Lately, everyone we meet seems to be gravitating towards Jaipur. At the epi-center of this chic ex-pat community is the most stylish of clubhouses, Bar Palladio. This beautiful hangout seems to be the perfect blend of Indian style and Italian hospitality thanks to Barbara Miolini, the mastermind behind both Bar Palladio in Jaipur and the Bar Palladio Delicatessen in Delhi. We recently sat down with Barbara and asked her to share the story behind her exclusive boîtes and to share a few of her favorite places in India. Shop Latitude is thrilled to offer exclusive products that will bring a little bit of the romance of Bar Palladio into your own home!
Can you tell us little about your background?
I was born in Switzerland’s St. Moritz. I grew up a very idyllic mountain setting and after my studies I moved to Italy where I lived in Asolo, a region famed for its prosecco and historic town of poetry and music.
What brought you to India?
I arrived to India for a 6 month sabbatical that stretched out to into a year. I travelled across the deserts of Rajasthan and into Gujarat in an ambassador, exploring villages and forts. Enchanted by Jaisalmer and the desert I chose to remain in India where I have been since the past 10 years.
What are your favorite spots in Jaipur and in Delhi? This can be for eating(besides your place), shopping, hotels...
Jaipur is a very special place as it really has incredible settings of beauty. In the city my favourite hotel is 47 Jobner Bagh. Shiva, the owner, divides his time between Milan and Jaipur and has created a gorgeous oasis of calm in the city: an art deco-style villa with mature trees, an incredible collection of antique furniture, and a very quiet, congenial, and relaxed atmosphere.
www.jobnerbagh.com/
35 minutes outside the city, tucked away in a village is a 2 room luxury hotel Anoplura which is honestly the most relaxed and casual idea of luxury you will every experience. The space is very simple, but perfect in its design and hospitality. The kitchen prepares the most delicious array of food daily and the space has been designed for you to really relax. Nestled into the hills and located in a very lovely village, it seems worlds away from the bustle of Jaipur.
www.anopura.com/
My favorite boutique in Jaipur is Idli by Thierry Journo. Stepping inside is to enter into the fantastic imagination of French designer Thierry Journo. The clothes, textiles, and furniture are a blast of colour and pattern and all inspired by the Oriental fantasies of the French Rococo period.
idlidesign.com/
My favorite boutique in Jaipur is Idli by Thierry Journo. Stepping inside is to enter into the fantastic imagination of French designer Thierry Journo. The clothes, textiles, and furniture are a blast of color and pattern and all inspired by the Oriental fantasies of the French Rococo period.
idlidesign.com/
The best thing about Jaipur is the fabric, so whenever I need the perfect fabric head to the Khadi stores on MI Road. All the cloth is hand woven in villages across India and is a direct product go Gandi’s Self Rule Campaign during Independence.
rajkhadi.rajasthan.gov.in
When I go to Delhi, I choose to stay at the Imperial Hotel. An Art Deco wedding cake, the hotel really is the embodiment of elegance, when inside you really feel the presence of history. I also love the Amarya Villain Safdarjung Enclave. This French 5 room hotel is a bright and well-designed space, with an incredible breakfast and the perfect pillows. When you enter your really feel like you are coming home.
www.theimperialindia.com/ www.amaryagroup.com/amarya-villa/
I always make it a point to eat at Chef Ritu Dalmia’s restaurants in Delhi. Delhi’s most authentic Italian is to be had at the members only Diva Cafe located within the gardens of the Italian Cultural Institute, while her Khan Market location serves up both her Italian and Indian favorites.
divarestaurants.com/
The most beautiful homewares I find at MoonRiver Store in Defence Colony. This lifestyle boutique is truly unmatched with an ever changing display of impeccably curated objects: Japanese porcelain, French perfumes, Indian folk art, modernist furniture. I honestly could buy everything in the store and it is also the location for our Palladio Delicatessen.
www.moonriverstore.com/
What do you love most about India?
I love how each day is a new day, where anything is truly possible and life is itself incredibly spontaneous. I love how everyday sees you floating between so many worlds
Can you describe a magical moment in India, this can be a vacation spot or an experience?
I took a trip to Ladakh and Kashmir a few years ago during the monsoon. The landscape is incomparable in its beauty, really spectacular, however, the strength of the monsoon was a shock. Twice we were stranded on the road, in the rain, where we had to trek to neighboring valleys or remain in a car which at moment could be washed off the face of the mountain. It was very difficult, but it shows you travel is not always about enjoyment, the most important trips are one where you are pushed out of your comfort zone and you really understand what you are capable of.
