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The Hearth and the Cellar: Spaces of gathering, warmth, and old-world indulgence
Project Name: Luna Et Sol
Area: 3,400 sq ft
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Design Firm: Jade Design Studio
Principal Designer/s: Vaishali Singh and Anshul Razdan.
Photographer: Janvi Thakkar
Instagram: https://www.
In a city defined by movement and momentum, Luna Et Sol appears like a pause between breaths. Located in the heart of Mumbai, Luna Et Sol offers an immersive escape, an alpine chalet imagined far from the mountains it evokes. Amid the city’s constant rush, the interiors transport guests into a world defined by refuge, recollection, and enduring quiet.
The design draws from an imaginary gothic mountain chalet, where architecture and atmosphere work together to create a sense of discovery. Tall gothic windows frame expansive mountain scapes, while shifting, star-lit skies form a dreamlike backdrop. A pitched, vaulted roof rises overhead, punctuated by generous artificial sunroof cut-outs that introduce changing daylight into the space. As the day transitions into night, embodying the name “Luna Et Sol” (translated as “The Moon and The Sun”), the custom overhead screen simulates the sky, and the interiors respond naturally, allowing the dining experience to reflect the passage of time.
The entry facade imbues a gothic vibe with mahogany panelling and classical design, yet what lies inside remains unsuspected. Conceived as a haven that feels discovered rather than constructed, the chalet unfolds like a hidden retreat found along winding mountain paths. Double-height ceilings lend a sense of grandeur, accentuated by wrought-iron chandeliers and suspended candle lights. Their gentle glow fills the volume, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and palatial. Lighting remains deliberately restrained and layered, wall sconces, candles, and table lamps softly illuminate surfaces, allowing textures, shadows, and dextrous details to take precedence. The result is a space that instills a slower pace, drawing guests away from the rush of the city.
The interiors are rich in detail and narrative. Pilastered columns, heavy cornices, and brick- and stone-clad walls introduce depth and texture. Sculptural tree branches emerge from the walls, holding suspended candles, while creeping plants subtly weave through the space, lending a quiet sense of whimsy. Classic upholstered chairs reinforce the chalet’s timeless character. A palette of limestone, deep-toned wood, dark browns, warm beiges, and burgundy wraps the space in warmth and quiet mystery.
A central fireplace anchors the interior, wrapped in elaborate stone carving and crowned by a striking reindeer sculpture. The flames cast a deep burgundy glow, enhancing the space’s atmospheric quality. A semi-elliptical bar, panelled in the same gothic language as the surrounding, offers clear views of the curated drinks display, reminiscent of an old-world cellar. Vintage photo frames, antique mirrors, oil paintings, large hardbound books, and layered décor line the walls, gently blurring the boundary between reality and imagination.
More than a restaurant, Luna Et Sol exists as a deliberate pause within the city. By momentarily transporting guests away from the rush of urban life, it reveals the quiet necessity of retreat, how distance allows the everyday to be re-seen and re-valued. In this space of stillness, the magic lies not in escape alone, but in how such moments renew perspective and bring wonder back to the familiar.
More than a restaurant, Luna Et Sol exists as a deliberate pause within the city. By momentarily transporting guests away from the rush of urban life, it reveals the quiet necessity of retreat, how distance allows the everyday to be re-seen and re-valued. In this space of stillness, the magic lies not in escape alone, but in how such moments renew perspective and bring wonder back to the familiar.
