“I wanted to portray iconic spots; ones that are a part of people’s lives but often lost in the cacophony,” says Aditya Raj, a self-taught fine artist from Jaipur.

His sketches of famous locations and eateries across India have a fan following. Here’s a look at them:

1. Leopold Cafe, Mumbai The eatery still holds the bullet wounds of the terror attacks that shook the city in 2008. Since its inception in 1871 to date, the Leopold Cafe continues to be an evening haunt for those who simply want a chilled beer and a classic vibe.

2. Bademiya, Mumbai The restaurant was started by a young boy Mohammad Yaseen who arrived in Mumbai to earn a living by cutting mutton. One day in 1946, his guru gave him Rs 20 and asked him to use the money to set up a make-shift seekh kebab (grilled meat) counter in Colaba. Today, that place is Bademiya.

3. Wenger’s, Delhi Started by a Swiss couple and designed by British architect Sir Robert Tor Russell, Wenger’s was one of the first eateries to give Delhiites a taste of Swiss treats — such as Swiss chocolate, Swiss roll, and pudding.

4. Britannia & Co., Mumbai “Strolling down a beautiful lane in Fort, I arrived at Britannia & Co.,” wrote Aditya with the picture he shared on Instagram. “The place was established in 1923 by Mr Boman Koinoor. He was known to look after each customer personally,” says Aditya.

5. Nirula’s, Delhi What started as a colloquial ice cream parlour that would often give children free sundaes on producing a report card with straight As, slowly gained a cult status as one of India’s first fast food restaurants.

6. Appu’s Hotel, Delhi An authentic Malayali restaurant in Delhi, Appu’s is a haunt for those seeking Kerala-style food in the national capital. “The duck fry is to die for,” says Aditya.

7. Kyani & Co., Mumbai The story goes that in 1904, a gentleman Mr Khodram started a small bakery in Marine Lines, Mumbai. Known as Kyani & Co., the main draw until 1995 was the freshly baked biscuits, bread and tea cakes until Farokh Shokri took over and expanded the venture into what it is today.

8. Mocambo Cafe, Mumbai As Aditya recounts, “I reached Mocambo on a sweltering afternoon after having walked many kilometres around Fort and was greeted by the kindest staff who welcomed me with a smile.”

9. Yazdani Bakery, Mumbai A plaque declaring Yazdani Bakery as an ‘Urban Heritage Monument’ in 2007 adorns the walls, and if you are observant enough, there is a board with the day’s specials written in chalk.

10.  Elco’s, Bandra What is now a brand name for chaat, was a simple pushcart in 1968. Outside the Elco market in Bandra, Mohandas Bhagnani started selling panipuri on a cart, which got so much love from people that it turned into the empire it is today.

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