View all newsletters
Latest in Luxury - Sign up to our weekly newsletter
  1. Food & Drink
  2. Finest Dining by Andy Hayler
January 1, 2014updated Jan 09, 2014

Private Dining in Hyderabad

By Andy Hayler

hydrabad table_In the early 20th century, the Nizam of Hyderabad was the richest man in the world, noted for his eccentricity (he used the 184-carat Victoria Diamond as an office paperweight).

He purchased Falaknuma Palace from his prime minister, who had gone bankrupt by the cost of its building.

Set 2,000 feet up on a hillside with a commanding view over Hyderabad, India’s fourth largest city, the marble palace is spectacular, its elevation providing cool breezes and eye-level views of red kites soaring above the city’s thermals.

The building is now a boutique hotel run by the Taj group, open since late 2010. The 10-year restoration has been meticulous, bringing the palace back to its former glory. The elegant drawing rooms, library, and glorious marble staircase are extremely impressive, decorated with the finest silks and featuring some of the original palace furniture.

Adaa (“elegance”) is the flagship restaurant of the hotel. Head Chef Arun Saundaraj has over two decades of experience at some of the top kitchens in India, and the large team of chefs that he has assembled produces impeccable Indian cuisine.

A local speciality is biryani, a rice dish cooked with lamb that has Persian origins but in India is associated with Hyderabad. Cooked in a large copper pot sealed with pastry, the dish has fragrant rice and tender meat suffused with spices. The kitchen is adept at the cooking of Indian fare from across the regions of India too, from the rich Punjabi meat curries of the North to the vegetarian specialities of Gujarat.

A star dish is Malabar prawns, with superbly tender shellfish and a complex, lightly spiced sauce that has a lively citrus flavor. The freshly ground spices used in dishes here lift the cooking to a much higher level than most Indian restaurants. Even difficult dishes like bhindi (okra) are faultlessly prepared here.

There are several private dining possibilities at the palace, but the most impressive is the striking 101-seat dining table of the Nizam, a table so large that it takes four hours to set it. For smaller groups, there are several private rooms and terraces accommodating whatever size party you may have (from about $57 per guest).

The cooking at Adaa is as good as any in India, and the stunning setting of the Falaknuma Palace makes this a memorable place for a private dinner.

Content from our partners
W New York - Times Square: "We Do Things Differently"
The Finest Destinations to Fly Private with Qatar Executive
A Weekend Travel Guide to Austin, Texas

Visit www.tajhotels.com

Select and enter your email address Be the first to know about the latest in luxury lifestyle. Get the latest news on hotel openings and in-depth travel guides. Get insider access to exclusive promotions and special offers from our luxury partners.
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thank you for subscribing to Elite Traveler.

Websites in our network