From Gigi to Late Checkout, Pawan Shahri’s Venues Are Changing Mumbai's Social Script

In Mumbai’s ever-spinning dining and nightlife carousel, where concepts rise and fade faster than a seasonal cocktail menu, Pawan Shahri plays a different game. He isn’t chasing the next big thing — he’s creating it. From the velvet-glamour of Gigi to the sun-drenched escapism of Lyla, from EVE’s high-energy nights to Late Checkout’s slow-burn seduction, his venues don’t just open, they land — fully formed, fully distinct, and immediately woven into the city’s social DNA.

That instinct for shaping experiences started early. At 21, Shahri was already running Chrome Nightlife, a marketing agency that redefined how Mumbai thought about going out. International artist tours, high-profile gigs, and a knack for making the city’s most jaded crowd feel like they were in on something special turned him into one of hospitality’s youngest power players. But events, by nature, vanish with the sunrise. Shahri wanted something that lasted.

And so came Chrome Asia Hospitality. Founded in 2019, the group has since built a portfolio that’s a collection of restaurants that are almost a study in mood architecture. Each brand is an ecosystem of design, menu, and energy that doesn’t bleed into the next. Gigi is polished spectacle, Lyla is coastal play, EVE is everyday chic, and Late Checkout is an ode to the kind of hotel bar that makes you believe the night can — and should — go on forever.

Late Checkout also marks a turning point — the group’s first fully owned outlet, giving Shahri and his team complete creative and operational control. Housed in a 1970s textile mill, it wears its history without nostalgia, folding reclaimed textures into a contemporary, cosmopolitan frame. Co-founder and creative director Nikita Shahri — Pawan’s wife — shaped every detail, from the layered lighting to the tactile finishes, giving the bar its quietly magnetic pull.

For Shahri, though, the design is just the stage. The real magic is in the theatre of the night — the perfectly timed cocktail, the way the room shifts when a track drops, the intangible pull that keeps people in their seats long after their last drink. “I’ve always loved that feeling of stretching the moment,” he says. “That’s what Late Checkout is all about.”

Now, with an eye on taking his brands abroad, Shahri’s ambitions are expanding beyond Mumbai. Whether it’s Mexico City, London, or somewhere entirely unexpected, his next move will carry the same DNA — spaces that don’t just host nights, but define them.

In an exclusive conversation with Esquire India, the hospitality entrepreneur talks about building brands with soul, why hotel bars aren’t dead, and what it really takes to create a place people never want to leave.

Excerpts from a conversation.

You’ve hosted some fabulous bar takeovers – Paradiso, Origin Bar. What does it take to bring some of the best bars to India? And – do you see a day where you take Late Checkout abroad?

It’s a mix of relationship building, trust, and honestly, showing them that India is ready for world-class cocktail culture. We work months in advance—aligning schedules, importing ingredients, making sure the visiting bar feels at home here. For me, it’s not about just bringing a name, it’s about recreating their soul in our space.

And yes—Late Checkout abroad is definitely on my mind. I’d love to see it in a city where Indian culture can be presented in a modern, unexpected way.

What was the inspiration behind Late Checkout? And the design?

I’ve always loved the feeling of being in a great hotel bar—that sense that the night doesn’t have to end yet. The name came from that idea of “stretching the moment.” The design takes inspiration from the building’s textile mill history in the ’70s—most of the walls and flooring are original. Everything else was reclaimed and reworked.

My wife, Nikita—who’s also my cofounder—designed the space and really brought it to life. She has this way of blending old-world charm with contemporary touches that feel effortless. Every little detail, from the textures to the lighting, has her fingerprint on it, and I think that’s what gives Late Checkout its soul.

You said you love hotel bars. Do you think hotel bars are a dying breed though?

Not dying—just misunderstood. The best hotel bars in the world thrive because they’re destination-worthy on their own. In India, too many hotel bars still feel like an afterthought. If you give them personality, a proper cocktail program, and a bit of theatre, they can be magic again.

You started as a nightlife marketer, now you’re running one of Mumbai’s largest hospitality groups. What caused the switch?

Nightlife was my training ground. I learnt sales, marketing, guest psychology—how to make people show up. But I wanted to create spaces that lasted longer than one night. Restaurants gave me that canvas to build brands, not just events.

How do you know when an idea is worth betting a few crores on versus letting it die on a napkin?

Gut first, data second. I look for that spark—something that keeps me up at night because I can already see the brand in my head. But then I back it up with numbers—location, market gap, and whether I can create a story people will connect with. If both line up, I’m in.

You’ve got brands as varied as Gigi, Lyla, EVE, and now Late Checkout. How do you stop your venues from cannibalising each other’s audience?

We design each brand to have its own personality. Gigi is glamour, Lyla is sun-soaked and playful, EVE is everyday chic, and Late Checkout is for serious cocktail lovers. The key is to make them so distinct in vibe and offering that people don’t feel they’re interchangeable.

India’s drinking culture has shifted dramatically in the last 10 years. Where do you think we’re headed?

We’re moving towards curiosity. People want to know the story behind what’s in their glass, they’re more open to trying craft spirits, better wine, and ingredient-driven cocktails. The days of just pouring a vodka-soda and calling it a night are over.

Are we becoming more experimental, or do we still want to play it safe as a market?

It’s both. We’re experimental in pockets—people are happy to try a clarified curry leaf gin fizz if they trust the bar. But for a night out with friends, they’ll still order something familiar. The challenge is to create drinks that are new but feel approachable.

If you had to host your dream “late night” at Late Checkout—three drinks, three dishes, and one guest performer—what would the lineup be?

I’d go with our signature mango-chilli mezcal highball, a cashew & cacao rum negroni, and a hibiscus & Himalayan gin fizz. For food, I’d pair that with a lobster bao, a Kashmiri lamb flatbread, and a crispy avocado taco with pickled onions. And for the vibe… Bruno Mars. If you’re dreaming, might as well dream big—full energy, live band, and the kind of night where you just don’t want it to end

What’s a hospitality myth that you think needs to die?

That the guest is always right. The guest is important, but so is your team. Respect has to go both ways for the magic to work.

Dream bar city, and why?

Mexico City. It’s got that mix of history, chaos, design, and food culture—and the bar scene there is fearless.

Lastly, what’s next in the pipeline? What are you on the hunt for?

I’m hunting for my next big “wow” project—something that takes what we’ve learnt in India and presents it to the world. Whether it’s a bar abroad, a hotel, or something completely unexpected… I want it to scare me a little. That’s usually a good sign.