Tucked away in New Delhi’s bustling Khan Market, Cicchetti Italiano emerges as a thoughtful exploration of space envisioned by locally based firm That Design Studio.
The vegetarian Italian restaurant was envisioned with a clear foundational intent: chef Parth Gupta’s food is the hero. Rather than competing with the menu, the design gently frames the dining experience, relying on soft illumination, grounded finishes, and textures.
Tactile materials and soulful art
The restaurant’s bar anchors the ground floor, capturing the poetry of classic Italian design. The material palette is an elegant study in contrasts, where deep green marble meets warm oak paneling. Brass accents and amber lighting cast a golden evening glow across the room, bringing together velvet, stone, and wood. Hand-painted lemons scattered throughout the sophisticated bar area inject a note of playful irreverence as well.
Carefully curated art pieces breathe life into the space, where rich oil paintings of peaches and pears are joined by an Italian bust sculpture and a portrait of a poised cat watching the dining room with elegant indifference.
Cicchetti’s intimate upper level and balcony
The spatial journey continues upward via a sky-lit staircase. As guests ascend, the lighting softens and the overall pace of the environment slows. The upper floor maintains the established material palette of the lower level—warm lime plaster, oak, brass, and textured upholstery—while offering a more intimate dining experience. Light grazes the textured surfaces, and the interior opens out onto a peaceful balcony.
