Mumbai Gets its First Basque Culture Inspired Rooftop Lounge

Zerua — which means "sky" in Basque—is the latest tasteful and elevated addition to Mumbai's rooftop scene, offering stellar views of the sky, a lively atmosphere, and a selection of signature meals and crafty cocktails to boot.

This sky-high rooftop lounge by restaurateur Gaurav Choksey is located in the heart of town and perched high above the traffic-infested streets, provides vertical respite from the sweltering chaos below.

Exquisite and sustainable design conceptualised by Mumbai's well-known Architect—Ashish Kambli—the 14,500 sq ft space is inspired by the Spanish-French ‘baserri’ design. The eclectic lighting, subtle furnishings and traditional materials like timber and stone, juxtaposed with lush tropical greenery and potted plants, set the image of a basque flora in the mind that shifts gently from the rough coastal landscape to the semi-desert regions. Segregated into various intimate seating zones and a large courtyard for bigger groups, each area lends a varied experience and could be enjoyed at various times of the day or dusk. A series of air-conditioned glass cabanas with their quirky geometric handcrafted floor has colours inspired by Basque painter and sculptor Augustin Ibarrola. These allow for lazy afternoon lunches under the sky in all seasons. The gabion wall-inspired long bar carries a rustic visual, at twilight, the backlit bar back comes to life with the setting sun, lending the sky a plethora of colours.

The restaurant has crafted signature barrel aged and zero waste cocktails curated by the in-house mixologist Atul Munde and a scrumptious bite to eat from the menu curated by stellar Chef Rakesh Talwar.

On weekends, the place is packed with live DJ sessions, local bands and a great ambience.