30-Second takeaway: See and be seen with the swish set. Drink Dom Perignon and single malts. Be ready to pay prices that soar with the location – the 40th floor of the St Regis, Mumbai.
Concept: The name means ‘haven’ in Spanish and Asilo sets out to be a sanctuary in the midst of the urban bustle, creating a relaxed, but super elegant feel with its location, décor and luxury menu. This lounge bar whispers ‘exclusive’ and ‘expensive’ at every turn. It’s somewhere for those who like the very best things in life to sip on sundowners or swing to the music. For others it’s a special occasion outing when they want to splurge and live it up. Having been shut down for several months after the authorities cracked down on rooftop venues, Asilo is back with a new buzz.
Location & Setting: Plush, swank, luxe – Asilo is all this and more, spreading across the top floor of the St Regis, Mumbai, rising above the hipster quarter that Lower Parel has become. The views from the vantage point are one of the biggest draws of the place and will certainly cause a gasp of awe when you walk in for the first time. The mostly white décor and warm wooden flooring follow a Mediterranean style. The outdoor seating under canopies includes private dining lounges where you can kick back and get comfortable lounging on bling-specked cushions. Up here, it’s easy to forget there is a chaotic, overcrowded, struggling city below.
Food: Asilo’s menu has been tweaked since it reopened. Its young and enthusiastic chef puts out delicious platters of tapas, to begin with. The vegetarian selection includes such delights as potato wedges gussied up with a drizzle of truffle oil and decadent crumbed squares of manchego and porcini. There are Nigerian-style sliders, spicy satay and prawns that are both creamy and crusted. Asilo lives up to its Spanish inspirations and serves up a superlative seafood paella with chorizo.
Drink: It’s all champagne, single malts and premium spirits here. The bar also shakes up an array of cocktails, making Asilo a preferred spot for classy sundowners. Many tables order spirits by the bottle.
Service: The wait staff is smart and snappy and delivers the sort of service you’d expect of an upscale place.
Aced this: The location works strongly in Asilo’s favour and it’s able to attract a high-spending clientele on account of this.
Not this: The food menu has some interesting and unique dishes, but not all are executed to perfection. The flatbreads are touted as hot seller, but aren’t the thing you’ll want to nibble on with your Glenlivet 18 YO.
