6 Iconic Eateries In Hyderabad's Old City

Shadab Hotel, the popular restaurant in the heart of Old City, is celebrated for its authentic Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisine. While it is renowned for its flavorful biryanis, the restaurant also has a terrific selection of succulent kebabs. You’ll find all the classics from hariyal kebab and tangri kebab to kalmi kebab and tandoori chicken. Their kebabs are grilled to perfection, and intensely seasoned and they have a decadent flavour profile that’s high on savoury notes. They also make a mean chicken 65 which has many takers.

Popular for its classic Indian sweets and bakery goods, Pista House is a well-known bakery in Hyderabad. The eatery serves a variety of cakes, pastries, and bread in addition to the best haleem and biryani. Founded by Mr. Mohd Abdul Majeed, a visionary, driven, and enterprising businessman with a thorough understanding of bakeries and customer preferences. This power is what has made Pista House one of the most well-liked eateries in the Telangana state.

There is an assortment of delectable cookies to select from. They have a variety of cookies at all of their locations, including dum ke roat, an iconic Hyderabadi cookie prepared during Muharram, pista special cookies, Osmania biscuits, and chand biscuits.

Café Nimrah should definitely be on the list of places while visiting Hyderabad and have plans on seeing the old city. Nimrah, which won people over with its mouthwatering cookies and Irani chai, draws people from Hyderabad's modern suburbs as well as Old City. Before founding Nimrah, its founder, Abood Bin Aslam Al Katheri, studied baking and worked for almost 26 years. Nimrah stood the test of time, expanding quickly during these 25 years. 

This little restaurant, which is close to Charminar, has been providing Osmania biscuits and Irani chai to hundreds of customers every day. When visiting the shop, try the Khopra Biscuits (coconut biscuits) and Shirmal (saffron-flavored traditional flatbread) as Cafe Nirmah is known for popular for it. The city's foodies even claim that Nirmah serves the creamiest Irani chai, served with a bun and a dollop of maska (butter).

Café Bahar, established in 1973, is synonymous with comfort food and timeless flavours. Located near the historic Charminar, this restaurant has earned its reputation for serving soul-satisfying biryani that captures the essence of Hyderabad's culinary legacy. The biryani at Café Bahar is known for its long-grained, fragrant rice, tender meat, and a medley of spices that capture the essence of true Hyderabadi biryani. 

The Dum Biryani here is the biggest USP, with each grain of rice infused with the essence of aromatic spices. The Chicken 65 Biryani, a spicy variant of the classic, is a must-try for anyone who loves spicy biryani. The biryani at Café Bahar is known for its long-grained, fragrant rice, tender meat, and a medley of spices that capture the essence of true Hyderabadi biryani. The portions are generous, making it an ideal spot for those who love to indulge. The restaurant's diverse menu also includes other Hyderabadi specialities, especially kebabs and grills.

Nestled in the vibrant Lad Bazaar near Charminar, is a hidden gem that has been serving traditional drinks for decades. From the rich and frothy Irani chai to the special matka doodh, this place offers a nostalgic experience that transports visitors to a bygone era. Their falooda enjoys a cult-like status among local foodies and tourists. They have lassi at just 60 bucks, but if you want to indulge yourself, go for their Charminar special lassi which has a dollop of strawberry ice cream in it!

The brand is around 125 years old and legend has it that their recipes were favoured by Nizams as well. Hameedi is best known for their traditional desserts like Saffron Ashrafi, Badam Ke Jaali and Chandi Ke Ashrafi. Besides Turkish sweets you’ll find a taste of some authentic Afghan and North Indian delicacies. But their biggest USP is their Jouzi Halwa, a rich golden-red halwa featuring ground almonds, cardamom and hints of saffron. It’s fudgy, and velvety and has an umami-rich profile that is famous all over the country.