In 2000, Amethyst opened its doors for the very first time at the century-old Sundar Mahal in Jeypore Colony, Gopalapuram. Amethyst, Kiran Rao’s brainchild, was an effort in restoring the ancient haveli, filling it with antiques and art, even as her boutique and café flourished on the property. Ten years later, Amethyst moved on to a new restoration project, this time to a granary warehouse space
on Whites Road, Royapettah. Creating a new space for Amethyst’s worlds within; a larger canvas to enjoy. The old building has been transformed into an idyllic retreat in the heart of the city. A cobbled path winds through a lush garden, leading to the sprawling veranda of the Wild Garden Café. Amethyst is a dynamic space – with constantly shifting pieces of antique furniture and art and a verdant garden. It is more than a boutique or cafe; it is an experience. Bloom, the flower shop, is filled with exotic flowers and foliage. Sunlight streams through the skylights into the luxurious boutique upstairs, which showcases designer apparel, jewellery, homeware and grooming products, curated by Kiran. The Folly, set in the midst of the beautiful lush green gardens of Amethyst is a space for exhibitions, art shows, book readings, film screenings and more. Amethyst also has a small space at La Maison Rose in Pondicherry and another store called The Amethyst Room at a partner space, Chamiers, in Chennai that showcases designer apparel, jewellery and footwear. The third store in the city at Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam houses a wide range of exquisite gold and silver jewellery by Amrapali and an eclectic range of apparel by Bandhej. Timings:
Wild Garden Cafe, Whites Road: 10am to 11.30pm
Bloom - The Flower Shop, Whites Road: 9am to 7.30pm
Amethyst Boutique, Whites Road: 11am to 7.30pm
The Amethyst Room, Chamiers: 10.30am to 7.30pm
Amrapali, Nungambakkam: 11am to 7.30pm
Bandhej, Nungambakkam: 11am to 7.30pm
