just be—catch up over great food and drinks, without shouting over the music,” he says. “This is that place.”

And he’s right. Paradox isn’t trying to be loud. It’s not trying to be trendy. It’s trying to be real. In a city that rarely slows down, it’s a rare thing to find a place that invites you to linger a little longer. But that’s the thing about paradoxes—they catch you off guard. And this one, well, it makes you want to come back.

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