Simran Bakshi is a hospitality entrepreneur, brand visionary, and co-founder of INDN and 16 Sola—two bold and immersive concepts redefining Indian dining and cocktail culture in the heart of New York City’s NoMad neighborhood. With a mind for strategy and a heart for storytelling, Simran has a unique ability to turn ideas into atmospheres, and concepts into destinations.
At INDN, Simran presents Indian cuisine in a way that feels both rooted and refreshing—focusing on small plates that are authentically prepared, thoughtfully plated, and designed to pair with a vibrant cocktail program. Just beneath INDN, 16 Sola lives as a completely different world—NYC’s first Indian-inspired cocktail lounge, bathed in red light, laced with lo-fi house music, and powered by a menu of globally ambitious, spice-forward drinks.
Simran doesn’t follow trends—he builds from a place of purpose. His process is meticulous: from music to menu curation, from lighting design to service philosophy, every guest touchpoint is shaped with intention. That clarity of vision stems from over a decade of experience building brands from the ground up.
Before opening INDN and 16 Sola, Simran and his wife Kanika Vij Bakshi co-founded Spice Bazaar, a modern Indian restaurant in Westfield, New Jersey that became a standout on the regional dining scene. Over seven years, they built it into a thriving business with a strong brand identity, loyal following, and creative approach that blurred the lines between traditional and modern without compromising on authenticity. That chapter gave Simran a deep understanding of not just food, but the psychology of experience—how to make people feel something from the moment they walk in.
Simran is also known for his leadership style—hands-on, collaborative, and emotionally invested. Together with Kanika, he’s not only designing spaces, but building culture. From training teams to designing scent profiles, from creating playlists to overseeing glassware selection—he is involved at every level, crafting a world where Indian hospitality feels exciting, elevated, and unapologetically cool.