Brewing up a storm
Picture courtesy: Krishnendu Halder
Everything about Farzi Cafe spells oomph, including the powder room downstairs that could pass off as an art gallery. Step into the cafe and the fuss-free ambience is inviting and soothing--with dark wood tables and alfresco seating.
The menu comprises Indian fusion food and experimental cuisine such as tasteful ratatouille gujia or dumplings filled with dal-chawal and a piece of fried papad to go with. Grilled chermoula prawns are a rage here, besides matka chole or malabari paratha paired with slow-cooked baby lamb shanks. Rasmalai tres leches for dessert would make for the perfect end to a meal that is sinfully indulgent.
At Road No 36, Banjara Hills Secunderabad Tel 23108888Price for two Rs 1,800 (inclusive of alcohol) plus taxes
Classic Brew
Tea Lounge
Chef Mohit Mishra, Sous Chef, Taj Krishna. Photo: Krishnendu Halder
Take a journey back in time with the Tea Lounge at Taj Krishna. With delicious cookies and fruit cake, soft salmon sandwiches and other high-tea goodies on offer, it feels like you're in a Jane Austen novel.
If you would rather like it to keep it more desi, opt for the Nizami vegetarian or nonvegetarian spread featuring pan aur gulkand sandwich in rose bread or the traditional Hyderabadi khubani ka meetha tartlets to go with your tea.
Price Rs 1,500 plus taxesAt Taj Krishna, Road No 1,Banjara Hills Tel 66662323
Pet Project
Autumn Leaf
Lose yourself in the charm of this lovely home-turned-cafe in a quiet street in Jubilee Hills. Spend an entire afternoon in the garden over a plate of goat cheese phyllo puffs and other such wondrous delights. Sample shakshuka, an Egyptian breakfast of eggs with tomatoes and peppers or pear salad with candied walnuts and blue cheese dressing for a meal that is as light as it is exotic.
If you would rather have a slow pressed juice than a coffee, there are options for seasonal fruits. Or indulge from their selection called Cafe Vienna, made with whipped cream or macchiato, a light brew done up with foamed milk. The best news is that the cafe is happy to host you with your canine friends too.
At Road 41, Near Pedamma Temple, Jubilee HillsTel 9963201589Price for two Rs 800 plus taxes
Magic Beans
Photo: Krishnendu Halder
Roastery Coffee House
The coffee experience here is nothing short of exotic, for it is the only roastery in the city that freshly roasts its green beans every day. The little white bungalow-turned-cafe has minimal decor, artsy planters from Puducherry and 32-year-old Nishant Sinha's passion for coffee.
"Indian coffees are amongst the best in the world but have received no recognition," he says, explaining the various coffees listed on the menu alongside information on their origin, besides the brewing technique involved, "which lend the coffee its distinct flavour." His favourite is the cold brew-coffee brewed in cold water for 14 hours. There are no teas or milkshakes on the menu and the food too is such that it is best paired with coffee, with suggestions on pairing mentioned alongside.
"In an endeavour to utilise every last bit, the leftover coffee powder is used as compost for the plants in the backyard," adds his partner and fiancee, Neha Srivastava, 30, showing us the coffee shrubs in the garden brought over as souvenirs from Chikmagalur.
At BNR Colony, Road No 14,Banjara HillsTel 8019661369Price for two Rs 800 plus taxes
Bicycle Diaries
Photo: Krishnendu Halder
Ciclo Cafe
You may or may not be a cycling enthusiast but you will love this spacious cafe housing high-end bicycles for sale and its English drawing room style decor featuring cycle graffiti and miniature mantle top models, besides fun eclectic seating.
The menu is equally vibrant, with dishes such as ciclo spicy fried idli and turkey salami and moong sprouts on whole wheat pizza, apart from local flavours such as Telangana mutton appearing on the menu alongside waffles and tiger burgers. Their hazelnut cappuccino or cafe mocha done up with chocolate sauce and Philadelphia cheesecake from the dessert selection are not to be missed.
Price for two Rs 800 plus taxesAt 801, Road No 36, Jubilee HillsTel 7995991111
Farm Fresh
Cafe Kikaboni
Ranjeet Yadav, owner, Kikaboni. Photo: Krishnendu Halder
Sip on a tall avocado and banana smoothie as you relax in the warm sun at the patio that makes up the cafe at Kikaboni (which means organic in Swahili), a house converted into an organic store.
With just a couple of tables and greenery around, it is the perfect place for some soul-searching over coffee and a quinoa salad or broccoli soup. Ask for the salad of the day to sample the chef's specials, and their vegan desserts. You'll come away feeling happy, fresh and rejuvenated.
Price for two Rs 600 plus taxesAt Road No 36, Jubilee HillsTel 64440027
Hot wheels
Ashwin Jain (left) and Karrar Taher, co-founders, Driven. Photo: Krishnendu Halder
Driven Cafe
Coffee has never been this fancy, what with a Ferrari or Ducati for company. At Driven, hire a cool bike or car and while you are here, treat yourself to something special like a Turkish coffee or frozen mocha, besides specialty espresso brews including cafe prana and the smooth as silk illy moka.
While a table or two have been made from old chassis parts, the heavy auto gear and bare bulbs here add to the grunge appeal of the space.
Price for two Rs 600 plus taxesAt Kapil Towers, ISB Road, Financial District Tel 9160018420
Mix Up
Varun Sharma, owner, The Coffee Cup. Photo: Krishnendu Halder
The coffee cup
Among the oldest standalone cafes in the city, The Coffee Cup is the go-to place in Secunderabad, with folks queueing outside every morning for breakfast. The wide bookshelf and retro posters lining up the walls offer enough stimulation even if you are dining by yourself.
A breezy hangout for fun with friends or a casual date, the rustic ambience only adds to the charm of this little eatery that can transport you to Goa or Morocco. The menu features no-fuss and sumptuous choices including a range of grilled sandwiches and egg preparations, besides caffeine indulgences like black forest mocha and Jamaican latte.
"We will soon introduce a variety of Indian street food," says owner, Varun Sharma, 42, who started the cafe more than eight years ago.
Price for two Rs 700 plus taxesAt Sainikpuri, Secunderabad Tel 30676373
Classy Stop
Vandana Pai (left), Ashwini Pai Jhabak and Lavina Ramnanio (centre). Photo: Krishnendu Halder
Van Lavino
About a year ago, when Vandana Pai, 53, along with daughter Ashwini Pai Jhabak, 31, and Lavina Ramnani, 29, came together to open a Parisian-style patisserie, they knew they were giving the city something different and classy. "But I think we started something that could not be stopped," says Pai about the increasing popularity of their place.
"We eventually introduced dining options too for those looking to grab more than just coffee and cakes," she says, showing us around the dessert counters lined with white chocolate delights, fruit gateaux and cheesecakes. Indulge in their Spanish churros and Belgian waffles besides a wide range of crepes, sandwiches and pastas.
Price for two Rs 1,200 plus taxesAt Road No 36, Jubilee HillsTel 23559770
Artful Endeavour
Supriya Lahoti, owner, Gallery Cafe. Photo: Krishnendu Halder
Gallery Cafe
Art blends seamlessly with a pot of coffee and sandwich platters at the Gallery Cafe, where everything is art in itself, from the handpainted chairs to the china bearing replicas of popular Indian artists' works.
Look around the display of paintings and photography or indulge in a little drawing of your own as you wait for your hibiscus tea infusion or a cup of the perfect French press style coffee. In case you were wondering, everything (including the tables and chairs) is on sale.
Price for two Rs 700 plus taxesAt Kalakriti Art Gallery, Road No 10, Banjara HillsTel 66564466Calorie Wise
Whiteboard Cafe
Photo: Solomon Dcruz
This first floor cafe in the heart of Hitech city is the perfect place to discuss ideas or hire a cubicle for a corporate meeting, besides a pit stop to grab a healthy bite. From oats pongal to multigrain dosas and low fat spinach soup or their very popular three bean salad, there's a lot of guilt-free food to pick from. With a range of vegan goodies on offer, they have taken healthy eating in the city to another level.
The best part is that these nutrition packed and low-cal dishes are not even a tad bit boring.
Price for two Rs 800 plus taxesAt Bullet King Towers, Opp CyberGateway, Madhapur Tel 9100999015
Exotic Sip
Trident's F&B team members, Zoya and Prakash
The exclusive range of teas served at Chai Bar at Trident's restaurant Kanak is perfect for a post-meal refresher. Green, yellow, black or white, the herbal teas here are sourced from popular as well as lesser known estates across India.
Their mango-flavoured Assam tea and fine selections from the Makaibari estate of West Bengal are among the most sought after.
The menu comprises Indian fusion food and experimental cuisine such as tasteful ratatouille gujia or dumplings filled with dal-chawal and a piece of fried papad to go with. Grilled chermoula prawns are a rage here, besides matka chole or malabari paratha paired with slow-cooked baby lamb shanks. Rasmalai tres leches for dessert would make for the perfect end to a meal that is sinfully indulgent.
Tea Lounge
Chef Mohit Mishra, Sous Chef, Taj Krishna. Photo: Krishnendu HalderTake a journey back in time with the Tea Lounge at Taj Krishna. With delicious cookies and fruit cake, soft salmon sandwiches and other high-tea goodies on offer, it feels like you're in a Jane Austen novel.
If you would rather like it to keep it more desi, opt for the Nizami vegetarian or nonvegetarian spread featuring pan aur gulkand sandwich in rose bread or the traditional Hyderabadi khubani ka meetha tartlets to go with your tea.
Price Rs 1,500 plus taxesAt Taj Krishna, Road No 1,Banjara Hills Tel 66662323
Pet Project
Autumn Leaf
Lose yourself in the charm of this lovely home-turned-cafe in a quiet street in Jubilee Hills. Spend an entire afternoon in the garden over a plate of goat cheese phyllo puffs and other such wondrous delights. Sample shakshuka, an Egyptian breakfast of eggs with tomatoes and peppers or pear salad with candied walnuts and blue cheese dressing for a meal that is as light as it is exotic.
If you would rather have a slow pressed juice than a coffee, there are options for seasonal fruits. Or indulge from their selection called Cafe Vienna, made with whipped cream or macchiato, a light brew done up with foamed milk. The best news is that the cafe is happy to host you with your canine friends too.
At Road 41, Near Pedamma Temple, Jubilee HillsTel 9963201589Price for two Rs 800 plus taxes
Magic Beans
Photo: Krishnendu HalderRoastery Coffee House
The coffee experience here is nothing short of exotic, for it is the only roastery in the city that freshly roasts its green beans every day. The little white bungalow-turned-cafe has minimal decor, artsy planters from Puducherry and 32-year-old Nishant Sinha's passion for coffee.
"Indian coffees are amongst the best in the world but have received no recognition," he says, explaining the various coffees listed on the menu alongside information on their origin, besides the brewing technique involved, "which lend the coffee its distinct flavour." His favourite is the cold brew-coffee brewed in cold water for 14 hours. There are no teas or milkshakes on the menu and the food too is such that it is best paired with coffee, with suggestions on pairing mentioned alongside.
"In an endeavour to utilise every last bit, the leftover coffee powder is used as compost for the plants in the backyard," adds his partner and fiancee, Neha Srivastava, 30, showing us the coffee shrubs in the garden brought over as souvenirs from Chikmagalur.
At BNR Colony, Road No 14,Banjara HillsTel 8019661369Price for two Rs 800 plus taxes
Bicycle Diaries
Photo: Krishnendu HalderCiclo Cafe
You may or may not be a cycling enthusiast but you will love this spacious cafe housing high-end bicycles for sale and its English drawing room style decor featuring cycle graffiti and miniature mantle top models, besides fun eclectic seating.
The menu is equally vibrant, with dishes such as ciclo spicy fried idli and turkey salami and moong sprouts on whole wheat pizza, apart from local flavours such as Telangana mutton appearing on the menu alongside waffles and tiger burgers. Their hazelnut cappuccino or cafe mocha done up with chocolate sauce and Philadelphia cheesecake from the dessert selection are not to be missed.
Price for two Rs 800 plus taxesAt 801, Road No 36, Jubilee HillsTel 7995991111
Farm Fresh
Cafe Kikaboni
Ranjeet Yadav, owner, Kikaboni. Photo: Krishnendu HalderSip on a tall avocado and banana smoothie as you relax in the warm sun at the patio that makes up the cafe at Kikaboni (which means organic in Swahili), a house converted into an organic store.
With just a couple of tables and greenery around, it is the perfect place for some soul-searching over coffee and a quinoa salad or broccoli soup. Ask for the salad of the day to sample the chef's specials, and their vegan desserts. You'll come away feeling happy, fresh and rejuvenated.
Price for two Rs 600 plus taxesAt Road No 36, Jubilee HillsTel 64440027
Hot wheels
Ashwin Jain (left) and Karrar Taher, co-founders, Driven. Photo: Krishnendu HalderDriven Cafe
Coffee has never been this fancy, what with a Ferrari or Ducati for company. At Driven, hire a cool bike or car and while you are here, treat yourself to something special like a Turkish coffee or frozen mocha, besides specialty espresso brews including cafe prana and the smooth as silk illy moka.
While a table or two have been made from old chassis parts, the heavy auto gear and bare bulbs here add to the grunge appeal of the space.
Price for two Rs 600 plus taxesAt Kapil Towers, ISB Road, Financial District Tel 9160018420
Mix Up
Varun Sharma, owner, The Coffee Cup. Photo: Krishnendu HalderThe coffee cup
Among the oldest standalone cafes in the city, The Coffee Cup is the go-to place in Secunderabad, with folks queueing outside every morning for breakfast. The wide bookshelf and retro posters lining up the walls offer enough stimulation even if you are dining by yourself.
A breezy hangout for fun with friends or a casual date, the rustic ambience only adds to the charm of this little eatery that can transport you to Goa or Morocco. The menu features no-fuss and sumptuous choices including a range of grilled sandwiches and egg preparations, besides caffeine indulgences like black forest mocha and Jamaican latte.
"We will soon introduce a variety of Indian street food," says owner, Varun Sharma, 42, who started the cafe more than eight years ago.
Price for two Rs 700 plus taxesAt Sainikpuri, Secunderabad Tel 30676373
Classy Stop
Vandana Pai (left), Ashwini Pai Jhabak and Lavina Ramnanio (centre). Photo: Krishnendu HalderVan Lavino
About a year ago, when Vandana Pai, 53, along with daughter Ashwini Pai Jhabak, 31, and Lavina Ramnani, 29, came together to open a Parisian-style patisserie, they knew they were giving the city something different and classy. "But I think we started something that could not be stopped," says Pai about the increasing popularity of their place.
"We eventually introduced dining options too for those looking to grab more than just coffee and cakes," she says, showing us around the dessert counters lined with white chocolate delights, fruit gateaux and cheesecakes. Indulge in their Spanish churros and Belgian waffles besides a wide range of crepes, sandwiches and pastas.
Price for two Rs 1,200 plus taxesAt Road No 36, Jubilee HillsTel 23559770
Artful Endeavour
Supriya Lahoti, owner, Gallery Cafe. Photo: Krishnendu HalderGallery Cafe
Art blends seamlessly with a pot of coffee and sandwich platters at the Gallery Cafe, where everything is art in itself, from the handpainted chairs to the china bearing replicas of popular Indian artists' works.
Look around the display of paintings and photography or indulge in a little drawing of your own as you wait for your hibiscus tea infusion or a cup of the perfect French press style coffee. In case you were wondering, everything (including the tables and chairs) is on sale.
Price for two Rs 700 plus taxesAt Kalakriti Art Gallery, Road No 10, Banjara HillsTel 66564466Calorie Wise
Whiteboard Cafe
Photo: Solomon DcruzThis first floor cafe in the heart of Hitech city is the perfect place to discuss ideas or hire a cubicle for a corporate meeting, besides a pit stop to grab a healthy bite. From oats pongal to multigrain dosas and low fat spinach soup or their very popular three bean salad, there's a lot of guilt-free food to pick from. With a range of vegan goodies on offer, they have taken healthy eating in the city to another level.
The best part is that these nutrition packed and low-cal dishes are not even a tad bit boring.
Price for two Rs 800 plus taxesAt Bullet King Towers, Opp CyberGateway, Madhapur Tel 9100999015
Exotic Sip
Trident's F&B team members, Zoya and PrakashThe exclusive range of teas served at Chai Bar at Trident's restaurant Kanak is perfect for a post-meal refresher. Green, yellow, black or white, the herbal teas here are sourced from popular as well as lesser known estates across India.
Their mango-flavoured Assam tea and fine selections from the Makaibari estate of West Bengal are among the most sought after.
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