-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org)
Fielia, Mumbai’s newest invite-only destination, has officially opened its doors at the iconic Mahalaxmi Race Course. Conceptualized as India’s first “Cocktail Cinema,” this aperitivo-forward bar blends high-concept storytelling with heritage architecture. Designed by Gauri Khan and envisioned by restaurateurs Afsana Verma, Amit Verma, and Dhaval Udeshi, Fielia transforms a century-old mill into a theatrical space where every drink is a performance.
The “Cocktail Cinema” Concept & Design
Fielia is designed to mirror the drama of a vintage theater, using the architectural bones of the racecourse to create an immersive experience.
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Architectural Theatre: The space features a dramatic double-height ceiling and the original triangular roofline of the racecourse mill.
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The Set: “Dress-circle” seating on the ground floor leads via wrought-iron staircases to mezzanine balconies that act as private theater boxes.
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The Stage: The central bar serves as “the screen” and the stage, where bartenders perform through crafted personas.
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Aura: Intimate and moody, the design focuses on “revelation,” using curves, textures, and ambient lighting to soften the raw industrial structure.
Culinary & Cocktail Narrative
The offerings at Fielia follow a structured storytelling format rather than a traditional menu.
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“Sin & Scandal”: The debut cocktail narrative, led by Fay Barretto, uses props, illusion, and sensory storytelling to recreate infamous historical scandals and whispered affairs.
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The Seven Sins Menu: Curated by Hitesh Shanbhag (a CIA graduate), the kitchen interprets the seven sins through an aperitivo-style sharing menu.
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Signature Dishes: Highlights include Sage Chèvre Gnocchi, Peruvian Chicken, Gin Ginger Shrimp, and a decadent Burnt Basque with cacao.
Gauri Khan, Designer: “Fielia was designed as a space that reveals itself slowly. I wanted it to feel cinematic yet intimate—where scale exists, but emotion leads. The architecture holds a quiet drama… allowing the bar to become the heart of the space.”
Afsana Verma, Co-owner: “The Race Course has a certain romance to it—a history, an aura, a sense of old Bombay. Fielia isn’t about crowds; it’s about mood, conversation, and the thrill of a night that feels slightly hidden.”
