Indian restaurant BADMAASH has debuted a new 2,000-square-foot location against the coastal backdrop of Venice, California.
Led by brothers Arjun and Nakul Mahendro, the 13-year-old brand collaborated with architecture and design firm Preen, Inc. to craft a space where Indian heritage intersects with the earthy luxury and skate culture of Venice.
Textural storytelling in the main dining room
Upon entering the bungalow-like building, guests are greeted by a striking mottled charcoal-and-rust concrete piece that functions as both a servers’ station and a greeting table. This tactile introduction leads into the main dining room, defined by blackened walls and intimate enclaves of dyed textiles. Here, the material palette is a dialogue between cultures, where uplit sheets of brass and mesh form custom artisan lights that illuminate tables detailed with marble and bone inlay, and a jali-backed banquette pays subtle homage to the Mahendros’ roots.
A long-lined denim dining sofa evokes relaxed Californian ease, while distressed leather contrasts with hand-painted curtains, sheltering the dining experience within an intimate atmosphere.
“Hospitality has moved beyond the plate to encompass the totality of experience, joining space, food, culture, and art together to generate emotion and connection at a deeply human level,” says Alexis Readinger, founder of Preen, Inc. “Spiced by the bold BADMAASH brand and intoxicating layers of brutalism, color, and texture, the space celebrates the artists whose raw work holds the soul of Los Angeles.”
Cinematic opulence at the bar
Transitioning from the soot and charcoal tones of the dining area, the bar emerges as a golden-toned vision rooted in the seductive interplay of opulence and patina. Inspired by the glowing chest of gold in “Pulp Fiction,” the space radiates through gold and ivory plaster crafted by artisan Guerin Swing, paired with ultra-warm lighting devised by John Barlow.
Minimalist brass shelving holds chunky candelabras that drip wax down the walls, serving as a visceral reminder of fleeting moments. The visual warmth culminates at the bar top, rendered in the fiery vermilion marble that has become a BADMAASH signature.
A seductive VIP grotto at BADMAASH
This signature vermilion extends into the restaurant’s secluded back room, conceived for VIP and private gatherings. The grotto-like space drips in rich, melting hues and a decadent aesthetic referencing Mafioso lore. Red-rust leather completely cloaks the serpentine sofas and tables. Grounding this vibrant intensity is a stark black-and-white art piece by genre-bending music artist Tommy Genesis.
“BADMAASH is our love letter to Venice, to the Mahendro family, and to Los Angeles, written in the unique materiality and craftsmanship that define all three,” adds Readinger. “This is the next chapter of hospitality—building concepts that reflect how people gather.”
