This bar & kitchen in Jaipur, housed in a heritage building, pays homage to architect Samuel Swinton Jacob

In the last few years, Jaipur has turned into one of the hottest destinations for food and beverage with an expanding repertoire of new-age restaurants and bars. The latest to join the list is The Swinton House on the busy MI Road.

Its white facade would instantly remind one of the many significant landmarks in Pink City—from Rambagh Palace to Albert Hall Museum—which were designed by prolific architect Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob in the pre-Independence era. That’s the thought that crossed the mind of Sagar Nagpal, Co-founder of The Swinton House, when his eyes fell upon its exterior. 

Nagpal and his co-founder Mohit Gurnani decided to reimagine the space by introducing modern elements, while retaining its old-world charm. They also named the place ‘The Swinton House’ in honour of the famed architect. 

Abhigyan Neogi and Kanika Gupta of Gurugram-based Chromed Design Studio came on board to execute this idea.

The building where The Swinton House is cocooned is almost 150 years old. Upon entering the building, one might be compelled to believe that they are in a time warp. But as one moves past a corridor to enter The Yard—the open courtyard-turned-dining area on the ground floor—the space pulsates with high energy and brings one back to the present era. 

So, let’s just say The Swinton House brings together the best of the new and the old. 

A narrow flight of stairs of the haveli-like structure leads one to the first floor, where The Albion stands, serving modern fusion pan-Asian cuisine. The same level also has a few speakeasy spaces–Mary’s Den and Man’s Cave where private parties can be hosted. 

A culinary feast 

The menu at The Swinton House attempts to reinterpret classics with contemporary touches. This philosophy is reflected abundantly at The Yard.  

As we made ourselves comfortable in one of The Yard’s plush private dining spaces, Brand Chef, Prince Beniwal, gave us an introduction to the concept behind the menu. He'd travelled to more than twelve cities and five countries for six months to find the best inspirations for creating the menu.  

“If you look at the menu, there are dishes inspired by different cuisines of different cultures. The names of the dishes are equally unique and will intrigue you to try it,” he tells YS Life. 

On his recommendation, we tried the Dabeli Wheels–a take on the popular street food item ‘dabeli’. Expect toasted bread shaped in circles, paired with a spicy potato mix, with a generous helping of sev, alongside pomegranate pearls, garlic and tamarind chutney. While the dish is presented in a modern format, every bite is likely to remind one of the classic fare. 

Another dish that caught our attention was the Moroccan chicken kebab. Infused with an in-house mix of Moroccan spices, the kebab is marinated overnight and served with bulgur salad and smoked olives. It’s succulent and balanced in its flavours–a welcome change from most kebabs that tend to  overuse masalas.

One could also sample some of the chaats like the Avocado Papdi Chaat and Kurkuri Palak Fusion–The Yard’s very own version of the very popular palak patta chaat.

The entrées present an extensive menu; so it might take some time to decide. 

We ordered the Paneer Mousse Nest with Pickled Kataifi, and it was a revelation. As the name suggests, it has kataifi nests layered with a fine slice of tandoori paneer, infused with cheese and Indian herbs. It’s perfectly accompanied with raw mango sauce. 

While most paneer dishes tend to be repetitive, what stands out here is the amalgamation of traditional and Western flavours that leave one wanting more. 

The next dish was the Lakhnavi Galouti Kebab, which was average at best. It should ideally melt in the mouth but that wasn’t the case here. 

But if there’s something that would make us want to return to The Yard at The Swinton House, it’s the Fire Grilled Fish Fillet. The fish was covered with an inhouse marinade, grilled to perfection, and served with wine lemon sauce. The quality of the fish was excellent, while the wine lemon sauce added the right amount of tanginess to the dish. 

There’s a lot to try at The Yard–from non-vegetarian gravies and European mains to Egyptian fettir pizzas and biryanis. 

The tipples 

The cocktail programme at The Swinton House, as senior mixologist Dishant Kanojia puts it, focuses on refreshing, fruity and fizzy drinks. 

“Jaipur’s cocktail culture revolves around beating the heat with light, revitalising drinks that incorporate local fruits, herbs and spices. Think cucumber and tropical liqueur, fresh watermelon-based, or pineapple-ginger cocktails,” says Kanojia. 

There’s generous use of indigenous, Ayurvedic ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon, which are believed to have medicinal properties and help balance the body’s energies.

“We also use warm spices like cumin, coriander, and cardamom, which are commonly used in local cuisine, adding depth and warmth to the drinks,” says Kanojia. 

Fermentation and house-made mixers are prioritised here, with the bar team focusing on creating their own fermented mixers–like tepache (a fermented pineapple drink) and tea concoction, which adds a unique touch to the Swinton House’s cocktails.

While we couldn’t try many cocktails, the ones that made the cut were Sassy Jamun that had gin, tropical liqueur, spiced jamun, citrus and Yuzu foam. Its sweet and spicy taste hit the right notes, making for a light and refreshing drink to cool down in the heat. 

Another favourite was the Vetiver Coffee Highball, which had coffee vodka, vetiver cordial, coffee demerara, and citric acid. The drink was a little bitter but that’s what made it unique. This is a fizzy drink that will stay on the palate long after one has had it. 

The last word 

We couldn’t sample the food and drinks at The Albion, which was teeming with visitors. But there’s always a next time!

If you are in Jaipur, do stop at The Swinton House to experience heritage in a reimagined format. 

Price for two (with alcohol): Rs 4,000 with taxes