The long-anticipated opening of Dishoom Glasgow is set to bring a new chapter of the Indian restaurant group’s distinctive storytelling to Scotland. Set within the historic Glasgow Stock Exchange building, the interior design reflects a richly layered narrative built around a fictional 1950s Bombay spy, fused with mid-century modernism and post-independence Indian art.

The 6,720-square-foot venue is shaped around a cinematic setting that channels the energy and idealism of Bombay’s 1950s cultural scene. Anchored in historical references, the space draws heavily from the period’s visual language, including elements inspired by the Bombay Progressives – a group of artists formed in 1947 who helped shape India’s postcolonial identity.

Central to the restaurant’s concept is the imagined life of a secret agent relocated from Bombay to Glasgow. This playful narrative is etched into the venue’s design details, from coded signage to Morse code embedded within the restaurant rules. The overarching theme permeates the environment, offering guests subtle clues throughout the space.

Much of the restaurant’s physical transformation has been shaped by the work of interior architecture and design studio Macaulay Sinclair, who were tasked with converting two separate units in the listed Venetian Gothic building into a single, cohesive restaurant. This required resolving structural challenges such as internal level differences and installing new shopfronts that respect the building’s heritage while ensuring a unified aesthetic.

The main bar area features rich hardwoods detailed with aged brass, sitting atop a bespoke marble floor. A custom-made, double-sided clock suspended within a glazed screen acts as a visual divider between the bar and dining zones. The dining space itself features a juxtaposition of materials, combining vintage parquet with geometric terrazzo flooring, and walls rendered in polished plaster tones of verdant green and soft pink. These elements are contrasted with exposed concrete ceilings, preserving the building’s industrial character.

Lighting throughout the restaurant includes vintage fixtures sourced directly from Bombay, alongside custom UK-manufactured pieces that complement the space’s eclectic style. Decorative features such as three large-scale canvases—drawing inspiration from Chandigarh’s iconic tapestries—and a mural celebrating Mehboob Film Studio, applied directly onto a concrete column, reinforce the post-independence Bombay theme.

Furniture selections across the venue demonstrate the studio’s detailed material approach. Tables finished with fabric tops, custom laminates, and marble slabs edged in hardwood provide varied texture and tone. An owners’ desk, modelled on mid-century pavilions and formed from solid hardwood with brass accents, sits at the front of the restaurant to welcome diners.

The latest addition to the Dishoom family continues a decade-long relationship with Macaulay Sinclair, who have been involved in the design of ten previous Dishoom locations. The partnership has consistently prioritised immersive storytelling through spatial design, maintaining a clear thematic link from site to site, while responding individually to each location’s architectural context.

Dishoom Glasgow will officially open to the public on Friday, 29 August at 6 Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow G2 1QY.

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