What was a textile mill in Lower Parel, is now an address for exceptional cocktails and flavours

Ever felt that rush when you're lounging in a cosy bar and it’s the dreaded last call for cocktails? A new restaurant in Lower Parel wants to change that. Welcome to Late Checkout, where you can check in, relax, and leave the clock behind; which marks the tenth venture of Chrome Hospitality, co-founded by Pawan Shahri and Nikita Shahri. 

The space retains the raw charm of its former life, with soaring 21-foot ceilings and exposed brick walls. The old juxtaposes the new, with plush upholstery, glimmering chandeliers, life-size mirrors, and vases sourced from across India, from Rajasthan to Pondicherry. By day, sunlight pours in through a skylight, bathing the restaurant in a golden glow. By night, the ambience transforms into a cosy mountain chalet, thanks to the elegant teak wood accents. But it’s the larger-than-life bar, with its striking metal and wood finish, that’s sure to capture attention. 

The menu is a creative expression of food from around the world and also, the co-founder’s reinterpretation of dishes experienced during their travels. Here, each dish tells a story. Take the capperino tarts, for example; a playful spin on a bar snack Pawan and Nikita enjoyed one summer in Spain. Then there's the French onion tempura, an inventive take on the classic French onion soup. Tempura-fried onions, dusted with shiso, are served with a rich, creamy dip made from a reduction of the soup.

The smoked tuna carpaccio is a standout: thinly sliced red tuna is paired with avocado sorbet, drizzled with truffle ponzu, and finished with 24-carat gold leaf. The true showstoppers, however, are the cure-aged tartare and kabocha chilli Prawn. The tartare features tenderloin dry-aged in kombu and salt for a week, softening its texture before being tossed in a spicy Gochujang vinaigrette. The grilled prawns sit on a bed of savoury pumpkin chilli garlic sauce. Even the desserts get a fun twist. Think tiramisu, but with matcha instead of coffee, and gin-soaked ladyfingers hidden beneath a layer of strawberry caviar; an unexpected yet delightful end to a meal.

The cocktail programme at Late Checkout blends fresh, unassuming ingredients with thoughtful mixology techniques such as clarification and sous vide. The result? Cocktails with familiar flavours reimagined in the most unexpected, captivating ways. Each cocktail is carefully crafted by Prithvi Agarwal, a seasoned mixologist and innovator with experience across high-energy lounges, upscale molecular bars and global chains. For coffee enthusiasts, there's a 16-hour drip brew combined with coconut oil-washed vodka. Whisky lovers can indulge in a milk-clarified whisky, where the sweetness of mango and peach meets the tang of kaffir lime and the umami of matcha. Mezcal takes a bold turn here, served with a rim of celery salt and a dash of olive brine, adding a savoury twist to every sip.