The interior of this new Indian restaurant gives a lesson in how to combine old and new

Doolally is not just Dublin’s newest Indian restaurant, it’s also the city’s most stylish. We take a look around the newly-opened space. 

A new addition to Dublin’s South Richmond Street, Doolally is a new Indian restaurant from Press Up Entertainment that has an interior as enticing as its food. Designed by O’Donnell O’Neill, the design was strongly influenced by the rich history of India, which they have perfectly fused with the modern touches you would expect of a brand new restaurant.

Although a large space, it is cleverly broken up into different, more intimate areas. A multi-sided bar counter sits centrally with an emerald green marble countertop, where people can sit and enjoy one of the Indian-inspired cocktails, a glass of refreshing lassi, or one of the other many drinks on offer.

A long, open kitchen runs along the back of the restaurant, complete with tandoori ovens, creating an interesting backdrop to your meal. The walls are decorated with murals of Indian landscapes and historic portraits. Vintage mirrors, dressers, tiffin boxes and pots add further nods to India’s fascinating history, and add layers of richness to the space.

These are complemented by soft leather benches, curved chairs, beautiful patterned tiles and a mix of marble- and wood-textured tables, as well as wooden panelling. Throughout the space colours and textures have been carefully chosen to work in harmony with the vintage pieces in the restaurant.

Contrast is also used to great effect. The walls alternate from dark, rich wooden panelling to antique mirror panels, giving soft reflections rather than highly polished ones, yet still reflecting light around the space. Green is repeated in tiles, marble, the leather of the barstools and in the lush plants throughout the restaurant, while a deep red runs through leather bench seating, the floor tiles and the tiles that line the outside of the kitchen space.

This luxurious yet relaxed interior sets the tone perfectly for Doolally’s menu, which has been created in collaboration with Alfred Prasad, a renowned Indian chef who was awarded a Michelin star at the age of twenty-nine. Combining well-known Indian favourites with traditional dishes from regions throughout India, there are also some twists on tradition that make the best of Irish ingredients.

While we may struggle to create such delicious Indian food at home, we’ll certainly be taking notes in how they’ve combined the old and new in this rich, layered space.

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