Chaayos: Where every wall and cup carries the flavour of India

At Worldmark, Aerocity, a new Chaayos cafe greets visitors with an atmosphere that feels familiar yet refreshingly new. Designed by Sync Design Studio, the space blends cultural memory with contemporary comfort, turning the everyday act of drinking chai into an experience of belonging.

For Principal Architect of Sync Design Studio, Sandeep Dang, the project was never about creating another cafe. It was about finding the essence of Chaayos. “We wanted to define what the brand should stand for as it grew,” he says. “Since chai is such an Indian ritual, the cafe needed to carry that spirit in every detail– materials, art, and atmosphere.”

“When we first met Nitin Saluja, Chaayos’ founder, the brief didn’t focus on layouts or furniture. It was about identity. What should Chaayos mean to people as it expands? That’s when we realised that the cafe had to feel Indian, because chai itself is Indian,” he further adds.

This idea came alive in the way art is used inside the cafe. A Phulkari-inspired weave in vibrant green hints at the rolling tea plantations of Darjeeling and Munnar. Warli-style drawings from Rajasthan depict the process of collecting and processing tea. And in a playful Mughal miniature, royals are shown enjoying their cup of chai in a palace courtyard. Together, these touches turn chai into a common thread that ties India’s diverse cultures together.

“Each artwork was handcrafted with artisans, no digital shortcuts or mass production,” recalls Sandeep. We travelled, met artists, and commissioned everything by hand. It took time, but it gave the space its soul.”

Furniture with a familiar twist

Furniture at the cafe also adds another layer of storytelling. Cane and wood chairs with brass detailing, Chandigarh-inspired seats, leather sofas, and spline chairs create an eclectic mix, just like many Indian homes.

“We designed a few pieces just for Chaayos, and tried out different materials like cane, Indian woods, and brass until we found the right balance. Even the sofas here are handcrafted only for this cafe. Everything was made to match the vibe and create a comfortable environment for the visitors,” mentions Sandeep.

Space that expands

The cafe isn’t large, but it doesn’t feel cramped either. Mirrors are placed at the ends of rafters, which stretch the space visually and create a sense of depth. The ceiling, woven with cane and acoustic panels, keeps sound soft and conversations private.

The layout adds to this sense of comfort. With soft lighting, natural hues, and carefully spaced furniture, the cafe feels intimate. Outside, the verandah-style seating framed with shrubs becomes a tiny garden space and offers privacy and calm amidst the bustle of Aerocity.

Bringing this vision to life wasn’t without its hurdles. “The biggest challenge was keeping everything truly Indian,” explains Sandeep. “We didn’t want to just print designs or buy ready-made art. We had to find the right artists, work with them, and make sure the pieces came together on time. It took a lot of effort, but that’s what gave the cafe its soul. The budget wasn’t really the issue; it was more about holding on to that sense of Indianness while making the space come alive.”

When design meets intent

The project, executed at Rs. 3,000 per sq. ft., stands out for effortlessly capturing the spirit of chai and belonging.

In the end, the Chaayos Cafe project is a proof that even a simple idea like chai can be elevated into something experiential when design meets intent, and with the kind of feeling it leaves behind– rooted, familiar, and unmistakably Indian.