Project Name: Royal Vega Restaurant, Mementos by ITC Hotels – Ekaaya Udaipur
Architect: Dharam Patel
Architecture & Interior Design Firm: Art & Architecture Associates
Lead Architect: Keta Shah
Project Type: Hospitality Interior (Restaurant)
Built-up Area: 1599.80 sq. ft.
Carpet Area: 1455 sq. ft.
Location: Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Project Year: 2023
Photography: Tejas Shah Photography

Royal Vega Restaurant at Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur, designed by Art & Architecture Associates, received an Honorable Mention at the LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2024 held in Switzerland. The international awards program celebrates excellence in hospitality architecture and interior design, recognizing projects that elevate guest experience through innovative and culturally meaningful design.

The restaurant is part of ITC Hotels’ Royal Vega brand, known for its refined vegetarian cuisine inspired by the culinary traditions of Indian royal households. The design concept reflects the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan, translating the visual language of royal palaces and ceremonial traditions into a contemporary dining environment.

Symbolic motifs such as elephants, horses, and peacocks, frequently seen in royal processions and palace art, are incorporated into the interior narrative. A key design element is the reinterpretation of the “Chhatri” (royal umbrella)—a traditional architectural feature of Rajasthani palaces—transformed into suspended lighting elements that create a distinctive identity within the dining space.

The layout consists of a main dining hall accommodating thirty-two guests, along with two private dining alcoves designed to provide intimate dining experiences. The interiors feature marble flooring with floral inlays, intricately engraved wall panels, decorative cornices, and arched niches displaying artwork by local artisans, creating a setting inspired by royal Rajasthani architecture.

Furniture design draws from traditional royal dining spaces, incorporating detailed wooden seating upholstered in regal fabrics and dining tables styled with gold-toned coverings and customized silverware. The combination of craftsmanship, symbolic imagery, and carefully curated lighting creates an immersive dining experience that celebrates regional culture while maintaining a contemporary hospitality aesthetic.

Receiving an Honorable Mention at the LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2024 highlights the project as a notable example of hospitality interior design that successfully integrates cultural heritage with modern design sensibilities, creating a memorable culinary environment within the luxury setting of ITC Mementos Ekaaya.