Cafe Niloufer — Restaurant in Hyderabad

Niloufer (Irani) Tea - Rs.70/-

Cafe Niloufer, Lakdi Ka Pul, Hyderabad

Located near Niloufer Hospital

Serves Irani Tea & Osmani Biscuits & other bakery items

$$$

20.06.25

In the early 19th Century, Persians from Iran particularly from the Yazd Province had migrated to Hyderabad State & received the patronage of the Nizams of Hyderabad. And unlike the Zoarastrian Parsis who migrated to Bombay, Pune & Gujarat in the 17th century & who spoke Marathi & Gujarati, the Iranis in Hyderabad spoke Farsi & the language was very popular until Hyderabad became flooded with cultural immigration from other states in the last couple of decades. Though there were differences in the migrant Persians from western India & Hyderabad, they had one thing in common, their love for their version of tea. And so they started to open Irani tea shops all over the city. The Irani Tea prepares the tea & water concoction separately & the milk is simmered till the volume is half & then they are mixed together.

So today after the heavy Kebab lunch at Sarvi Food Court, me & @thesamcam84 decided to go & try out Irani Tea from the most popular Irani cafe house in Hyderabad, @cafeniloufer . We went to the original outlet but there was too much of a crowd that we decided to visit the other outlet 100meters ahead. There are 9 outlets of Niloufer Cafe in the city where you get Irani tea from 25 rupees a cup to 250 rupees a cup. Surprisingly, Cafe Niloufer was started by a non Irani gentleman in 1978 & each & every outlet is owned by him. It started as a small tea shop opposite Niloufer Hospital & has grown bigger than the hospital itself.

The most popular combination with an Irani Chai is Bun Maska & Osmania biscuits. But we were too full, so we tried just the Irani Chai.

So here is my review of the Niloufer Irani Chai.

Ambience -4.5 This outlet had a proper seating arrangement with tables & chairs but since we didn't know, We entered the more or less take away section which was still pretty nice with the tea station & the biscuits & bakery section.

Service - 4.5 Service was quick as you pay for your token & hand it over to the station & you get your tea almost immediately.

Quantity - 4.0 We had asked for a Niloufer regular tea & we had expected to get a bigger cup considering that we paid 70 rupees a cup. But what we got was just a 150ml cup.

Quality - 4.9 One sip of the tea & it tasted Pure Quality. I've tried a few tea kiosk till date but nothing came close to this.

Taste - 4.9

Let me be blatant enough to say that this was the best cup of tea that I have ever had in my life. All those karak chai & the rest can take a walk in the park. The tea was rich & so creamy, that after every sip there was a layer of cream forming on the top. The taste was something I've never had before. It had some spice but nothing brash & overpowering. This is one thing I'll miss in Hyderabad.

Price - 4.0

Now I understand that this outlet had a sit down section & so may have been priced higher. But 70 rupees for a 150ml cup of chai & having to stand outside just to enjoy it did not justify the price. If we had a table to sit & enjoy our tea with table service then the price would have been agreeable.I believe in the original outlet, this same tea sells for 25 rupees.

Overall-4.47/5.0

Definitely the best tea I have ever had.

Instagram ID -...

We can call it as a very good cafe and bakers too. I am big lover of chai. I loved it very much the every drop we drink is valuable for money. Like the full chai costs nearly 50/- they give in a ceramic cup. The taste of the biscuits are good like should try Osmania biscuits and the malai bun which is too good and the combination works well like every one will like the combination of both tea and having malai bun or Osmania biscuits. Besides these we can find different types of pasteries,burgers,Sandwich’s, veg salads. Like all are good in taste we had a veg burger which has a unique taste when compared to other bakers and the cost is reasonable. Here we get apricot delight which is at 120/- the every bite we eat is very smooth and the taste of it is very excellent it is not that much sweeter every one likes it and if you visit that place my suggestion is to have the apricot delight to which is very reasonable when compared to other stores. The taste of rasmalai cake is bit a very unique taste. Here we find different types of pastries at reasonable price the food they serve and the price they collect is valid and coming to the taste of the biscuits must try is multigrain biscuits they have the unique taste with different type of dry fruits,sesame seeds which are commonly called as nuvvulu in Telugu and the flax seeds which are commonly called as aushalu in Telugu these 3 combinations are very unique and the taste of the biscuits is not that much sweeter sugar patients can also have these types of biscuits. Good to visit the store with neat and clean ambience the staff...

If you’ve lived in Hyderabad long enough, you’ll know that Nilofer Cafe at Lakdi ka Pul isn’t just a tea stop — it’s an institution. I dropped by recently, and here’s the honest verdict:

Tea: The star of the show. It’s strong, creamy, and has just the right amount of sweetness — the kind of cup that can cure a bad day or seal a friendship in one sip. Hyderabadis swear by it, and I get why.

Maska Bun: Simple yet sinful. Soft, warm bun with a thick layer of butter that melts just enough to leave your fingers shiny. It’s comfort food at its purest — best enjoyed while dunking into the tea.

Chocochip Osmania Biscuits: Now this one was a delightful surprise. The familiar salty-sweet Osmania base, upgraded with little bursts of chocolate. It feels like Nilofer decided to have a little fun, and I’m glad they did. Perfect when you want something different without betraying tradition.

Dry Fruit Biscuit: Rich, crumbly, and studded with crunchy bits of dry fruit. It feels like a festive snack you don’t need an occasion for. Pair it with tea, and you’ve got yourself a mini celebration.

The vibe at the Lakdi ka Pul outlet is classic Nilofer — no unnecessary frills, just good food, strong chai, and the steady hum of conversations. It’s not just about what you eat or drink here, but the little pause it gives you in the middle of Hyderabad’s chaos.

Verdict: Go for the tea, stay for the nostalgia, and don’t leave without at least one biscuit...