The open, inviting, homey vibes of City Heights Bistro radiate abundantly even from its façade of a glazed arcade that wraps around three sides of the building. Laced with freshness infusing greens planted outside the bottom of the entire length of the arcade, this façade is divided into segments by groove-like glazed setbacks, framed by glazed corner windows and coloured in a pastel hue. The entire set up effects an invocation of old-world colonial architectural charm, albeit with a contemporary translation through the structure’s transparency.

Adding elegance to this are several layers of greens in planters of varying heights that neatly line, not just the building faces, but the inner and outer faces of the compound wall as well. When, at night, the lit up interiors shine through the glass arches and low level garden lights highlight the different shades of green lacing the structure’s base, they send out a warm and tempting invitation to join the party inside. The lit up neon signboard of the restaurant comes up at the other end from the low set gate to the premises, the path passing through inwards under it embedded with paving/ drainage/ other copious details. These two ends are actually symbolic of the harmonious marriage of extremes employed in the design to create a trendy yet comfortably inclusive ambience.

A major attraction at this diner is also its ample outdoor dining space which has been dealt with by the designers with considerable simplicity and sensitivity, resulting in a neat outcome. Segregating the dining area is disposed along the entire length of the restaurant’s north facing wall from the entrance way is a free standing brick-wall. This wall sports, on a white background, a black tree shedding grey foliage with the colourful logo of City Heights Bistro on it as a welcoming signboard. On the rear of the same wall which faces the outdoor diners’ seating is a rendering of a natural scene in monochrome with two colourful wooden swings suspended from it, providing a selfie point.

While four seater tables with blue painted garden chairs are placed next to the planters abutting the building’s arched glass windows, the facing row is composed of cushioned couches at longer tables for large groups placed next to a row of raised planters whose greens reflect and complete the garden from the opposite side. Indirect lighting from strategic outlets as well as lights, music and scenes of activity streaming through the length of glazed openings from inside the restaurant render a lively yet serene outdoor dining scene complete.

The generous 5500 sq ft interior set up is entered through a centrally placed arched doorway, and continues in the same pastel hue as the exterior. It is filled with ample daylight pouring in through the glazing lined up along three of four faces. The night lighting too is of the bright white variety that creates a shadow-free, plentiful and equal ambience catering inclusively to customers of all ages and types.

Colours are introduced through the upholstery that covers the conspicuously comfortable seating which is spread out luxuriously given the massive space and again, designed for the unfettered comfort of every age-group. The hip or fun factor is injected by way of graphics in charcoal adopted from artist Mario Miranda’s works depicting urban crowds and their activities which adorn the upper wall panels above the open kitchen window, mocktail counter and other such openings facing the diner area.

The high ceiling is styled as an open plenum in dark grey which contributes industrial vibes to further contemporise the setting without disturbing the leisurely mood of the floor. The lining up of twin rows of tables across the length of the space serves to highlight its expanse and the planters that divide the two rows afford a screen of privacy between them while infusing the interiors as well with greens.

Vipin Bakiwala Design Studio has handled the design for City Heights Bistro with considerable sensitivity towards stylisation as well as aligning the content with a wide customer range. Whether it is pep, vibrancy, energy, comfort, convenience, old world charm, leisure, new age verve, here-and-now, hot-n-happening, spaciousness, greenery, or any other ingredient – there is something in there for every age, mind-set and life-style, consequentially attracting a wide customer base. And their talent is best showcased by the subtle, restrained way in which all these elements sync up into a harmonious whole – even the recurrence of little graphics on a desk’s credenza or the washroom doors, and other such apparently insignificant details that contribute in tying the scheme together in a perfect fit!

Congratulations, VBDS, and encore! We do wish to see many, many more design delights being churned out from this Jaipur studio.