Butter Idli Dosa, Chocolate Waffles & Nihari Paya: Best Breakfasts In Hyderabad

Whether you're visiting Hyderabad or have been living here for a while, if you haven't treated yourself to a traditional Hyderabadi breakfast, you're missing out big time! A host of Irani cafes here serve some of the freshest breakfast dishes that will fill you up and how! Hotel Nayaab at Chatta Bazaar is one such iconic hole-in-the-wall place that opens at 5 AM everyday to serve delicious Irani Chai and other delicious breakfast items. Come prepared to wait for seating as this little place fills up pretty quickly.

Must Try: Bheja Fry with Butter Naan, Luqmi

If you're bored of the plain, simple dosas and idlis — get to Royal Tiffin Centre in Abids or Banjara Hills for bizarro versions of the same, and more. The Special Pizza Dosa, Pasta Dosa, Manchuria Dosa, Idli Butter Cheese Dosa will get you drooling. While here, also try their uttapams and upma. Although it may look sort of cramped, they have decent seating and have maintained cleanliness. We love that it's also pocket-friendly.

Must Try: Upma, Utappam

Iqbal is a place that can be easily missed, but the aroma wafting out of the restaurant can be a game changer. This tiny cafe & restaurant opens at 6am and we cannot recommend their Irani chai and Special Nihari Paya enough, which are perfect morning kick-starters. While this is great for non-vegetarian food, we found it amazing for the vegetarian delicacies too. We tried the Saag Puri and Bagara Rice here and found them ridiculously delicious. 

Must Try: Special Nihari Paya, Saag Puri 

Walk into Santè Spa and get enamoured by the stunning ambience. The sunny, shady outdoor seating is flanked with greenery on all sides while the interiors are rustic and Zen-like with a giant Buddha picture. The breakfast at Santè Spa is rich but healthy. Right from Activated Charcoal Bread Basket to Matcha Pina Colada Smoothie to the best pancakes in the city, this place will keep beckoning you for more. Ask for an upma made with quinoa and broccoli or Chicken Masala Omelette that’s served with baby potatoes and toast. 

Must Try: Breakfast Smoothies, Omelettes 

Sohail Hotel at Malakpet is popular especially during Ramzan, as most frequent customers visit this place during Sehri. Head here to try one of Hyderabad's favourite breakfast combos Khichdi-Khatta-Keema. While the rest of India complains about having boring Khichdi, we have stellar combinations with some spicy Keema and tangy Khatta to calm down the spice. Be warned - you may overeat at this joint! 

Must Try: Hyderabadi breakfast Khichdi-Khatta-Keema

The Hole In The Wall Cafe is really a hole in the wall that opens up to a stunning cafe with rocky outdoors, table with swings as seating, interiors with books, and vibrant walls. We heart this cafe for its Veggie Pizza Omelette where egg acts like a pizza base with vegetables and olives as toppings and The Golden Frittata Mix (egg frittata with mushroom, jalapenos, spinach, and more). You can also choose between their Chocolate Waffles or Blueberry Cheesecake Waffles. But don’t just take our word for it because this cafe has tons of breakfast options. Go eat and tell us what you like!

Must Try: Veggie Pizza Omelette

If there is one thing that takes us back to Minerva it is their Rice Pongal. Served with spicy tomato chutney (which is more of curry with onions and mirchi) and raita, this dumpling of pongal is perfect if you’re craving something authentic. Go here for this dish and filter coffee, and start your day right. If you’re a chutney lover, be sure to ask for their coconut chutney.

Must Try: Rice Pongal

Paya and Nihari seem like the perfect choices for cosy winter mornings when you just don't want to get out of bed. If you're looking to try some, we recommend skipping the swanky restaurants and heading straight to Niagara Hotel, known for their legendary Paya. Get for a Hyderabadi naan to go with it, and you've got yourself a complete, filling meal!

Must Try: Paya and Khichdi-Khatta-Keema

Some head to Ikea for their great deals on home decor. Well, we frequent the place for their great food. Let's be real, Ikea's food slaps, especially after a tiring round of shopping. What we also love are their breakfast options, like salads, freshly baked croissants, rolls and of course, unlimited free refills of coffee that are both light on your tummy and wallet! It's no surprise that a lot of working professionals head to the spacious food court armed with their laptops to work in peace on any weekday. 

 Must Try: Freshly made rolls, croissants, unlimited coffee and salads.

Taj Mahal Hotel is only one of the most iconic breakfast joints in town, if not the best. They've been in business for over sixty years and with good reason. If you feel your South Indian breakfast cravings kicking in and don't want to compromise on taste, head to the joint in Abids. You'll be met with a mixed aroma of white butter, great coffee and freshly made hot dosas. Wipe your plate clean, and thank us later!

Must Try: Dosas and Pongal 

Aaromale, named after the famous AR Rahman song in Telugu movie Ye Maya Chesave, brings all those coastal ancestral home vibes to Hyderabad. With a great outdoor space filled with plants and a quieter indoor space where you can work in peace, Aaromale has been the hub for great food, aesthetic nooks, flea markets and live shows during weekends. Try their Goan Ras Omelette, Cheese and Herbs Omelette and cold brews if you want to have great food to go with your breakfast meetings. 

Must Try: Goan Ras Omelette, Cheese and Herbs Omelette, Cold Brews

If you're that bonafide southie that judges a tiffin centre based on their chutneys, you will love Pragathi Tiffin Centre in Koti. While the busy bandi dishes out dosas by the dozen every morning, also try their utappams and idlis that go well with their chutneys and karam podi. Brb, we're drooling! 

Must Try: Dosas, Utappam and great chutney

With super upbeat artwork and an overall uplifting vibe, Good Vibes Only Cafe serves some of the best food around Khajaguda. While Jubilee/Banjara Hills hold the monopoly in having cool cafes, Good Vibes Only Cafe has been giving a pretty tough competition to the cool spots in Hyderabad! We only wish they served their beverages in reusable cutlery instead of single use plastics. Head here for some good food and to get a great start to your work week.

Must Try: Turkish Eggs, Fresh Fruit Juices

Vegetarians often feel left out of breakfast runs to the Old City. Govind Dosa to the rescue! The bandi always has a bunch of people hovering around the hot stove waiting in line to her their morning Butter Idli fix. Expect to find a host of steaming hot freshly made tiffins here that will make you happy in a matter of seconds! 

Must Try: Tawa Idli, Butter Idli, Dosas

Hear us out, savoury waffles are just as good as the sweet ones. Don't believe us? Head to Waffle House at Banjara Hills or Hitech City that managed to convince us the first time around. While they serve classics like plain waffles with Maple syrup, chocolate and other variants, try their savoury waffles if you're not ready for an intense sugar kick first thing in the morning. They also serve some pretty good cold coffee to go with your waffles. Eat up!

Must Try: Chicken Waffles, Cold Coffee

If you're a bonda lover, you'll know that very few Tiffin Centres get it right while making these delightful fried balls of dough. If they're crispy on the outside, sometimes they're left uncooked on the inside. Lucky for us, Krupa Mess and Tiffins is known for their yummy bondas! Their dosas also get great reviews so head here with a hungry belly. 

Must Try: Plain and Tawa Bondas