When you enter 42, the new cocktail lounge in the heart of London’s Mayfair (right next to Gymkhana, one of the city’s top Indian restaurants), you enter a microcosm of mood lighting, plush sofas, hidden corners and wall art.

The bar is a new addition to the area, aiming to bring some of India’s elite club culture to the city. Delhi Gymkhana Club, historic palaces, ambassadors’ homes, Bombay Gymkhana, Bangalore Club, are the myriad benchmarks for 42’s eclectic interiors.

The peacock mantle behind the bar which takes its inspiration from the intricate art of the old Indian palace chambers. It also appears in the form of handmade rugs that act as wall coverings, forming a rich tapestry of interwoven mahogany and marsala around the living room.

Staying true to the name of the lounge’s parent restaurant, the interiors mimic a particular private wing of India’s club culture. “When we think back to the Gymkhana clubs in India, there was always a ‘captain’ of the club, who would have his own private lounge where they would take their most select guests. We want our guests to have the same experience of entering the private wing. The space transports our guests to the great elite clubs of India: the maximalist nature of the design means there is always something new to discover at the corner of your eye.”

Photography: Mark Scott