CONTEMPORARY INDIAN SMALL PLATES, CREATIVE COCKTAILS & IMMERSIVE DESIGN: BULBUL OPENS IN THE CITY THIS JUNE
Launching in early summer, Bulbul is a contemporary Indian restaurant and bar set
to bring vibrant small plates, inventive cocktails and immersive design to Tudor Street
in the heart of the City.
Just moments from Blackfriars, the South Bank and St Paul’s Cathedral, the opening
introduces a bold new perspective to London’s Indian dining scene, pairing food made
for sharing with expressive drinks and a striking setting conceived for long, lively
evenings.
One of only a handful of Indian-origin restaurant brands to open in the capital since
2022, Bulbul is the latest creation from chef and restaurateur Rohan D’Souza, one of
the defining voices in India’s F&B landscape, and award-winning Twinkle Keswani,
named Young Restaurateur of the Year by The Economic Times in 2023.
Together they have launched acclaimed restaurants throughout India, from celebrated
venues in Goa and the Himalayan town of Leh to the backwaters of Kerala, as well as
in Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Their venues are known for distinctive spaces, strong storytelling and innovative,
flavour-driven cooking, a spirit they now bring to London with Bulbul.
Here the approach to cuisine begins with a simple idea: Indian food is far broader than
the handful of dishes most of the world already knows.
Before finalising the menu, the founders travelled across India with a clear purpose –
to learn directly from regional cooks, home kitchens and local markets, exploring
recipes and techniques that rarely travel beyond their place of origin.
That same depth and diversity is reflected in Bulbul’s kitchen, where Chef D’Souza is
joined by Chef Yash Dadlani and Chef Ashfaq Shaikh in a collaborative three-way
approach, each shaped by a different micro-cuisine from across the subcontinent.
Some dishes on the menu remain close to their roots, while others take a different
direction, pairing deeply rooted Indian flavours with contemporary techniques and
subtle global influences.
The Forest Pepper Crab Dosa pairs a Tamil Nadu-style dosa stuffed with crab meat
and tossed in a punchy forest pepper masala, served with house pickle, while Goan
Shrimp Balchão layers 48-hour aged and braised shrimp balchão over crisp melba
toast.
Elsewhere, Jim Corbett Hunter’s Murgh Mussallam showcases rustic Mughlai chicken
slow-cooked with warm whole spices, alongside Nilgiri Beef Short Rib Korma, where
slow-braised beef short ribs are enriched with coriander, mint and aromatic spice.
The cocktail programme at Bulbul takes its cue from the restaurant’s namesake bird,
celebrated for its song and often used as a term of affection.
Flight of Bulbul travels across India through flavour, with each drink inspired by a
different region, ingredient or culinary tradition.
Rather than relying on the expected clichés of Indian cocktails, the drinks reinterpret
familiar ingredients in unexpected ways, combining regional references with modern
methods and a global spirits list.
The restaurant’s setting is as thoughtfully considered as the food and drink, shaping
the atmosphere and overall experience.
At Bulbul, the Indian forest is reinterpreted through maximal design, art and texture.
Designed by Mumbai-based Right Brain Design Studio, the interiors layer
contemporary art, craft and colour to create a space that feels theatrical, warm and
immersive.
A striking floral installation by design studio Oorja greets guests at the entrance, while
bespoke carpets by Jaipur Rugs, whose international clients include Wimbledon and
leading luxury hotels, bring texture and depth throughout.
Staff uniforms are the creation of cult Mumbai fashion label Papa Don’t Preach,
adding a playful, fashion-led edge.
Bulbul also features an intimate 10-seat private dining room for celebrations, brand
dinners and special gatherings.
Bulbul is designed to capture the warmth, generosity and energy of Indian hospitality.
Conceived as a place for conversation, great food and cocktails, it is somewhere to
settle in and let the evening unfold around the table.
