Love is in this Shack

Love Shack has captured the fancy of Bangaloreans as much with its name as with its ambience. This bamboo and thatched roof al fresco pub clearly bends to the vein of those Goan shacks. Four floors above ground, open to starlit sky terrace, the beach-styled pub faces a tech park with night-lights on palm trees. The ambience urges one to kick off the shoes and loll on the mattresses. 

Himesh Arora at the Love Shack

Love Shack the lounge bar, besides some interesting cocktails, serves innovative Maa Ki Daal Pizza and Tandoori Chicken Pizza; these seem to a big hit along with the attractive price. Its twin, the Tandoori Hippie serves authentic North-Indian cuisine. 

Tarun Arora at the Tandoori Hippie

Started by brothers Tarun and Himesh Arora, who have made their mark in their fields of acting, modelling and photography, the Goan themed lounge bar and Punjabi dhaba are first of many they plan to open. 

Tarun played the role of Kareena Kapoor’s dream lover Anshuman in the runaway success ‘Jab We Met’ and after spending 15 years in the modelling and acting industry, joined hands with brother Himesh Arora, a popular face in Bangalore’s party circuit to enter the hospitality industry. 

Says Tarun, “My modelling and acting stints took me to various parts of the world and during my travels I liked trying out new restaurants and setting up my own restaurant was always at the back of my mind. I was sated with modelling. After acting in films like ‘Sheen’, ‘19 Revolution’, ‘Ghutan’, I had moved to Bangalore to set up my restaurant venture when I got the call for ‘Jab We Met’. They signed me up in half an hour and I realised that it’s best to do just one quality role once a year than do many small ones.” Tarun is a hotel management graduate and along with Himesh had been advising friends who had set up their own ventures. 

Himesh says, “I was officially behind setting up The Beach and also was a partner in the Ivy on Outer Ring Road. We come from a business family and decided that it was time to realise our concepts”. To Himesh goes the credit of starting the ladies nights on Wednesdays many years ago, offering free or concessional prices on drinks for women, a concept that’s now firmly in place in all the bars in the city. 

While Tarun handles the design, personnel and food, Himesh handles the business development, sales and promotions. “We are planning to set up at least three more restaurants and pubs in the city. We also plan to set up more diners and lounges in Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad,” avers Himesh. 

Tarun adds, “Our USP is a casual, fun place, nothing uptight or stiff, where anyone young or old need not feel out of place, whether you’re dressed in black tie or even your track pants or shorts”.

- Namita Gupta / Raintree Media Features