Studio Smith-Cordell
Studio Smith-Cordell
Black and white halftone archival photograph of a man in a formal buttoned tunic and traditional turban standing outdoors in front of a building.
Dakwala Bombay Canteen

A nod to the heritage of Bombay’s Khanawals

Services
Web Development
SEO
Overview

A love letter from a Bombay canteen.

Dakwala is a brand-new restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne, inspired by Mumbai’s traditional Khanawal eateries. Dakwala is derived from “postman” and symbolises “a messenger of flavours”. They wanted a premium editorial-looking microsite which captured a vintage feel from when migrants relocated to Bombay in the early 1900s whilst appearing modern and interactive.

A dark laptop open on a concrete surface next to clay pottery and a cinder block, displaying the Dakwala website with the headline "A LOVE LETTER FROM A BOMBAY".
Implementation

An immersive cultural experience.

Dakwala’s branding agency, Ground, provided the initial design for the website. Based on their prototype, Studio Smith-Cordell developed a fully responsive microsite in Webflow. The finished website emulates Dakwala's brand goals and is highly optimised.

A screenshot from the Dakwala website.
A screenshot from the Dakwala website.
op-down flat lay view of a dark wooden table covered in a wide variety of colorful Indian dishes, curries, biryani, kebabs, and vibrant cocktails.
Close-up top-down shot of a blue bowl filled with orange Indian fish curry, topped with fresh herbs, resting on a Dakwala paper menu alongside small brass serving pots.
A stylish, dimly lit restaurant bar featuring a long wooden counter lined with high cane-back stools, hanging wine glasses, and warm chandelier lighting against teal walls and exposed brickwork.
An orange-pink cocktail with a layer of white foam and rose petal garnish, served in an elegant Coupe glass framed by wooden shelving.
A person pouring a cocktail from an ornate brass kettle into a white porcelain cup with a blue trim, set on a dark wood table.
A round wooden dining table filled with a rich spread of Indian dishes served in traditional brass metal bowls, patterned ceramic plates, and a multi-tiered brass tiffin stack.