Cafe De Loco - The Pet Cafe Hyderabad (Manikonda) (Hyderabad)

Cafe de Loco in Manikonda, Hyderabad, describes itself as India's first pet cafe, opened in 2017 by founders who wanted a place where they could dine with their own dog, Pluto, without leaving him behind. The open-air format at Tower 2, Lanco Hills Road is set up to cater to both humans and their pets simultaneously, and the entire food range for pets is produced in-house using what the cafe describes as vet-certified, human-grade ingredients. Whether you are coming in to sit down with your dog over coffee or ordering a custom birthday cake shipped across India, this is a purpose-built pet-first space rather than a regular cafe that happens to allow dogs in.

The Story Behind the Cafe

Cafe de Loco translates literally as "Cafe of Crazy," and the founders own the description fully. The concept was born out of a simple frustration: leaving a dog at home while going out to eat. When the cafe opened in 2017 in Lanco Hills, Manikonda, Hyderabad, Telangana, it was inaugurated by Ms. Amala Akkineni, and the founders position it as the first pet-cafe of its kind in India. That origin story matters because it explains the operational DNA of the place: the pet menu is not an afterthought added to attract Instagram traffic, but the original reason the cafe exists.

The cafe has since expanded beyond its dine-in roots. In 2020 it launched CRUQIDO, a line of ready-to-eat dry pet food made from human-grade meat and vegetables, slow-dried at low temperatures to retain nutrients and enzymes. The product is sold both in-cafe and online, shipping dry items and non-iced cakes across India through delivery partners. The tagline printed on their marketing material is "Humans are allowed too", which should tell you where the priority ranking sits.

Beyond commerce, the cafe documents an active animal welfare arm: according to their own website, they have facilitated 300+ street dog adoptions, run fostering programmes for rescued pups, and conduct vaccination and adoption drives. Part of the revenue from sales is directed toward these welfare activities. This does not affect the dine-in experience directly, but it is relevant context for pet parents who care about where they spend their money.

The Pet Bakery: What's Actually on the Menu

The pet food and bakery side of Cafe de Loco is detailed enough in the source material to describe specifically. The cafe runs a pet bakery that produces pup cakes, full pet birthday cakes, pet cookies, pet treats, and waffles. All of these fall under their CRUQIDO product line or the in-house baked range.

The ingredient policy on baked goods is clearly stated: no gluten, no white flour (maida), no wheat flour (atta), no soda, no baking powder, no sugar, and no salt. The dough base is described as vet-certified and safe for pets. The flavour of any cake is chosen by the customer at the time of order, and the base dough is combined with that chosen flavour. Importantly, the cafe does not use artificial colours, fondant, or frosting sheets, specifically because these are not considered safe for pets. Photo printing on cakes is also not offered for the same reason: natural icing does not support inkjet-style printing.

Birthday cakes for pets are freshly baked to order every day, and the customisation options include size, icing, flavour, and decoration. The entire process from design through baking, icing, decoration, and packing takes 4 to 5 hours. The cafe explicitly asks customers not to rush this timeline. Each pet cake is boxed in a proper cake box, and cookies come with engraved greetings. The cakes are described as human-friendly as well as pet-safe, so the whole table can share.

Cafe de Loco also introduced Pawssies, described as bite-sized paw-shaped cakes sold in packs of six as an introductory-priced product. This product can be ordered via the website or by calling 7569363392 (the number listed on marketing material, distinct from the main Google Business number).

Storage guidance is published clearly. An iced cake can be refrigerated or frozen for up to three days. A non-iced cake keeps for five to six days in the fridge. Cookies last up to a month. Waffles should be consumed the same day. CRUQIDO dry pet food and treats can be refrigerated for up to three months.

Delivery and Ordering

For customers in Hyderabad, the cafe's preferred approach for fresh items is self-collection or the use of third-party same-day delivery services such as Dunzo, Swiggy Genie, or Uber. The cafe does use these platforms for local delivery when customers prefer it, and notes that riders are briefed on careful handling, though the outcome cannot be fully controlled.

For customers outside Hyderabad, dry items and non-iced cakes ship across India through delivery partners, with an estimated delivery window of three to five days depending on location. Iced and fresh cakes are not shipped nationally given their three-day refrigerated shelf life. The website at cafedeloco.com carries the full product catalogue and a shipping policy with terms and conditions.

The Physical Space: What to Expect On a Visit

Google Business data describes Cafe de Loco as a "rustic, open-air option catering to humans and canines with coffee, snacks and homemade pet treats." The open-air format is the defining characteristic of the physical space: it is a ventilated, outdoor-leaning setup, which is practical for a pet cafe in Hyderabad's climate and means dogs are not confined to an enclosed indoor area. The cafe is located at Tower 2, Lanco Hills Road, Manikonda, which is a residential and commercial mixed zone in the southern part of Hyderabad.

Operating hours based on Google data show the cafe opens at 11 am and runs until approximately 8 to 11 pm, though you should confirm current hours by calling ahead, as the Google listing indicated the cafe was closing soon at 8 pm at the time of the screenshot, which may reflect variable closing times. The cafe has a 4.2-star rating across 816 Google reviews and a 3.9-star rating across 975 Justdial reviews, both reasonably solid scores for a niche pet cafe concept.

Notable customers documented in the cafe's own marketing include Shilpa Reddy (Mrs. India, model and fashion designer), who is quoted saying "My babies loved it." The cafe was also inaugurated by Amala Akkineni, which suggests it has had some visibility in Hyderabad's public life since its founding.

Pet Policy: What's Confirmed and What Isn't

The cafe is purpose-built for pets, and the entire premise is that pets are welcome inside. Dogs and cats are the two species confirmed in the editor's species selection. However, specific in-premises rules such as whether pets must be leashed, whether there are any size or breed restrictions, and whether there is a per-pet entry charge are not specified in any of the sources reviewed. This is an important gap for pet parents visiting with large or reactive dogs.

Before visiting with your dog, call 097042 22272 or email info@cafedeloco.com to confirm the current entry setup, any charges, and whether the space will suit your specific pet. The open-air format is encouraging for larger dogs, but seating logistics and crowd levels on any given day are unknown from external sources.

Address: Tower 2, Lanco Hills Rd, Manikonda, Hyderabad, Telangana 500089 | Phone: 097042 22272 | Email: info@cafedeloco.com | Website: cafedeloco.com | Hours: 11 am onwards (confirm closing time by phone)