
Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor Restaurant
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Scope of services: Interior Design and Decoration
Date: October 2018
Client: ESNA Food Company
Modern fine dining restaurants are much more than starched white tablecloths and formal service; it’s about aspirational food served with gracious service, ultimately elevating the dining experience to almost ecstatic levels without being pompous or showy. Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor restaurant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, provides an exquisite dining experience steeped in the rich culture and traditions that define India. Serving innovative Indian cuisine, world-renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor, aims to enthrall diners with his signature dishes served in an unforgettably luxurious atmosphere.




This VIP fine dining restaurant is deeply symbolic in its design inspiration, derived from India’s national bird, the peacock. Symbolizing integrity and inherent beauty, the rich, vibrant colors of the peacock uplift the interior design by adding a sense of glamor and elegance. The teal color, found in peacock feathers, is generously used as a bold accent color throughout the restaurant. Representing harmony, the teal is paired with gold for luxury; together these colors invoke a sense of paradise, immersing patrons in the ultimate dining experience.
The feeling of grandeur is further enhanced by the unique use of metal mesh curtains suspended from the double-height ceiling. Expanding the vertical perspective, these artful metal curtains reflect light and form organic shapes that hover gracefully above the curved table seating. White Calcutta marble, used for the flooring is luxurious, particularly when paired with the gold accents.


The ground floor also houses a long, elegant dining table for large groups of people. Separated from the curved lounge seating by a decorative partition, this area is more intimate, with a lower ceiling and wall enclosure. The wall is decorated with an aged floral wallpaper, giving it a timeless look. Thin, gold-framed dining chairs upholstered with a chic, stylish auburn fabric, complement the emerald green and gold place settings; a tribute to the fine attention to detail that defines luxury fine dining. Contributing to the ‘wow factor’ of this intimate dining space is a tiered metal mesh chandelier with delicate tubular staggered lights that illuminate the exquisite place settings.



Sleek and elegant, the entrance from the exterior garden seating into the restaurant is a simple, full length glass-paneled door that gives patrons a glimpse into the luxurious interiors of the Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor restaurant. Polished Pietra Gray marble flooring combined with decorative gray plaster walls with a brass inlay hint at the glamorous dining experience that awaits patrons. A waiting area with a plush, teal-upholstered couch invites customers to wait to be seated. The elegant entrance and waiting area are subtly designed to build up anticipation of the culinary delights that await the customer.


The family seating area carries through the peacock-inspired, vibrant color scheme that is the inspiration for the interior color palette. Designed with an eclectic mix of vintage and modern, this luxury fine dining space is warm, inviting and stunning in appearance. The aged floral wallpaper forms the backdrop for round sofa seating. An oversized, circular copper wall feature forms the focal point of the space, co-existing with the delicate modern, hanging light fixtures. Fluted gypsum plastered columns invoke the feeling of being in the old palaces of India. The entire vibe of this dining space is designed to take the customer on a culinary journey that integrates the best of traditional Indian cuisine with modern signature dishes that can best be described as ‘art on a plate’.



The mezzanine family seating is equally decadent with large spiral lighting fixtures that follow the same organic lines of the metal mesh curtains on the ground level. These are supplemented by ultra-modern, sleek, gold-plated suspended pendant lamps that contribute to an attractive dining ambience. Soft, upholstered booth style seating offers privacy from neighboring tables. The color palette here is more muted, opting for olive green upholstery for the sofas paired with feminine champagne colored upholstery on the chairs.


Pietra grey marble steps are offset by white, fluted gypsum plastered walls in the posh stairway that leads to the mezzanine level. Illuminated by a custom designed pendant ceiling fixture, which creates interesting shadow patterns on the fluted walls, the staircase is designed with the elegance and style that is evident throughout the restaurant.




In a high-end restaurant such as this one, the expected level of detail and attention to accessories and finishes is evident even in service areas such as the bathrooms. Seamless white cement floors and marble-clad walls contrast with the dark, patterned partition walls for the bathroom stalls. The fixtures are sleek and modern with rectangular wash basins mounted on matte gold pedestals. Gold-edged mirrors reflect the finishes, while decorative tubular light fixtures testify to the keen attention given to the minutest detail.




The outdoor seating area is part of a luxury strip mall, so the design intent is to draw visitors into the restaurant through an inviting, vibrant outdoor space. Set amidst an abundance of lush, green plants, the outdoor seating area is designed to look like a floating platform, surrounded on three sides by a shallow pool of water. A light roof structure protects diners from the heat, while the white perforated panels give the structure a feeling of lightness. Resort-style lighting, with pedestal mounted antique lamps, create soft, ambient light that is attractive and inviting to potential customers. Low-lying sculptural plants are lit with concealed lights to highlight their foliage and structure. The glowing lights, gentle sound of water and lush greenery all make the outdoor seating space feel like a floating oasis.
This VIP fine dining restaurant is ingeniously and intuitively designed to ensure a memorable dining experience for customers in a palatial style atmosphere. All the elements of this luxury fine dining restaurant, from the signature dishes and beverages served with gracious hospitality, to the fascinating interior décor, transport the customer back to the era of the maharajas of India who lived an abundant and luxurious life. In the Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor restaurant, customers experience visual as well as culinary delight, making them feel like royalty!