After establishing its flagship format in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where it received acclaim and Michelin recognition, Pincode by Kunal Kapur has opened its first India flagship, Pincode Bungalow, in Vagator, Goa.
Known in the UAE as a chef-led Indian restaurant focused on regional detail and technique, the brand brings this format to Goa, chosen for its design-led and culturally layered setting.
A menu mapped by pin codes
At Pincode, each dish references a specific region. The menu maps India through its pin codes, featuring dishes like Dubki Aloo with Bedmi Poori, Nizami Handi, Nadru Kofta and Champaran Meat, supported by techniques such as fire cooking, fermentation, dhungar smoke, dum and charcoal grilling. Personal recipes from Chef Kunal and Corporate Chef Sadiya Khan position it as a mapped, not pan-Indian, menu.
Indiroom: reclaiming the Indian breakfast table
The bungalow is structured in three zones. At the entrance is Indiroom, developed by Sushree Vaish with Ajit Joshi (AJ) and Shubham Agarwal of Caarabi Coffee Roasters. The space reintroduces Indian breakfast dishes such as Bhurji Pav, Batata Poha, Keema Poi, Sindhi Dal Pakwan and Dubki Aloo, paired with coffee sourced through Caarabi’s work with Indian plantations, aligning food and coffee with regional context.
Baar-Bar: nostalgia in a glass
Further inside, Baar-Bar functions as the bungalow’s bar space. Developed with mixologist Mukesh Patwal, the cocktail list draws on familiar flavours such as tamarind, paan, jaljeera and raw mango. Vinyl evenings feature 80s and 90s Bollywood music, and a dedicated chakhna menu; including Dilli-6 style fried chicken, Masala Mutton Seekh and Kasundi Chonak; accompanies the drinks.
A bungalow that remembers its past
Set within a restored Portuguese bungalow, the design by Aayushi Malik retains the whitewashed façade, terracotta tiles and exposed timber rafters. Hand-painted murals add a subtle brand layer. Each zone shifts in material and tone; Indiroom uses plaster, stone and reclaimed timber; Baar-Bar features terracotta, black Kota stone and burl veneer; and the glasshouse dining room introduces metal and glass; keeping the house lived-in rather than staged.
Insights by Chef Kunal Kapur
Speaking on the Goa opening, Chef Kunal Kapur, Founder & Chef of Pincode Bungalow, said, “With Pincode Bungalow, we wanted to create a flagship that truly belongs. The house already had its own dignity and Goa has its own rhythm. We chose to honour both. The menu still travels through India’s pin codes, street corners, home kitchens, old recipes, but the experience is rooted here. Morning coffee, cocktails at dusk, food meant to be shared. Three moods, one home.”
