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Pompa Restaurant by Shabnam Gupta: A Mexican Tapestry Reimagined in Bandra
- Style Essentials Edit Team
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Pompa doesn’t arrive quietly on Linking Road; it meets the eye with an unexpected warmth, the kind that grows out of colour, craft, and a bit of mischief. The restaurant, shaped by Shabnam Gupta across 4,000 sq ft, leans into Mexican aesthetics without falling into caricature. Instead, it moves like a story told in textures — terracotta underfoot, sage green wrapped around walls, jewel tones appearing almost like punctuation marks. The place holds the spirit of a villa, but it’s been interpreted through a contemporary lens, softened and sharpened in equal measure.
Even before stepping inside, the staircase sets the tone. Spice-red vertical slats rise theatrically beside printed tiles, the whole area gently washed in a glow from red pendulum lights. What follows is a door that pauses you for a moment — wrought iron curves weaving into rattan, an old-world gesture that feels unexpectedly right in bustling Bandra.
Inside the foyer, colour reorganises itself. Emerald green patterned flooring, Pompa’s glowing signage, white and sage walls, and a stained-glass window that seems to hum with its own rhythm. Off to one side sits a tamarind-shaped wicker bench — sculptural, witty, impossible to ignore — already becoming a favourite photo spot for guests who love objects with personality.
The reception stays rooted in storytelling. A terrain of mountains and cacti unfolds in stained glass, while tall potted cacti in deep blue ceramics echo that landscape. Nearby, masks crowned with flowers nod gently to older cultural traditions, not loudly, just enough to mark their presence. A hostess desk dressed with tassels completes the entrance narrative with a hint of bohemian ease.
Pompa’s washrooms aren’t an afterthought either. Red tiles, patterned accents, a concave red vanity wall, and a floor-length slanted mirror together create a small moment of drama — punchy, humorous, and unapologetically bold.
The main dining floor stretches into layers of pattern, fabric, and light. Printed sofas line one side, with Mexican serapes — those deeply storied blankets — hung above them like visual anchors. Across the room, high-top seating wrapped in bold textiles adds its own rhythm, while light filters softly through gauzy curtains that drape across coloured window frames. Nothing here tries to match perfectly; the charm comes from how naturally everything sits together.
Then comes the bar — unmistakably the centrepiece. A circular tree-like structure glows from within, clad in red tiles that make the counter look almost molten. Brass footrests ring the edge, while stub lights scatter a warm glimmer across its curves. The surrounding seating sits on an elevated emerald platform, almost like a small stage holding the room together. Rustic urns, old green bottles, and heritage windows painted in strong tones complete the sense of a place threaded with memory.
Overhead, lights crafted from fabric and trimmed with tassels sway gently, while geometric mouldings and patterned floors create an underlying rhythm. Greenery — succulents, creepers, terracotta pots — softens the saturated palette, grounding the space with moments of stillness. The balance between craft and contemporary design is steady and deliberate, never losing sight of the emotional cadence of Mexican architecture.
Shabnam Gupta describes Pompa as a restaurant meant to transport its guests — not literally to Mexico, but to the feeling of its cultural warmth. “Pompa is envisioned as a vibrant, visually immersive restaurant that not only pays homage to traditional Mexican aesthetics but also embraces modern design elements,” she says. The space reflects that intention fully. It celebrates craft, colour, tradition, and reinterpretation all at once, creating an atmosphere that feels celebratory without being overwhelming.
Pompa is not a set piece; it’s a conversation between eras, colours, temperaments, and memories. And in the middle of Mumbai’s restless pace, it feels like a small, spirited world built for pleasure, comfort, and delight.
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