What do you get when you have a founder who is an architect by profession but a music lover at heart? Turns out, it is a space designed with impeccable acoustics to create the most immersive live music experiences in a soulful setting. After opening Windmills Craftworks in Bengaluru and Texas, the third instalment has made its way to Hyderabad, located inside Knowledge City in Gachibowli. “Windmills Craftworks grew out of a long relationship with music and listening. Our idea was to create a space where music received the same care and thought as architecture, food, and beverages. And so, it was conceived as a place where listeners are encouraged to slow down and listen deeply, and musicians performing feel supported and heard as opposed to being a background act as patrons eat and chat,” shares founder Kamal Sagar.
As you enter the premises, you are initially greeted by a reception desk before the staff escorts you ahead. Behind a heavy door lies an expansive venue where books and wood reign supreme, leading up to a stage where the musical act takes place. I learn that the thoughtful W-shaped seating configuration is designed to ensure unobstructed views and a heightened sense of theatre, while the book-lined interiors form both a visual and acoustic layer, with shelves of varied depths naturally diffusing sound. “There are approximately 8,000 leather‑bound books on the stage, with another 8,000 hand‑picked titles distributed across the venue. From the outset, these were integral to the acoustic strategy rather than being decorative elements introduced later,” reveals Sagar. With every piece of furniture made in-house, the space gets its very own customisation required, yet retains its signature design that’s seen across its other outlets. “Materials that age well and carry texture contribute both visually and acoustically, delivering sound that feels calm and balanced. This approach reflects our design ethos of restraint and care,” he elaborates. As I step outside to the alfresco area, the facade of Windmills Craftworks replete with wire-cut bricks comes into view. These ground the architecture with their tactile, earthy quality while the seating area showcases natural elements like water, air, and greenery in equal measure.
After a day visit that fills the space with natural light and makes you want to pick up a book as you enjoy a bite or coffee, it was time to see it again once the sun went down. Demurely-lit to create an enchanting ambience, the warm glow is further accentuated by wooden interiors. The evening was set for its opening act by Stéphane Wrembel Trio known for their gypsy jazz performance. Headlined by Stéphane Wrembel and joined by Josh Kaye on guitar and Ari Folman-Cohen on bass, they gave a riveting performance enthralling us all. Wrembel, who is best-known for his distinct jazz soundtracks in movies like Midnight in Paris and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, shared interesting tidbits about his compositions. Among them, the music’s India connection was a revelation, including a song inspired by god of wind Hanuman, and how gypsy origins were from Rajasthan. The trio alternated between swing, Spanish essence, Django, and gypsy jazz, and the carefully-created acoustics of the space ensured the sound was diffused evenly across the interiors.
While music remained the star of the evening, their menu featuring signature drinks and dishes kept us satiated. From grapefruit and avocado salad to curry leaf chicken kebabs, braised pork belly, and broccoli tikki, the options offered are varied. The cocktails draw their names from popular tracks such as Shine On, a classic negroni with a truffle-infused finish and a gold leaf that crowns the drink, or Here Comes the Sun that uses house-infused turmeric tequila to give the drink its yellow glow. And for beer lovers, craft brews like Origami Harvest Hefeweizen, Open Mic Hazy IPA, and more, are available on tap.
“We want Windmills Craftworks to be a place people return to not only for performances, but for how the space makes them feel: calm, present, and connected. Music, architecture, books, food, and beer are woven together to offer a complete, immersive experience that is unhurried, deeply sensory, and quietly soul-stirring,” concludes Sagar. With ticketed live gigs lined up for weekends by Indian and international musicians of great repute, the space isn’t just another new opening, but a venue that lets patrons socialise with music at the fore.
