While we love our chic, muted spaces in Hyderabad, sometimes all we need is a flamboyant, over the top setting to celebrate a special occasion. The Pink Elephant at HITEC City is all that and more with their dramatic space, and even better food.
Right from the entrance, everything about The Pink Elephant is luxurious. The Rajasthani home-style double wooden doors open up to a chic verandah that houses an installation of brightly coloured Elephants. This part of the restaurant is an ode to the Elephant Parade that was held in Delhi in 2018. The Pink Elephant is divided into a lounge, private dining area, a courtyard and a 'Monument Room.' The space is maximalist and plush, giving off an old royalty-meets-modern India vibe. The Monument Room has a brilliant art installation of the Taj Mahal, and hence the name.
For drinks, try the restaurant's signature cocktail 'Kesariya' which is a saffron and gin based drink. If you're not up for alcoholic beverages, then we recommend the Kokum and Berry Spritz, which is a refreshing twist to the summer favourite drink. All the drinks come with creatively shaped ice, based on the main ingredient. The Kokum and Berry Spritz came with Berry shaped ice which we thought was pretty cool!
The menu is an elaborate mix of Modern Indian cuisine with dishes from various states in India featuring traditional dishes with a quirky touch, like the Mutton Dahi Vada— pieces of succulent Shammi Kebabs introduced into a Dahi Vada style dish, complete with chutneys and sweet dahi. Odd as it sounds, the combo works. The Chettinad Duck Dosa served with three types of fresh chutneys is awesome, and if your meal isn't complete without rice, order the Andhra Rice Platter that comes with five types of rice. Right from Muddapappu to Kandi Podi rice, the platter is enough to make a Telugu mom proud. The Jackfruit tacos are a great vegetarian option for appetisers. Much like the art installations and furniture, the serveware is over the top too.
For dessert, we recommend the Box of Mithai which is an assortment of truffles inspired by Indian mithais served inside a fully edible white chocolate box. We also loved the Rose Kalakand Cannoli—Kalakand and Rose Cream served inside crisp chocolate coated shells.
The restaurant has a Taj-inspired 50 seater private dining space upstairs perfect for larger gatherings. We also caught a glimpse of what we think is the best art work at the restaurant— a cheeky take on Da Vinci's The Last Supper that features legends from Indian cinema—right from Late NTR, Rajinikanth, and Chiranjeevi to Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. We totally recommend The Pink Elephant if you're looking for a unique place in Hyderabad to bring in a special occasion.