This uptown cafe channels a French bistro vibe in the heart of Bharuch

Pink flamingos, baroque mirrors and herringbone flooring–infallible hallmarks that could, very easily, have you mistaking this tucked-away Bharuch cafe for a parabolic French bistro. “The clients had been planning their foray into the food business for a while and knew exactly what they wanted in terms of look and feel. The brief for Restro Qualia was straightforward–to create a space inspired by uptown cafe culture; something fresh, à la mode and young,” says Devang Patel, one half of Bharuch-based interior design firm P&D Associates.

French Connection

"With a modern design approach, we transformed this 1,015-square-feet interior space into an engaging visual feast with a European identity," shares Pratik Siddhpura, co-founder and other half of P&D Associates. The springboard for Patel and Siddhpura was the mortar-washed brick backdrop that became the underlying canvas for the cafe.

Perfect Finishes

A herringbone leitmotif, matte and muted, is laid bare across the floor. "It turned out fabulously well," says Patel, "with polyblend sanded grout in true white counterbalancing the brick palette and helping the colour pop."

Foreign Flavour, Local Soul

The café features circular corners, curvilinear edges, glinting chandeliers and an entrance decorated with wrought iron. A hand-painted wall, adorned with a vintage wall mirror, acts as an ornamental overlay to the exposed brickwork. "While giving the cafe a foreign feel, we strove to keep its soul local. The hand-painted wall piece, for instance, is by a local artist," explains Siddhpura.

Lay of the Land

The iconic bars of yesteryear Parisian bistros find modern expression at Restro Qualia. The interior footprint spans 1,015-square-feet, with an on-site café, a mocktail bar and dining space for almost 50 people defining the lay of the land. "Inspired by the ornate cafés of Paris, the design blends authentic bistro style with rustic finishes. Natural tones, intricate detailing and modern bespoke furnishings take pride of place in the decor scheme. The design accommodates maximum seating without appearing cramped or overbearing. Creating the right layout was a fun exercise for us," says Patel.