What does a COVID-ready restaurant look like?

A new space in Delhi has some answers for how safety can be an organic, non-intrusive feature of restaurant design

Social Dwarka is now open with new designs and measures to ensure safety. (Photo: PR handout/ Designed by Shambhavi Dutta)

Body temperature checks at the entrance; a bottle of hand sanitiser at each table; servers wearing masks, gloves and face-shields and no-contact menus and bills — much in the dining out experience has already changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic since restaurants around the country began reopening in June. Given the social nature of the experience, this was bound to happen. But how much restaurant design itself will evolve to accommodate new concerns about social distancing will only become clear gradually. An idea of the direction in which things will move is, perhaps, indicated by the new COVID-ready restaurant launched last month by Impresario Handmade Restaurants.

The plans to launch Dwarka SOCIAL in Delhi was underway when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, says Riyaaz Amlani, Impresario’s CEO and MD. “The pandemic postponed our plans, but we then decided to address the concerns about social distancing in the design. COVID is going to be here for a while, so we have to get used to living our lives. People do still want to go out and have a good time. We just have to find a way in which they can do so safely,” he says.

Amlani says that the most important change in any restaurant will come in the form of digitisation. (Photo: PR Handout)

How much restaurant design itself will evolve to accommodate new concerns about social distancing will only become clear gradually. (Photo: PR Handout)

This is why, says Sanchit Arora of Delhi-based architecture firm Renesa, space was constructed in a way that people could have their own private spaces, should they feel the need. The safety measures also had to feel organic and non-intrusive, says Arora, who designed the restaurant. He explains, “Riyaaz wanted to draw inspiration from the markets and alleyways of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. As we began designing the space, it became easy to make small spaces in which people could have some privacy if they wanted,” he explains. In one section, for example, eating booths, resembling the Vietnamese city’s famous “pay-and-stay” accommodations, have been designed at split levels in such a way that no two booths nestle against each other, while the booths close to the restaurant’s entrance are designed to resemble small shops. The design has also made good use of foldable wooden partitions and bamboo chik blinds, particularly at the community table where, Arora says, people may still want distance from their neighbours.

While incorporating elements of COVID-readiness in the restaurant’s design itself is a smart move, Amlani says that the most important change in any restaurant will come in the form of digitisation. “The hospitality industry is a people-to-people business, so there will always be interaction. But contactless interaction with the digitisation of menus, payment etc is the one change that is here to stay, as we do our best to keep ourselves, our customers and our teams safe,” he says.

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Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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