Nick Jones on the design secrets of Soho House Mumbai

To me, Mumbai is one of the most exciting cities in the world. There’s such beauty in the hecticness of the city – the traffic, the auto rickshaws – and so much life to be seen and experienced within just a few paces. It’s an amazing place.

Not many of our Houses can lay claim to both beachside views and a bustling city location. In Mumbai, we converted an 11-storey townhouse on Juhu Beach, right in the heart of Bollywood and overlooking the Arabian Sea. There’s something special about opening your bedroom curtains in the morning with the sea right in front of you.

When we were preparing to open in 2018, it was important to me that Soho House Mumbai felt like an authentic addition to the area, which is one of my favourite parts of the whole of the city. I always say the House feels exactly how you might expect an Indian Soho House to feel. We’ve mixed the classic comforts that our members love and look for with a real sense of the local culture.

We looked to the city for inspiration for the House design. Around 90% of the furniture was locally sourced, either from specialist makers or vintage sellers and markets. Settle into the main club space and you’ll spot Indian antiques, block-printed fabrics from Rajasthan, teak finishes, and sari-coated lamp shades. Out on the rooftop, there are traditional Indian cement tiles – you’ll also find these in the bathrooms – and the walls are clad in reclaimed sleeper wood. 

Celebrating the local creative scene was really important to us, as it always is when we open a new House. There are around 200 pieces of art scattered throughout the building, mostly by South Asian artists such as Bharti Kher and Subodh Gupta. 

To me, the House is the perfect size: not too big, but with the rooftop, the pool, the cinema and the gym… it’s got everything. I really encourage members who haven’t been to India to visit – it’s an experience like no other. 

Explore our Houses and apply for membership at Soho House Mumbai