ABNAH

Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality, known as ABNAH, has started a new venue called NAMI in Bandra West, Mumbai.

The 25-seat space is built around vinyl records and listening-bar traditions from Japan, paired with global cocktail-making methods and a specially engineered sound setup.

NAMI treats listening to music, socialising and eating as parts of one connected experience rather than separate activities. The audio setup draws on several sourced components, including a horn-based speaker system said to be the first of its type in the country, high-fidelity gear from Indonesia, Technics SL-1210 MK2 turntables, and a rotary mixer made in Berlin; the acoustics were designed by Munro Acoustics.

Live sets and resident DJs will cover a wide mix of styles such as jazz, soul, disco, house and electronic music.

The food menu, overseen by Chef Akanksha, blends Italian cooking methods with Japanese flavours in what is described as an Itameshi style, with dishes such as Pasta Fritto, Chashu Crocchette and Tofu Mousse. The cocktail list was created in collaboration with Sago House, a Singapore bar ranked 10th on Asia's 50 Best Bars list and 32nd on The World's 50 Best Bars list for 2023.

ABNAH's leadership frames NAMI as part of a wider shift in hospitality where cultural experiences, not just food and drink, drive where people choose to spend time. The company says it wants to combine international talent and technology with a Mumbai base, positioning the project as a model it hopes could extend India's cultural offerings outward rather than only importing trends.

The venue's organisers also describe it as a bet on smaller, more focused spaces, where music is treated as the main draw rather than background ambience.