You may have seen it on Instagram or in a design magazine but do you know anything about it? In case you don’t, yet, here’s what it is and why I think you should visit Bar Palladio in Jaipur, India.
What is Bar Palladio?
Bar Palladio is, as the name suggests, a bar. It is a stunning jewel box of a hangout in Jaipur. Created by Italian expat Barbara Miolini, it’s so well known now that it’s rare to see a list of must visits for this city in India’s state of Rajasthan that doesn’t include Bar Palladio or its daytime sister nearby, Caffé Palladio.
I recently visited, during my free time, as part of a tour of India with Taj Hotels.
Why Should I visit Bar Palladio?
Usually I’m more about the unknown when I’m exploring a new place. So I get why you might be asking yourself, “why should I visit something that’s so well known?”
Well I’m also a sucker for good design having grown up the daughter of a painter, interior designer and architect. So if a space has the ability to inspire me visually, I want to see it! Is that how you feel as well? Then that’s why Bar Palladio is probably for you!
The interiors lived up to the hype for me even though I’d seen them previewed online over and over. In terms of interior design inspiration, Bar Palladio provides that in spades.
A little bit more about the space from its creator:
But what inspired Miolini to open these businesses and their accompanying home goods store? I turned to an article on Shop Latitude for answers in which Miolini is quoted “…born from a love of travel, from a desire to seek beauty.” She’d been living outside of Venice in Asolo before moving to India just over a decade ago and it was her memories of that area and her desire to have something of Italy with her in India that caused her to want to bring her past into her adopted home. She says, “Jaipur is a city whose creative identity has been tied to block print for hundreds of years. […it] contains the touch of the hand, the weight of tradition […]. These are two countries [Italy and India] that believe more is always better, that worship color and sensuality […] where luxury is an actual way of living.”
All that and more is clear when you walk in. And I love that Miolini’s designs echo not just her home and adopted country but others as well. Elements of the design at Caffé Palladio and Bar Palladio seem to be drawn from all over the globe. They could be, as she says in the interview, “a Ramanov tearoom, an Ottoman tent.”
Plan to Shop
Bar Palladio, pictured above, also has a boutique selling items you can see and use in the Bar. There are also items curated for their beauty or use at home, making them perfect souvenirs or presents.
Come prepared to shop! That will enrich your experience and allow you to extend your memories back home.
Where is Bar Palladio?
Bar Palladio is in the grounds of the Palace Niwas Hotel on Narain Singh Road in Jaipur, India 302004. We found it easy to locate by using Uber! You could also hire a rickshaw driver to take you there.
Call +91 141 256 5556 or +91 963 6914000 or email [email protected] if you need to inquire for more information. Their website can be found at https://www.bar-palladio.com/ Typical hours are from 4 pm to midnight, local. Please double check current times before visiting.
Do you need a reservation for Bar Palladio?
It can’t hurt. So why not try to make one whether you need it or not.
We didn’t make a reservation and we were fine but we were there earlier in the day, right when it opened.
As a Bar, are the drinks good?
I didn’t personally find the drinks worth the price. As a longtime world traveler, former resident of New York and current resident of Los Angeles: I’ve had better cocktails! However, I also wasn’t personally going to have the best drinks I’ve ever had. My purpose in visiting was to partake in enjoying the design of Bar Palladio.
Were the drinks fine? Yes. They weren’t bad.
Does the bar have food?
Yes, it’s Italian food with imported ingredients from Italy. Again, I didn’t find it to be phenomenal. However, it wasn’t bad.
I share that as someone who has an Italian-American cook for a partner though and would rather eat Italian food in Italy and Indian food in India. So take my opinion with the grain of salt in which it is intended.
Consider Caffé Palladio as well
Caffé Palladio is the sister of Bar Palladio. Its warmer-toned, more Floridian sister if this was a hot spot in the USA. This would fit in a chic corner of Palm Beach right alongside some of the boutiques of Worth Avenue.
The caffé is close enough to the Bar that I think you can do both in one day that already includes other activities. Obviously visit the Caffé first as the Bar doesn’t open until evening.
More about the Caffé from from their website:
“A saffron hued pavilion positioned upon terrace of pistachio marble; doors open wide to the afternoon breeze; a vaulted salon, mirrored walls enlivened with painted scenes – verdant gardens, orange blossoms, birds in flight: here within this rosy daydream stands Caffé Palladio Jaipur, where West meets East. Inspired by Sicily and her cuisine, an island with a history spanning both Italian and Arab cultures, Caffé Palladio Jaipur recreates the exotic loveliness of Visconti’s masterpiece “Il Gattopardo”, a world of sun-drenched palazzi & perfumed gardens.“
Can you take photos at Bar Palladio and Caffé Palladio?
The simple answer is: yes! We didn’t get permission but nor did anyone ever question or stop us. We took photos at both locations for the purposes of social media use only.
I would recommend making an official inquiry if you plan to shoot for any other reason such as a book or for commercial use.
Alice Gao and I visited both Palladio locations together and watching her create this image was a thrill.
My Leatherology bag makes an appearance in the back! And in my version of that moment below.
The ultimate beauty of Caffé Palladio and Bar Palladio is that they are not places you go just to eat or drink. They are places you go to be inspired!
So, will you visit?
