Cafe Niloufer Success Story: Niloufer, whose name now rolls so easily off every lip when the subject is Hyderabad’s thriving tea culture, is India’s largest chai café to date, having grown from humble roots to the mass popularity it now enjoys. The café is now a part of the city with its latest outlet covering a record 40,000 square feet in Hitech City. Such was the start.
The story of Cafe Niloufer dates back to 1978 when A. Babu Rao was a member of the staff of a small tea stall in Lakdikapul. Through years of hard work and determination, his dedication and devotion turned the small stall into a successful business enterprise. Babu Rao bought the café formally in 1993, the start of an iconic brand name.
Under the vision of Babu Rao and his son Shashank Rao, Cafe Niloufer launched its campaign of aggressive expansion. Nine cafes under the chain are run in Hyderabad today; special pride of place being given to the Hitech City cafe. The three-storeyed cafe, opened since March 2025, accommodates as many as 700 persons at one time. Even better, there is a two-ton installation, “Niloufer’s Kettle of Love,” recounting the history and experience of the café.
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The café menu has also been supplemented with a combination of old favorites such as Irani chai, Osmania biscuits, and Bun Muska and the new ones such as millet food and Kunafa cheesecake. The blend of old and new has made Cafe Niloufer a tea lovers’ gathering place. Impact on Society The Success of Cafe Niloufer is not just business; it’s a social service. The café provides complimentary food to hundreds of individuals on a daily basis, proving its social responsibility. Its transformation from a small tea stall to a large café is the outcome of dedication, vision, and affection by customers.
The transformation of Cafe Niloufer to India’s largest chai café is a tribute to brilliance and grit. With its unbeatable mix of heritage and new-age hipness, the café continues to be a gigantic hot spot among tea lovers in Hyderabad and elsewhere. Its success is a testament to the power of imagination and grit and will continue to inspire generations.