A Design-Driven Evolution in Mumbai’s Skyline with AER at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

As one of the world’s premier luxury destinations, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai serves as an integral part of the city’s map, renowned for its global standards of design and unparalleled hospitality. Soaring among the skies is the iconic rooftop AER, counted among the best bars in the world with its unmatched views of the scenic vista complemented with exemplary service and lively ambience. After years of operating with great success as an open-air club venue, driven largely by celebrity DJs and electronic dance music, AER now has a wholly new energy and character and has won the Times Food and Nightlife Awards 2024 Best Bar for Ambiance and been recognized by 2024 Icons of Drinks among the Great Bars of the World. The venue has undergone a dramatic evolution in guest experience, service and design that’s driven by the craft of fine drink making and the culture of the global bartending community.

The space occupies two distinct roof decks, one with a sweeping panoramic view of the ocean, the other, smaller half, with an intimate perch over the Worli district skyline. These two unique destinations on the rooftop of Four Seasons Mumbai, each come with their own narrative concepts, designs, and styles of engagement. The mastermind behind this renaissance of one of the city’s most iconic spots rests in the hands of noted Phillip Pond of Atelier Pond – New York/Bangkok who has lent his design vision to several luxury destinations across the globe.  AER, imagined as a Yacht Club facing the ocean, is designed to accommodate large groups and loud music, fostering a communal and energetic atmosphere. The Gimlet Garden, on the other hand, is envisioned as an intimate space where patrons can engage with bartenders and appreciate the artistry of drink-making.

Under Phillip’s stewardship, the classic glowing latticework fabric with repetitive arches that is introduced at the front of the Yacht Club at AER creates a visually striking and cohesive design. This element ties the space together and creates a sense of unity. Mirrors are used to amplify the feeling of openness and to play with the reflections, enhancing the illusion of space and connecting guests to the surrounding environment. A design highlight is the use of stripes and reflections to amplify the natural beauty of the horizon. The idea was to create an illusion that ties the space to the horizon, making the view seem infinite, and this is achieved by a pattern of striped black and white marble runs throughout the floor. The visual effect is especially intense at sunset, when the burning colours light up the horizon and echo down the hallway.

Beyond the fine details of venue design, the reimagined Yacht Club at AER, previously fully open to the sky, is now fitted with an operable roof system that can be opened or closed at the press of a button. This convertible roof allows the venue to operate during monsoon season or late into the night. In day-to-day operation this feature inspired a moment of ceremony at each sunset, where a member of the bar team blows a ship’s horn, and the roof is opened as a round of drinks is poured. The Yacht Club puts the bar and bartender front and centre in the choreography of this trip across the sea where they command the space like gracious hosts, perform their art in conversation with guests on all sides, and can be observed from seating placed at different heights throughout the space. This design choice underscores the nightclub’s ethos of engagement, where patrons are both the audience and performers, all while being mesmerized by the stunning ocean view.

The final design of the Yacht Club at AER is not about replicating a ship's features but capturing the mood and mindset of being on a luxurious vessel. Throughout is a shared sense of casual nautical boldness, in pattern and colour. The space is designed to be versatile, functioning as a lively social venue at night and a serene, sunlit area during the day.

At the erstwhile cityside of AER, surrounded by lush greenery, Gimlet Garden offers the perfect setting to enjoy the vibrant AER Gin, creating a cozy nook amid Mumbai’s ever-expanding skyline. Architect Phillip Pond muses that it has a really cosy urban feeling like you are a spectator on this little gathering of towers. Every seat offers a close-up look at the bartenders crafting magic with their hands. Guests can turn their cocktail journey into a conversation with the bartender discussing craft techniques or sharing stories behind the spirits, elevating the experience to one that’s immersive and personal.

The décor mirrors the natural inspiration, with earthy green and brown tones complementing the stunning hand- painted mural at the entrance, brimming with botanical illustrations that set the mood for this craft-centric experience. It’s like stepping into a chic greenhouse, but with the comfort of plush seating and a cocktail to match - for an evening where craft, conversation, and captivating views come together.