This new restaurant reimagines Hyderabad’s neighbourhood adda culture on a rooftop

Kadamba, a new restaurant in Hyderabad, reimagines neighbourhood adda culture on a rooftop

Long before bars came to dominate India’s social drinking culture, gatherings unfolded at home — in a friend’s living room, an uncle’s house, or on a lawn. Chakna (snacks) meant whatever was at hand: a homemade chicken or mutton fry, a spicy mixture, boiled or roasted peanuts, or salted potato chips.

Kadamba-Cultural Compound, a new rooftop resto-bar overlooking Durgam Cheruvu in Hyderabad, the freshwater lake in Rangareddy, nudges you back to those simpler daaru pe charcha days. As a space, it positions itself as the city’s third space. It slips easily between identities: a local bar, a rooftop hangout for long conversations, a venue for music and cultural programmes, or simply a corner to sit quietly with a drink.

Think of village squares with a spot under a tree. Kadamba has three — carefully nurtured — and a section where you can sit cross-legged with your group, snack alongside your drinks, and chat until your legs give up. I chose table seating instead, settling in to eat, drink and watch the lights come alive on the Durgam Cheruvu bridge. On a breezy evening, with music, attentive service and the city glowing below, there was a sudden urge to slow down (until the mosquitoes found me.)

Founder Vikas Passary says the idea is comfort over spectacle. “The focus is on connection and ease rather than performance or excess. Kadamba-Cultural Compound is an apna adda at heart — an analogue space where experience comes first and evenings unfold without pressure. We wanted it to feel familiar, comforting and open to everyone.” The bar is divided into three sections: the bar counter, a family area and the open rooftop.

View of the Durgam Cheruvu Bridge from Kadamba | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

And since we are on the topic of drinks, it is safe to say the offerings are far from basic — pre-batched classics, vegan takes on a Whiskey Sour, beers, straight pours and mocktails. This is not a place where water passes off as a beverage choice.