Gin & Ginger reopens with a renewed spatial identity, designed by Pooja Gupta. The space celebrates familiarity through warmth, texture, and memory.
Gin & Ginger, a familiar name in Kanpur’s culinary culture, finds a renewed spatial identity that gently echoes the nostalgia and familiarity of spaces that have been shaped by our earliest memories of dining out. At the heart of this transformation is Pooja Gupta, Founder and Principal Designer, I Design Studio. The restaurant is defined by the soft symphony of the santoor wafting through the air and classic details, drawing from the city’s heritage.
The design balances its old identity with the new one. Elements such as the tiled flooring and exposed ceiling have been thoughtfully retained to establish a sense of continuity, while a warm terracotta tone–referencing Kanpur’s famed heritage: Lal Imli Mill–now envelopes the ceiling, lending the space a sense of warmth and quiet invitation. “We chose a hue that complemented the lush greenery outside while also anchoring the interiors in a grounded palette. It allowed the space to feel renewed without losing its character,” shares Pooja.
One enters the restaurant through a lobby area. Opposite, an arched partition comes into view, lightly screening the bar while still allowing for connectivity. Towards the right, the indoor seating area extends into a linear, cohesive volume with a mix of seating styles. Devoid of partitions, the space feels open, connected, and inherently communal. On the other side of the bar, the terrace unfolds as an outdoor seating area. With expansive views of the city and landscape, this space offers a breezy, laid-back setting for open-air dining.
The bar table is a quiet assemblage of textures and details. Its green tiles and hand-carved walnut wood panels add character to the space. Brass-lined storage sits neatly behind the counter, while the antique cast iron chandeliers atop cast a soft, intimate glow, bringing focus to the bar’s material depth.
Entry to the indoor seating area is framed by a pair of ornate wooden columns. The terracotta ceiling from the entrance continues here, lending the space a sense of cohesion. Below, stone tabletops are paired with earthytoned fabrics in a mix of textures and printed patterns that add vibrance without being overwhelming. Daylight filters in gently through the windows lining one edge, inviting light, breeze, and glimpses of the city outside. Monochromatic photographs of Kanpur’s cultural and historical landmarks dot the walls, anchoring the space in the city’s texture and time.
The terrace offers a quieter shift from the more traditionally detailed interiors. Black pergola, stone-top tables, minimal chairs and hanging plants soften the mood, as the day eases into evenings. It invites leisurely meals and unhurried conversations with the views of the city.
Gin & Ginger by I Design Studio stands out for the way it rekindles emotional familiarity with places, moments, and moods that once defined how we dined and gathered. Framed views through arched partitions, the glow of antique chandeliers, quiet material compositions, and live Indian music come together to shape an atmosphere that feels both reflective and contemporary. Here, evening begins with a dining experience, and gradually deepens into something more immersive: an intentional layering of taste, sound, texture and sentiment.
