Taramati Baradari is a historic open-air pavilion built during the Qutb Shahi era, known for its striking architecture. Roastery Coffee House’s latest outlet in Film Nagar — its third in Hyderabad and 15th nationally — is a contemporary interpretation of the 17th-century dance pavilion.

Founder Nishant Sinha says the café borrows the original structure’s strong geometry, repeated arches, symmetry and rhythm. Natural light streams through the arches, adding warmth to the space. Unlike the monochromatic original, however, the café gets a playful update with pink, yellow, mint green and blue across its walls. The result is a colourful take on Hyderabad’s architectural heritage.

The Moorish-style pointed arches and balustrade railing are among the first details to catch the eye. The patterns create a sense of order and repetition, offering a contemporary take on the ornamental geometry found in historic Deccan architecture.

“We added colour because we wanted the space to feel happy and translate that feeling into the café environment,” says Nishant.

The café also brings in a distinctly Telugu touch through its upholstery. Custom-printed Kalamkari fabric adds colour to the otherwise pared-back interiors. “We have kept the interiors simple to keep the focus on the coffee bar. The centrepiece is a customised Kalamkari artwork featuring Indian coffee beans. We have copyrighted the piece as well,” says Nishant.

The café’s outdoor area draws from the open-air gardens of Taramati Baradari. The only dampener is the presence of flies, an increasingly common nuisance in Hyderabad.

The food menu sticks to familiar café fare, without unnecessary desi twists on Asian dishes. Sandwiches, pasta and finger foods are among the popular picks.

The club sandwich remains my personal favourite, though the hold-in sandwich, with chicken and avocado, is giving it some competition.

What does one drink here? There is no shortage of coffee. The cappuccino is a bestseller among the hot beverages, while my pick is the Monsoon Malabar hot pour-over, made with a microlot bean. The café’s Gungegiri Estate beans recently won a Gold Award at the Global Coffee Awards (Asia), held in Charleston, US.

Among the cold drinks, the trademarked cranberry coffee is the bestseller. Crisp and tart, it combines cranberry with coffee for a refreshing drink. I prefer the lychee coffee, though, simply because I love lychee. Other popular cold options include the brownie blend coffee and the cold coffee, available with or without ice cream.

The café is cheerful and relaxed, but the high ceiling makes the acoustics a little challenging — a problem the management is working on. This isn’t a place for whispered sweet nothings. It’s the kind of café where you can talk loudly, eat with your hands and slurp your cold coffee without worrying about anyone judging you. Most milk-based coffees can also be customised with vegan milk.

What’s next, I ask Nishant? “Bengaluru, with another exciting design to talk about.”

All Roastery Coffee House outlets are open from 8am utill 11 pm.