Vijayawada — Second Iteration

Where the narrative refined itself through craft and cultural detail.

The Vijayawada outlet marks the second chapter of Soul of South, where the concept matured from exploration to clarity. Building on the foundation set in Film Nagar, this space deepens the vocabulary through crafted interventions, regionally rooted accents, and a more confident expression of memory and material. Here, the celebration of food extends into the environment—handmade elements, artisanal finishes, and cultural references that feel lived rather than styled, allowing the story to settle into a more defined identity.

Soul of South is conceived as a celebration of food, memory, and cultural continuity. More than a restaurant, it is an atmosphere shaped by stories—of kitchens once alive with slow rituals, of recipes passed down quietly, and of celebrations rooted deeply in the everyday lives of South India’s five states.

The design begins with a clear intention: to let food lead the space. Rather than treating the project as an architectural statement, the ambience is shaped to complement the culinary narrative—allowing flavours, textures, and traditions to find spatial expression. Material choices emerge from this dialogue between nostalgia and the present. Modern concrete forms a grounded, understated backdrop, while red geru clay—once common in traditional South Indian homes—reintroduces warmth and memory. Natural teak wood bridges generations, a material that continues to live comfortably across time.

Celebration is woven subtly through accents and details. Art and craft become storytellers—each element referencing festivals, rituals, and the hands of artisans behind them. From handcrafted pieces to culturally rooted motifs, the interiors quietly honour South India’s makers, bringing forgotten crafts and festive expressions back into everyday view.

At Soul of South, design becomes a medium of revival—where ambience supports cuisine, craft supports culture, and space becomes a living archive of traditions, reinterpreted for a new generation without losing their soul.