Armani/Caffe at Jio World Plaza in Mumbai | Photo credit: Reliance Retail

Indian retail conglomerate Reliance Retail has launched premium café concept Armani/Caffe in India with a site at the Jio World Plaza in Mumbai. 
 

Reliance Retail, which counts luxury fashion brands Burberry, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss and Versace among its licensed portfolio, entered negotiations with Italian luxury fashion house Georgio Armani to bring the Michelin-starred Armani/Caffe to India in late 2022. 

The Mumbai-based retail group opened its first licensed Armani retail store in 2008 and operates Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange and EA7 outlets in shopping centres across India. 

Located next to the Giorgio Armani boutique at Jio World Plaza, the 52-seater Armani/Caffe serves range of classic Italian dishes, an extensive wine menu and premium coffee range. 

The Mumbai-based retail group made its first foray into the food and beverage industry in June 2022 with an agreement to launch Pret A Manger in India – a venture that has yielded 19 stores to-date. 

In May 2024, Reliance Retail unveiled Muji Café – a minimalist café concept developed by Japanese premium household retailer Muji – at Jio World Plaza and plans to open India’s first EL&N outlet at the same site in the fourth quarter, 2024. 

Founded in 1975, Emporio Armani first ventured into hospitality in 1998 with an Emporio Armani Caffe in Paris, France, and now operates the restaurant chain across seven markets globally.  

The Italian fashion house opened the first Armani/Caffe in Cannes, France, in 2013 and has since launched the standalone café concept in Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, the UAE.