Behind a discrete anonymous façade on East 45th Street in Manhattan lies Veerays, an upscale Indian restaurant and cocktail bar inspired by the mysterious speakeasies of the U.S. Prohibition Era mixed with delectable fares and Bollywood beats. Designed by Anne Carcelen and Vinciane Albrecht of OulipO architecture studio, with lighting and craftsmanship by Baptiste Foulquier of Maison Paul Bonnotte, the venue vibrates with timeless elegance and the rebellious spirit of this era.
Guests enter through a secretive alleyway that leads to an out-of-time anteroom before meeting the restaurant’s dimly lit dining area that oozes sensuality and clandestine charm. Building off the existing structure and its unique constraints, this sequencing of rooms helps progressively transport guests back in time to the 1920s.
“When Michelin-starred Indian chef Hemant Mathur and restaurateur Sonny Solomon showed us the place they had selected, we naturally first looked for the constraints,” Albrecht says. “Three stood out: an unremarkable blank facade opening on a strange-stepped corridor leading to a 7.5-foot-low ceiling room. Within an instant, we knew which concept we would embrace: the romantic mystery of a speakeasy.”
This speakeasy ambience is amplified by the custom-made pieces for the space, from the detailed leather sigils on the greeting podium to the individual lamps designed by Maison Paul Bonnotte to the swanky velvet banquettes and black-and-white marble panels. Even the blend of materials, which includes brass, leather, and red velvet to name a few, enhances the sultry mood of the space.
“The classic craftsmanship is celebrated in every piece that we designed and fabricated for this very space,” Foulquier says. “We distilled the essence of Art Deco through a contemporary lens to create lamps that embody both beauty and uniqueness.”
Adding to the success of Veerays is the longtime partnership OulipO has with Maison Paul Bonnotte. In fact, Albrecht and Foulquier share an even stronger connection—they are siblings—making their design process intertwined. In this case, “Baptiste [was] involved in the project as early as the schematic design phase,” Albrecht says.
The design of Veerays is complimented by chef Mathur’s delicious dishes (including Camel seekh kebab and Avni’s Prohibition bhaji) and revived Prohibition-era cocktails (including the Bugsy Siegel and Machine Gun Kelly). So, make your way to this classy restaurant and ask for the Cocoon in the back. We promise you won’t regret it.
Dive Into Veerays Restaurant + Cocktail Bar
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