Rika
Rika elevates conventional dining through a theatrical immersive experience where culinary heritage meets contemporary performance.
Client: Park Hyatt | Area (Built up): xx sq ft | Status: Completed in 20xx | Team: xyz | Photographer: Gokull Rao Kadam | Collaborations: Murals - Sachin Samson
Rooted in the fiery allure of its namesake spice ‘Paprika’, Rika presents Asian dining experience through the lens of chillies. The intent was to compose a theatrical culinary journey transcending conventional hotel dining experiences. Conceived as a space bringing together the exclusivity of luxury hotels with the energy of street dining, the space crafts an atmosphere that is bold, sensorial and deliberately dramatic.
Rika elevates conventional dining through a theatrical immersive experience where culinary heritage meets contemporary performance.
The spatial journey unfolds across a linear framework. At its heart lies the teppanyaki counter, much like a stage where culinary artistry becomes performance, positioning guests as both audience and participant. This central placement creates natural circulation patterns that draw movement through the space. Adjacent displays of chilies sourced from around the world serve as both functional storage and edible archives reinforcing the restaurant’s conceptual identity.
The material palette speaks in dualities, sophisticated brass and marble add gravitas, while youthful furniture selections and dreamlike lighting introduce playful energy. A key anchor of the space, the front bar emerges as a composition of layered brass panels in conversation with fluted wood. Behind, the back bar reveals a meticulously arranged liquor library. Bottles become luminous sculptures, lit from below against stepped displays, enclosed by a shimmering veil of metal mesh and brass pipes.
Youthful furniture silhouettes and moody lighting soften the luxurious material palette. Two striking murals anchor the space as portals into an aquatic dreamscape, with interpretations of East Asian iconography like koi fish, warriors and flamingos. These commissioned works, born from traditional sketching and digital precision, draw the gaze while providing intimate backdrops for dining experiences.
The connection to craft reflects in the extensive collection of cane and bamboo artifacts from Northeast Indian artisans. These elements, arranged as both functional storage and cultural homage, root the contemporary experience in traditional making practices. Thriving through the weekdays and transforming into a buzzing weekend destination, Rika is dynamic hub embodying the duality of spectacle and subtlety
