Traditional Italian trattorias inform the design of this pizzeria at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive 

Motodo, a contemporised rendition of old-world Italy, is the latest F&B addition to the Jio World Drive in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The eatery's name is a simple yet fitting portmanteau of the three key ingredients that make the base of nearly all Italian fare—mozzarella, tomato, and dough. The authenticity of the cuisine found its way into the interior design scheme to evoke the experience of being in a traditional Italian trattoria.    

Abutted by restaurants on either side, the 1750-sq. ft. eatery occupies a rectangular footprint on the mall's second floor, with a fully glazed wall concluding the rear end. As per the client brief, it was imperative to accommodate an interactive open kitchen and bar where guests could observe piping hot pizzas being dished out as soon as they emerged from the wood-fired oven. 

Inspired by the energy of a traditional Italian kitchen, the eatery offers diners numerous ways to interact with the live kitchen by introducing varying lines of sight. Seating clusters arranged around it, including a cocoon-like C-shaped booth nestled within the kitchen counter heightens the immersive, multi-sensory culinary experience the restaurant hopes to offer by enabling guests to directly engage with the art of pizza-making. The centrepiece of the elaborate kitchen is a wood-fired oven, clad in mosaic tiles in warm shades ranging from beige to brick to red. The kitchen’s black marble counter extends to form a bar towards one side, complete with complementing bar stools. Concealed behind the kitchen’s rear wall are a closed preparation, storage and wash space.  

The facade is a composition of grillwork, frosted, and clear glass, establishing a connection with the mall while screening the interiors to afford guests varying degrees of privacy. The eatery’s rear glazed wall presented an opportunity for the design team to develop an enclosed light-filled verandah—a phenomenon that one rarely encounters in an F&B outlet within a mall.  

The interiors feature a warm material palette rooted in Italy’s rich epicurean legacy. Taking cues from the Italian approach of high-quality craftsmanship, the space is furnished with marble, timber, leather, and wrought iron furniture manufactured by Lap and Dado as well as vintage decorative lighting. 

Terracotta tiles form the backdrop of the live kitchen, complemented by glazed blue tiles, timber panelling along the elevation of the counter and a stained-glass installation resembling a floating light box that forms a crowning element for the bar and kitchen. An interplay of proportions is visible in the installation with mosaic tiling and brickwork adding a sophisticated playfulness to the space—yet another nod to Italian design sensibilities.  

In situ terrazzo flooring by Greenheart Floors with bronze tinted glass chips and copper spacers laid out in a diagonal grid on the floor glint as the light hits it at different angles, complemented by the patterned cement tiles by Bharat Floorings that characterise the verandah. The alfresco dining in the verandah is outfitted with patio-style furniture woven with outdoor-grade yarn—further animated by a collection of plants. The space is enriched by the use of timber and Green Udaipur stone, creating a comprehensive and culturally relevant material palette.   

Motodo is a celebration of familiar details that cohere into a veritable portrait of Italy’s intimate relationship with food. It is an ode to the hospitality and conviviality that the country is renowned for and speaks of nostalgia for a largely bygone era amidst the hubbub of the 21st-century food scene.