Imli Sarai (Hyderabad)

Tucked inside a lush green estate in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Imli Sarai is a farm-to-table cafe, bistro, and bar that openly welcomes pets. The property confirmed its pet-friendly status directly: no pet charges, no breed restrictions, and both outdoor and indoor seating available depending on your pet's size. If you have been searching for a genuinely dog-friendly or cat-friendly cafe in Hyderabad where you do not have to leave your companion tied to a pole outside, Imli Sarai is worth knowing about.

The Setting: A Green Oasis in Banjara Hills

Banjara Hills is one of Hyderabad's most built-up neighbourhoods, so finding a cafe with actual greenery and open-air space is rarer than it sounds. Imli Sarai sits on a lush estate at 8-2-590, Road No. 10, opposite Taj Krishna, and both Google reviewers and the property's own language consistently describe it as a peaceful, garden-like escape from the surrounding city noise. The Instagram bio calls it "a lush oasis in the heart of Banjara Hills," and the ambience reviews on Google back that up: beautiful, peaceful outdoor seating is one of the most repeated phrases across the 521 Google reviews (rated 4.3 out of 5).

For pet parents, that outdoor setting matters more than any single menu item. A spacious, garden-style exterior means your dog is not squeezed between two tight tables on a hot pavement. The estate character of the property gives animals room to settle, and the greenery makes the visit calmer for both pet and owner. The property is open from 8 am and closes at 11 pm, so early-morning visits before the city crowd builds are genuinely possible here.

Imli Sarai is a cafe, bistro, and bar in a single address, which means the visit can run from a morning coffee through a full lunch or dinner sitting. For anyone arriving from another city or doing a longer Hyderabad trip with a dog, this is the kind of all-day venue that earns its spot on a pet-travel itinerary rather than just a quick coffee stop.

Pet Policy: What You Actually Need to Know

The confirmed pet policy at Imli Sarai is straightforward. No pet fee applies. There are no breed restrictions and no size restrictions, which means a large Labrador or a Saint Bernard is as welcome as a Chihuahua or a domestic cat. That is not a given in Hyderabad's cafe scene, where many venues quietly exclude large breeds or charge a cover fee for pets.

The practical seating division works like this: if your pet is small, you can request indoor seating and the cafe will try to accommodate you. If your pet is medium or large, the outdoor section is where you will be seated. This is a sensible arrangement for a working restaurant, and the outdoor seating at Imli Sarai is the more scenic option anyway, so most pet parents with dogs will prefer it regardless.

Cats are also listed as a welcome species, though as with any public cafe visit, bringing a cat requires a secure carrier or harness. The policy does not specify cat-specific arrangements, so reaching out before your visit is worth doing if you are planning to bring a feline companion. The phone number is 072078 42900 and the website is imlisarai.in.

One thing the policy does not cover is whether water bowls are provided for visiting pets. This is UNKNOWN from the available sources. Carry your own travel bowl and water, particularly in Hyderabad's warmer months, to be safe.

The Food: Farm-to-Table with a European Lean

Imli Sarai's food identity is built around a farm-to-fork philosophy that the founders Zain and Rama Rahimtula developed through their time at Swaraj University, a Gandhian-inspired institution focused on sustainability and community enterprise. Zain Rahimtula trained at the International Culinary Centre in New York and worked at restaurants including Diva and Blue Hill before bringing that experience to Hyderabad. The result is a menu that makes almost everything from scratch and does not restrict itself to a single cuisine category.

Google reviews consistently mention specific dishes: aglio olio spaghetti pasta, veg pizza, croissants, hot cafe lattes, homemade nachos served with salsa and guacamole, four-cheese pizza, grilled vegetable pizza, profiteroles, and Dahi Kebabs. The AI-generated review summary on Google notes that people specifically highlight the Italian dishes and the four-cheese and grilled vegetable pizzas, while also calling out the profiteroles and Dahi Kebabs. The same summary notes some reviews mention food inconsistency, which is a fair caveat to carry into your visit.

The menu is available on Zomato, Swiggy, EazyDiner, and District.in for advance browsing. Ratings across platforms sit in the 4.1 to 4.3 range: Zomato at 4.1 (781 votes), EazyDiner at 4.2 (432 reviews), Swiggy at 4.2 (509 reviews), and Google at 4.3 (521 reviews). That is a consistent band of feedback across a large number of reviewers, which gives reasonable confidence in the overall quality even accounting for occasional inconsistency.

The menu also extends into what the Instagram highlights call "Rampuri food" and a separate "Rasoi menu," suggesting that the kitchen range goes well beyond the European dishes that dominate early-impression reviews. The Instagram profile at @imli.sarai (16.1K followers) is the best place to track what is currently on the menu before you visit, as the property uses it actively for seasonal and event updates.

Who Is This Cafe Right For?

Imli Sarai works best for pet owners in Hyderabad who want a proper dining experience rather than a quick takeaway stop. The all-day hours, full food menu, bar, and genuine garden setting make it appropriate for a lazy weekend brunch with a dog, a dinner outing, or even an event. The property also uses its Instagram to announce upcoming events and live music, so it is worth checking the feed before you visit if ambience matters to you.

Pet parents with large dogs welcome here will find this one of the relatively few places in Hyderabad's urban core that does not turn them away at the door. The absence of breed restrictions is explicit. If your dog is reactive around other dogs or in busy environments, the outdoor section of a popular cafe is still a stimulating environment, so arrive early or on a weekday when foot traffic is lighter, and pick a table at the edge of the garden if one is available.

For cats, the visit is feasible but requires planning on the owner's side. A secure carrier is essential, and calling ahead to confirm current seating availability and to ask about any in-person cat-specific guidance will make the experience easier for both you and the cafe staff.

The Founders and the Philosophy

Understanding Imli Sarai as a place means knowing a little about the people who built it. Zain and Rama Rahimtula are a husband-and-wife team whose shared background at Swaraj University grounded their venture in environmental sustainability and community accountability rather than purely commercial hospitality. Zain brought professional culinary training from New York; Rama brought interior design sensibility and also leads an NGO, Happiness Udaipur, focused on engagement with marginalised communities including rag-picking children and domestic violence survivors.

The result is a venue that takes its physical space, its food sourcing, and its team culture seriously. The Google reviews mention the staff warmly: "The owners and staff are very friendly and provide great service" is a five-star review, and the broader Google summary notes "attentive, courteous staff." This kind of hospitality tends to extend to pet-accompanied guests as well, though as always, a quick call ahead if you are bringing an animal for the first time is good practice.

Imli Sarai's commitment to making almost everything from scratch and to environmental sustainability also means the kitchen is working with fresh, local ingredients where possible. That is not a direct pet benefit, but it reflects the kind of care in operations that tends to produce a better overall experience for every visitor, two-legged or four.

Getting There

Imli Sarai is located at 8-2-590, Road No. 10, opposite to Bulchand Trading Pvt Ltd, opposite Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034. The easiest landmark is Taj Krishna, which is well known in the area. The property is in one of Hyderabad's central neighbourhoods, so driving is the most practical option when bringing a pet. Street parking in Banjara Hills can be variable, so arriving a few minutes early to find a spot is wise. Hours run from 8 am to 11 pm; check for holiday exceptions on the Google listing or by calling 072078 42900 before you visit.