Trapdoor Launches in Versova With Six-Course Cocktail Pairing Experience

Trapdoor has opened in Mumbai’s Versova with a speakeasy-led hospitality format that combines progressive mixology, immersive theatre and a six-course cocktail pairing experience.

The concept uses a retro telephone booth as its entrance. Guests receive an access code after booking, which allows them to unlock the booth and enter the bar through the hidden entrance.

At the centre of Trapdoor’s offering is its progressive Omakase Cocktail experience. Instead of selecting individual drinks from a conventional bar menu, guests are guided through a sequence of cocktails by the bartending team. Each drink has its own concept and presentation, with the experience structured around flavour, storytelling and theatrical elements.

The cocktail programme uses techniques including centrifugal infusion, redistillation and sous vide, combined with gastronomy-led methods. The menu takes flavour cues from ancient India while incorporating modern European mixology.

Drinks are presented as part of the overall experience. A secret box opens to reveal a nested chamber containing each cocktail and its raw ingredients. The menu includes creations such as Trapped in Bubble, Untouched, Mushroom and Glacier, alongside a Martini interpretation that uses oysters as part of its “stuck in the past” narrative.

Food is designed as a companion to the cocktail programme. The menu combines modern Indian fusion with flavours from North and South America, with specific dishes paired with individual drinks.

Pairings include Prickly Oyster with an Umami Martini, Lamb Tapas with pasillo chilli dip alongside a Miso and Guava cocktail, and Squid Ink Pasta with baby octopus paired with a Pistachio and Pink Peppercorn Cocktail Crème. Pan-seared Salmon with herb butter is served with a tequila-infused Green Apple and indigenous Shankpushpi Prosecco cocktail.

The interiors follow a speakeasy-inspired design using dark wood, red lighting, intimate seating and a curated soundscape. The space incorporates concealed details and layered interiors as part of the guest experience.

Trapdoor has been designed for multiple nightlife occasions, including date nights, after-work drinking, celebrations and late-night socialising.

The concept has been developed by founders Gaurav Sharma and Sangeeta Kapura, with Managing Partner Arka Mukherjee, Director of Mixology Shobith Salian and Chef Gaurav Gidwani. The team brings experience across hospitality, nightlife, beverage and culinary operations.

Arka Mukherjee, Managing Partner, Trapdoor, says, “Trapdoor was never intended to be just another bar. We wanted to create a world with its own personality, a place that feels intriguing when you discover it, memorable when you experience it, and compelling enough to return to. For us, this is the foundation of a larger vision for experiential hospitality.”

The venue’s upcoming programming includes bar takeovers featuring some of India’s top bars, jazz-led bar nights and a special six-course cocktail pairing immersive experience. The programming is intended to build a regular calendar around cocktail experiences and nightlife.