The first thought as we drove closer to the newly-opened IKEA store in Navi Mumbai, spread across 5,30,000 square feet, was whether it was one of the largest we had seen. The excitement was short-lived, however, since we were denied entry into the facility despite holding a pre-booked slot. Many phone calls and explanations later, we were allowed to enter, albeit for a 30-minute only visit, which is neither enough to see this large store nor worth a two-hour drive from South Mumbai.

The experience inside, however, was a pleasant one. The attention to detail synonymous with the brand was intact: sprawling parking lots, 7,000 well-designed, functional and affordable home furnishing products. The store is spread across two floors—the lower housing products and furniture organised according to sections in a home, and the upper floor of themed rooms for inspiration, a planning hub, and their largest kids area globally—Småland. But, what caught our eye was the 1,000-seater restaurant offering a menu of Indian and Swedish meals at affordable prices.