A New Stay Above the Bar: Permit Room by Dishoom Unveils Its Artistic Lodgings

Imagine if your favourite London dining spot came with a stylish place to stay. Dishoom’s beloved Permit Room has extended its charm into hospitality with the launch of ‘The Permit Room Lodgings’—a chic, design-forward bolthole tucked just above the all-day bar café. ​​Forget formalities, there’s no check-in desk here. Guests simply pick up their keys from behind the bar and can head upstairs to a thoughtfully curated sanctuary that feels like the home of a well-travelled friend with a penchant for vinyl records, Bombay Art Deco, and contemporary South Asian art.

Come with friends, kids, or pups in tow, this is a city pad that effortlessly blends 1970s Bombay Art Deco flair with mid-century modern ease. Think parquet floors, a generously stocked cocktail cabinet, curated books and magazines, and a turntable stacked with vinyl gems. Thoughtful touches like potted plants, cosy reading nooks, and sweeping views over the buzzing Portobello Road, alive with street-side energy, elevate it well beyond any luxury boutique stays in the city. 

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Packing Bombay Flair and Portobello Ease in One Stylish Stay

Step into a sun-drenched, mango-hued lounge inspired by 1970s Bombay Art Deco—a space that exudes funky, laid-back charm. Designed by the Nottingham-based interiors firm Macaulay Sinclair, the palette is warm and inviting, with tones of brown and yellow layered through rattan chairs, bamboo blinds, and wood textures. A customised turntable with a stack of vinyl lends a nostalgic rhythm to the atmosphere, while a dining table is meant for leisurely meals or late-night card games. Completing the look is a beautifully crafted wooden cocktail cabinet—equal parts retro and modern. Open it to find Dishoom’s signature pre-mixed negronis and gimlet. It’s a space made for lounging, lingering, and living like it’s always a golden hour.  ​​

A vinyl-listening experience is seamlessly woven into the stay— guests can connect to the speakers and cue up the ‘Permit Room’ playlist, an eclectic mix of Indian legends like Bappi Lahiri and Usha Uthup to American jazz and blues. The soundtrack, hand-picked by the team at Rough Trade West next door, perfectly captures the soul of the space. Gorgeous issues of design-centric journals like Disegno, MacGuffin, Platform, and Cabana sit alongside the culinary favourites, Swill and Vittles—the perfect companions for days when all you want to do is sink into the sofa and unwind. For deeper reads, dip into literary heavyweights like Vikram Seth’s ‘A Suitable Boy’, Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Moor’s Last Sigh’, or ‘Taj Mahal Foxtrot: The Story of Bombay’s Jazz Age’ by Naresh Fernandes. At its core, the lodging at Permit Room channels the spirit of 1970s Bombay—riffing off the electric energy of an era when jazz and the foxtrot lit up restaurants and bars, and Rang Bhavan concerts ignited a dynamic new musical landscape across the city.

On the same floor, the master bedroom continues the same mood with eye-catching artworks.  The second bedroom, equally charming, features a retro-inspired dressing table and cosy pink tasselled lamps that cast a soft, ambient glow. Alongside its Art Deco charm, the lodgings take restful luxury seriously. King-sized, custom-made beds are dressed in pillowy white sheets, while blackout curtains and soundproofed windows ensure uninterrupted, deep sleep—making it as much a retreat as it is a design-forward stay.

The Art Collection Leans Into Magical Realism 

What equally captivates is the striking art collection curated by Rajiv Menon, founder of the trailblazing Rajiv Menon Contemporary in Los Angeles, a gallery dedicated to championing still-underrepresented South Asian voices in contemporary art. A thread of magical realism loosely unites the artworks that adorn the walls of the lodgings. Among them, New York-based artist Maya Varadaraj’s self-portrait ‘In Blue and Melancholy’ stands out, redefining feminine narratives and visual representation. There’s the dreamlike impressionism in Mustafa Mohsin’s ‘Chaand Raat in East Village’ that deck up the lounge. 

 

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A Permit Room Experience Like Never Before

While in-room dining is available, the true culinary draw lies just downstairs at the ‘Permit Room’ where a table is always held for you. Start your day with one of their best sellers, naan rolls, baked fresh and stuffed with gloriously drippy fillings: eggs, Shropshire pork sausages, streaky bacon, or a vegan alternative. Pair it with a ‘Marmalade Mimosa’ or prosecco for an indulgent breakfast. The ‘Bun Maska’ dunked in ‘Irani Chai’ is comfort in a cup and a nod to Bombay’s beloved Irani cafés.

For a hearty lunch, the ‘Jackfruit Berry Pulao’ and ‘Turkey Raan Biryani’ offer a thoughtful, modern spin on the iconic ‘Parsi Berry Pulao’ that Mumbaikars know and love. Come Thursday through Saturday, stay a little longer for the DJ sets on the ground floor and recover the next morning with chilli-honey French toast or the full permit breakfast.

Want to dine at a different Dishoom outpost? As a guest of ‘Permit Room Lodgings’, you skip the queue at any of their London restaurants. If craving something else entirely? Look out for the “Permit Room Picks” booklet on your dining table, a curated guide to the best spots in the city from buzzy bars to cult eateries, with a little insider help to get you in. 

Much like Mumbai, London hums with a vibrant, multicultural energy and ‘ Permit Room Lodgings’ taps right into that spirit. Inspired by the communal warmth of Bombay’s Irani cafés and the timeless allure of Art Deco, this two-bedroom hideaway weaves design, music, and nostalgia into a stay that feels more like a cultural immersion than a hotel check-in.