If your idea of a leisurely afternoon is poring over a book or working on your laptop while enjoying a good brew, there are a handful of cafés across the city equipped with free wi-fi. Cafés have also, time and again, thrown open their space to a theatre or music performance, or hosted meet and greet sessions with authors. What if you want all of this with a touch of art? The Gallery Café, which opened as an extension of Kalakriti Art Gallery, Banjara Hills, is emerging as a place to witness budding talent in action, accompanied by hearty meals.
‘We sell everything here’ reads a signboard at the entrance. They aren’t exaggerating. The décor is custom-made for the outlet by well known artists and one can buy chairs, tables and artefacts with art work on them. Frequent visitors will notice that the café gets new furniture periodically since some of the older ones get sold.
At times, thematic paintings and sculptures exhibited at Kalakriti spill over to the café.
Occasionally, the café plays host to a different exhibition, encouraging both established and up and coming artists. The ongoing exhibition, Madonna, features paintings by Pranati Khanna.
On Wednesday evenings, the café offers a platform to city-based emerging musicians to perform. A fashion walk with a focus on handlooms, book readings and conversations with artists and other events hosted from time to time add to the lively environs at the café.
At any given time, you can stumble upon groups of people working away on their laptops or exchanging ideas over a lunch meeting. The menu has nibbles such as hummus and pita bread, stuffed mushrooms and cottage cheese fingers. The café serves sandwiches and wraps, salads and soups, pastas and rice bowls. A range of freshly brewed coffees, teas and hot chocolates are available through the day. In addition, there are seasonal specials like the aam panna.
A creative corner called Artidote is a recent addition to the café where you can colour a few pages from a colouring book for adults. The Art Café range of utility art items are also on sale, from coasters and mugs to bags that look at the arty side of Hyderabad.
