Pincode by Kunal Kapur at 1 MG Mall, Bengaluru, is designed as a visual time capsule. The decor leans heavily into a colonial-regal aesthetic, blending the warmth of a vintage Indian home with the structured elegance of an old-world gentleman’s club. Here is a detailed breakdown of the interiors. Also read | Step inside Malaika Arora’s new restaurant in Mumbai’s Khar: Beautiful tropical sanctuary with a 140-year-old mango tree
The ‘bygone era’ gallery
On April 9, In Your District Bengaluru dropped an inside video featuring chef Kunal Kapur’s newest restaurant in Bengaluru. Chef Kunal said in the video, “This restaurant, it’s pure passion, it’s a labour of love, it is an obsession. Essentially, what you see on the walls is a bygone era, which is beautifully depicted through these frames… we’ve tasted success with Pincode in Goa, Pincode in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and we’re really looking forward to people appreciating us in Bengaluru.”
As chef Kunal noted in the video, the walls are the centrepiece of the restaurant’s storytelling. Dark wood-panelled walls are covered in a dense, salon-style gallery wall. The frames feature a mix of sepia-toned photographs, vintage illustrations of Indian monuments, and portraits of individuals in traditional attire, evoking a sense of historical nostalgia. One prominent, floor-to-ceiling framed portrait depicts a figure in traditional Indian royal dress, highlighting the regal theme.
The textures: Striped tent ceiling to mixed upholstery
The space uses a maximalist approach to fabric, mixing patterns that shouldn’t work together but do — a hallmark of eclectic Indian heritage decor. In one section, the ceiling is draped in heavy black-and-white striped fabric, mimicking the canopy of a luxurious campaign tent or a colonial veranda.
Seating ranges from plush velvet sofas in deep plum and sage green to chairs with patterns and animal motifs on the cushions. The flooring is a classic light-wood parquet in a geometric chevron or hexagonal pattern. The ceilings in the main dining area feature intricate beaded white mouldings and mirrored inserts that reflect the ambient light.
The lighting is a star in itself
The lighting is designed to feel intimate rather than commercial. Large, fringed fabric lampshades sit on side tables and booths, providing a soft, warm glow that mimics a 1920s living room. Grand, multi-tiered chandeliers with petal or leaf glass elements hang over larger round tables, adding a touch of formal opulence. Large-leafed tropical plants (like bird of paradise) are placed in oversized ceramic pots, softening the dark wood and bringing a bungalow garden feel indoors.
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