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Whether it’s a bad date that won’t stop talking about their ex, or a family dinner that won’t stop talking about your ex, a beeline to the bathroom is your only respite. Alone, separated from the noise, you can heave a sigh of relief, and perhaps, even take a selfie (you’re going to need it for your Hinge profile). Some spaces, from restaurants to galleries to libraries, do it better than most with a beautiful background and flattering lighting. The bathroom’s importance can’t be understated: it’s where we go looking for a moment of intimacy. It's a space for confession, to confirm that everything is still in its place and also where we can truly unravel our secrets.
I recently went around Mumbai to find pockets of magic nestled in the ordinary. While increasing accessibility to hygienic public restrooms remains central to our discourse on urban design and architecture, there’s something to be said about documenting this underrated art form. I sifted through the most beautiful, edgy and captivating designs to find toilets that would really make my jaw drop.
Torii
When a dining room is impeccably decorated but the bathroom is spare, it takes you out of the magic of being out to eat. At Torii, an Asian restaurant by Gauri Khan in Khar, diners are paying closer attention. The bathroom selfie is edging out the overhead shot of that plate of sushi. Taking pictures of the food is so overdone. You don’t want to seem like an Influencer taking pictures of every course. But when you go to the bathroom, no one is judging you. You can escape. Every inch of this space is covered in colourful mosaic tiles. With a floor-to-ceiling mirror right opposite the toilet, for the first time in your life, you can strike a pose as you go about your business.
Museum of Solutions
Completing the New York Times puzzles is as important to my morning routine as going to the loo. The Museum of Solutions, an experiential and interactive children’s museum in Lower Parel, combines the two. Its bright walls are covered in games and fun facts, ensuring you learn something new as you wash your hands. (4 out of 5 people don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. Don’t catch yourself lacking.) Beyond its compelling interior design, MuSo’s restrooms are an example of how we can work towards a sustainable future. From toilets that have special taps to flushes with low water consumption fittings, its architecture leads by example the message its exhibits propagate.
Jolie's
Pink. Maximalist. Wilfully over-the-top. The seemingly omnipresent flamingo wallpaper that every Instagram mom picks for her kid’s nursery gets a makeover here. The ‘Jungaloos’ at Jolie’s, a members-only luxury club in Worli, will leave you feeling too underdressed to use the facilities. While the whole of Jolie’s follows a design philosophy of decadence and indulgence sprinkled with Art Deco undertones, the female restroom kicks it up a notch with fur-lined ceilings and flamingo sinks. It’s playful, it’s non-serious, it’s self-aware. It’s a paradox of grandeur and intimacy. To prove just how keen their attention to detail is, even the toilet is pink, which begs the question: Did they paint it themselves?
Mokai
Bathrooms show more personality than they used to — there is more ownership of the whole space. In some cases, it’s used to subvert expectations about the restaurant. Mokai is setting itself apart in Bandra’s saturated café ecosystem with not just its food, but its bathroom too. Covered in vintage posters and mirrors, you can truly immerse yourself in Japanese culture as you catch a glimpse of your outfit from every angle imaginable. Behind a little Narnia door, Harajuku aesthetics echo Tokyo’s dynamic street culture. It’s lovingly supplied and carefully appointed, with mouthwash and deodorant for the odd chance you catch yourself on an enjoyable date. (Why’re you in the bathroom, then? Get back out!) A speaker pumps out a low hum of film dialogues, serving as a pleasant voice over to your internal monologue of bathroom thoughts.
The Designera
A 6 by 4 feet canvas, and moody lighting? I’m sold. While most gallery bathrooms are sleekly done — good hardware, clean lines, amazing tiles — they’re simply no fun. The Designera, India’s first and only pop-art gallery, upends that narrative. Some bathrooms are art gallery-worthy, sure, but rarely do they contain actual art. This one does, and it’s part of the exhibit. A work reminiscent of Roy Lichtenstein’s iconic comic book style hangs right beside the toilet. This bathroom expresses another side of how The Designera wants their story to be told, making a bold statement about identity — delighting and intriguing as much as what lies on the other side of the door. After all, you’re probably going to spend longest looking at this piece of art.
Owners of new spaces in Bombay are increasingly dedicating time and resources to give their bathrooms a makeover. Their priority is clearly originality. Do we really need to have all this excess and exorbitance spent on making a bathroom experience fun and exciting? Probably not. Nonetheless, it does make for a good selfie spot and let's face it: we could all do with a little more beauty and excitement in our lives.
