PEAKLIFE

Houz Café Bar at Worldmark Gurugram is a refreshing addition to the thriving food culture of the metropolis. Spread across two aesthetically designed floors, the café is conceptualized and run by four industry experts – Sumit Singh, an avid traveller and foodie; Rahul Gulia, who brings energy and superior hospitality to the table; Tarun Pawar, a generational businessman with a keen eye for detail; and Nitender Sinmahar, the analytical force behind the business operations. The café serves world cuisine and cocktails – perfect for daytime get-togethers or evening drinks and dinner. Co-founder Sumit Singh shares with us the idea and vision behind the city’s latest food haven.

How did Houz Cafe come into inception? What is the concept behind it?

Houz Café Bar is our dream project. We have been part of the Café Industry in Delhi since 2011. We felt that there is a great scope for a café-cum-bar culture in Gurgaon which we believe we are delivering with our fresh and modern take on world food & tipple. Our vision was to have a vibrant environment integrating our well-thought-out menu with great live music. We wanted the space to be well-lit and green with a modern touch of different interior designs from all around the world.

In the new normal, people are seeking enhanced experiences. How is Houz Cafe Bar catering to that demand?

Houz has reinvented the definition of a café. We have designed the café in a way that it transitions from a serene lunch café to a bubbly and charming café bar in the evenings, where good music and exceptional food flow in perfect harmony.

What are some challenges you’ve had to face along the journey?

The biggest challenge has been the pandemic. We were in the process of setting up our café when the pandemic first hit in 2020, so construction took a little longer than we had planned. But we are very glad that we took the time to set up our ideal version of the café, making sure that everyone involved in the process was taking precautions and staying safe. Now the challenges are a little different. Our main priority now is to keep the Houz team mentally and physically healthy in these rough times.

What has the response to the café been like so far?

The response has been better than we anticipated at a time such as now. We are pleasantly overwhelmed and grateful for such an amazing response. It gives us sheer joy to see people singing along with our live bands over the weekends. The bar is on its way to becoming the new hot place for the crowd in Gurgoan. We are keeping our fingers crossed!

What are some trends you can see emerging in the food industry, especially the café culture in India?

I believe more personalised experiences in terms of food and vibe are trending right now. Café culture is picking up as well. To us, café culture is more about personal touch in all the aspects, be it food, service or entertainment.

Is there a success mantra that you follow?

Our success mantra is giving personalized experiences to our customers and putting their needs at the foremost.

What are you doing when you are not managing the business?

I love to travel, read and seek adventures. Hills have my heart. So, I often travel to the hills with my family to take in the beauty and serene environment.