A Fun Timeout with Foodies!

Hello Beautiful Peeps!

This is my first time posting in the Foodies Bee Hive community and I'm excited to share my Hyderabad food experiences with all of you. Hyderabad is a city in a India that I recently visited with my friends over the weekend. Hope you enjoy reading through!

Mannam Chocolates

This is a really pleasant cafe, and what made it even more interesting was that they made their own chocolates in-house.

Mannam Chocolates and Desserts

As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the sight of beautifully crafted chocolates and the rich aroma of cocoa being roasted—it was absolutely amazing and instantly made us hungry. The place had detailed information about the chocolate-making process, and we could actually see the cocoa being roasted, ground, and processed. We took some time to explore the restaurant, taking in all the details, before finally settling down at our table.

Chocolate making process

The restaurant area was very green. There were trees and plants all around, which I absolutely loved. And it was quite a nice atmosphere there.

The Restaurant Area

We ordered a Smoked Salmon toast, Kheema Paratha, and Avakai Falafel as the main course, each bringing something unique to the table. My friends went absolutely crazy over the salmon, raving about the flavor and texture. I, being an experimental non-vegetarian, decided to take a small bite—just to see what the fuss was about but wasn't a fan. It just tasted salty and nothing else.

The Avakai Falafel, though? That was a whole different story. I really liked it. The flavors were bold and paired so well with the creamy hummus, which, by the way, was an instant hit with all of us. The hummus had this drizzle of Avakai oil, something I had never heard of before (still don’t really know what it is), but wow, it was delicious. It added this unexpected depth of flavor that just worked.

As for the Kheema Paratha, it was, unfortunately, a bit of a miss. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t stand out the way we hoped.

For dessert, we had a Triple Chocolate Croissant (dark, milk, and white chocolate), a Pain Au Chocolat, an Almond and Cacao Croissant, and a Fig and Mascarpone Tart. Everything looked really good, and we were excited to try them.

My favorite was the Triple Chocolate Croissant. It was soft, flaky, and filled with just the right amount of chocolate. But honestly, all the desserts were really tasty. Each one had its own flavor, and there was nothing to complain about. We enjoyed every bite!

The total bill came upto 2,807 INR (31$) for 4 people, inclusive of taxes. The food was great and the ambience was aesthetically pleasing. We left the restaurant happy.

Mexarosa

This is a Mexican themed restaurant and as soon as you step in, you’re surrounded by bright and lively colors. The bold use of primary colors makes the whole place feel energetic, while the detailed patterns and fun designs add to the cheerful vibe. Even the furniture matches this playful theme. There is a bar just adjacent to the main dining area which also has a great ambience of its own.

For appetizers, we went with the Mexarosa Chicken Bites, and they did not disappoint. The chicken was tossed in their special in-house hot sauce, and it was really spicy. After a long time, I finally ate something that actually made my eyes water a bit—and I loved every bite of it! It was the perfect way to start the meal.

Favourite dish of the night

Of course, you can’t go to a Mexican restaurant and NOT order tacos! I had the Paneer El Pastor, which came with paneer strips marinated in achiote paste and spices, placed on a base of sour cream, and topped with roasted corn salsa. The flavors were bold, and everything came together so well.

Paneer El Pastor

My friends ordered the Mojo Pork Carnitas, Lamb Birria, and Chicken Enchiladas. I didn’t try any of them except for the Enchiladas, which were... okay. Nothing special. But my friends seemed to enjoy their dishes, so I guess that’s what matters.

Mojo Pork Carnitas

Lamb Birria

Chicken Enchiladas

We weren’t really planning to get cocktails, but they looked so tempting that we just had to. We went for the El Tesoro, a mix of tequila, litchi, grapefruit, and citrus. It didn’t exactly go well with the food, but on its own, it was a really good drink—refreshing and flavorful.

El Tesoro

For dessert, we got Cinnamon Churros that came with three dips. The quantity was pretty underwhelming, and as for the taste? It was fine. Nothing amazing, nothing terrible—just okay.

Four Churros, for the four of us

True Black

This is cafe known for its specialty coffee. The cafe interiors are modern and minimalistic, which I liked. Everything was sleek, neat and well put together. Although, there was a lot of empty space in between which kind of took away from the cozy vibe I usually appreciate in cafes.

I spotted the Belgian Hot Chocolate on the menu, and it instantly called out to me. I absolutely love hot chocolate, but sadly, not all cafés do justice to it. More often than not, I end up disappointed, so I rarely risk ordering it from a new place. But something about this café made me feel like it wouldn’t let me down—and man, was I right! It was heaven in a mug. Perfectly thick, rich, and intensely chocolaty. The dark chocolate flavor was incredible, balancing just the right amount of bitterness and sweetness. Every sip felt like a warm hug.

Belgian Hot Chocolate

Ramesh's drink, on the other hand, was definitely not for me. I’m someone who prefers sweet over bitter, or at least a good balance of both. Ramesh ordered a Cold Brew, and he seemed to really enjoy it. But me, knowing full well that I’d hate it, well… had to try it! And just as expected, it tasted like warm, slightly bitter, slightly sour water to me. I just don’t get the appeal. My taste buds clearly aren’t made for these things, nope. I’ll happily stick to my sweet, comforting drinks, thank you very much.

Cold Brew

For breakfast, I ordered Eggs Benedict, which is something you really can’t go wrong with. I was clearly in no mood for experimenting and just wanted a dish I knew I’d love. And I was right! The eggs were perfectly poached, soft and runny just the way they should be. The sourdough bread was thick and crisp. The creamy hollandaise sauce was a great addition to the overall flavor. The fresh greens and pumpkin seeds added a nice crunch, making the dish feel fresh yet indulgent.

Eggs Benedict

Ramesh went with a Pepperoni Focaccia Sandwich, which he liked well enough. He gave it a 3.5/5.0 stars, which I suspect is pretty good on his scale because he is very particular when it comes to food. The sandwich had a crispy, golden focaccia bread, filled with layers of pepperoni, fresh lettuce, and melted cheese. A creamy, slightly smoky sauce drizzled over the filling gave it an extra kick. I cannot describe the dish much since I did not try it, but visually, it looked delicious.

Pepperoni Focaccia Sandwich

Katha Coffee and Bakehouse

This is a cute little cafe with a variety of seating options available, catering to various types of gatherings. The ground floor has cozy sofas and tables, perfect for catching up with friends. We did not have the time to explore the first floor, but I reckon it would be great as well. Apparently, they host live music, open mics, movie screenings, and other fun events too.

Katha

We ordered only drinks and a light snack because we were in a hurry to catch our train. We chose a Watermelon & Hibiscus Iced Tea and a Cascara Passionfruit Cooler, both of which were great options. The Cascara Passionfruit Cooler was incredibly refreshing due to its distinct, somewhat tangy yet sweet flavour. The Watermelon & Hibiscus Iced Tea was equally tasty, which had a refreshing and energizing floral-fruity balance. Both beverages were flavourful, fresh, and just what we needed for a brief yet filling break before leaving.

Watermelon Juice

Cascara Passionfruit Cooler

We then placed an order for a Strawberry Cream Croissant, which was as delicious as it looked. The croissant had a thick coating of creamy, sweet cream within and was just the right amount of buttery and flaky. Every bite was enhanced by the delightful sweet touch of the fresh strawberry slices on top. I almost ate all of the strawberry slices, overall it was a yummy dessert.

Strawberry Cream Croissant

All in all, when it came to food, Hyderabad did not disappoint. I pretty much enjoyed all the places we visited and all the dishes I tried.

Thank you for reading!