After a brief closure following a fire mishap in December, district150, which is part of the members-only lifestyle club The Quorum, on Knowledge City Road, quietly reopened its doors this month. Though only half the space is currently operational, the revived venue is anchored by a new addition: Café Reed.

A complete departure from its predecessor Zilla, which specialised in modern Indian cuisine, Café Reed brings with it the comforting familiarity of a Western-style café. Think crisp salads, generous sandwiches, burgers, shakshuka, paya-shorba-naan, and artisanal coffee, rather than the biryani and kadhai paneer of old.

Cafe Reed opens at district150 with a wine corner in Hyderabad
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

“We had to start over after the fire,” says Vivek Narain, founder and CEO of The Quorum. “Thankfully, no one was hurt, and that gave me the clarity to reimagine what this space could become. We’re still a few months away from being fully up and running, but what we’ve built so far has set a fresh tone, with a wine cellar added and a new, all-day menu.”

Vivek describes Café Reed’s menu as being “inspired by a life well-travelled.” It draws on global flavours, yet remains firmly rooted in India through seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms, small-scale producers, and urban markets. “Reed is a fictional wanderer,” he adds, “a curious soul who followed instinct more than itinerary. The menu reflects that spirit.”

The interiors

Visually, Café Reed is bathed in soft amber tones. The interiors are minimal, with concealed lighting evoking a warm glow. Whether you are grabbing a morning coffee or winding down with a signature cocktail, the space holds a sense of calm.

Breakfast is taken seriously here. You will find everything from Turkish eggs and Bawa’s scramble to shakshuka, eggs cooked your way, and classic eggs benedict. Sweet options include stacks of pancakes and crème toast. An entire section is devoted to toast-based creations, with one standout being the Gochujang egg toast.

Tried and tested

We sampled a few dishes on our visit. The buttermilk crumb chicken panini in ciabatta was faultless — comforting, crisp and flavourful. The mutton bhuna roll was hearty, though slightly heavy on salt. My colleague ordered the lamb burger, a masala batata sandwich, and a cold brew — each dish well-executed. His choice of drink, a mint-tonic Arnold Palmer-style cold brew, was a refreshing standout.

Every dish on the menu comes with its calorie count, which is either a helpful guide or a subtle guilt-trip, depending on your mood. For the health-conscious, there are salad bowls generous in size and texture, but perhaps a bit too much chewing for our mood that day. We chose dessert instead: a warm banoffee walnut pudding. Rich, indulgent and comforting.

Portion sizes are generous, with prices starting at ₹375. The best time to visit is during the first half of the day, after lunch, the café tends to get crowded.

While the full reopening of district150 is still a few months away, Café Reed offers a promising glimpse into what is to come. It is a gentle but confident reinvention.