On a quiet corner of Road No. 45 in Jubilee Hills, a 45 seat restaurant is quietly rewriting Hyderabad’s relationship with Chinese cuisine. Spread across close to 1,000 square feet, Lili does not announce itself loudly. It doesn’t need to. Conceived as an intimate Cantonese kitchen and bar, it keeps its scale deliberate and its intent clear, refinement over spectacle, balance over excess, and care in every detail.
Launched by House Of Tequileria LLP, Lili symbolises purity, renewal, elegance, and calm strength, values that are not just embedded in the name, but in the way the space moves and breathes. The restaurant is designed to feel personal, almost conversational. It is small by design so that nothing feels rushed and nothing feels impersonal.
The idea began with a shared love for Chinese cuisine among co-founders Abhilasha Oruganti, Naveen Krishna, and Navyatha Reddy, and a recognition that Hyderabad was ready for a more focused, thoughtful expression of Cantonese dining. “Authentic, well crafted Chinese food was limited in the city,” says Abhilasha Oruganti, Co-Founder & Partner. “We wanted to create something intimate where flavour is respected and every detail, from the art on the walls to the glass in your hand, feels intentional.”
With over two decades in hospitality, Oruganti brings a sharp curatorial instinct shaped by ventures such as Fat Pigeon and Chubby Cho. She is joined by Naveen Krishna, whose commercial and operational experience anchors the brand, and Navyatha Reddy, whose global exposure and technical acumen add a measured, contemporary perspective. Together, the trio envisioned Lili not just as a restaurant, but as a community built on collaboration, positivity, and genuine connection.
Design:
That ethos extends seamlessly into the design. The interiors are helmed by noted artist and designer Siddharth Kerkar, known for projects such as Soka in Bangalore and House of Paloma in Mumbai, along with his own venues: Dali and Gala, Room One, Drop Dead Goa, Sopo, and the Museum of Goa.
At Lili, Kerkar leans into material honesty, hand beaten copper, wood, ceramic, metal, and fabric form a tactile, artisanal language. Hand painted sculptures curated exclusively for the restaurant anchor the room, making art integral rather than ornamental. Crimson red, olive green, and soft beige create a palette that is restrained yet expressive, warming the room without overwhelming it.
“Lili was imagined as a sensory canvas,” says Siddharth Kerkar. “The materials are honest and the art is in dialogue with the space. It reflects quiet confidence, much like the cuisine itself.”
Food:
In the kitchen, Chef Tarun Bhatia, Brand Chef, brings over a decade of experience working across fine dining restaurants, Michelin starred kitchens, brasseries and boutique catering setups around the world. At Lili, that experience shows in the clarity of his food. His cooking is rooted in strong Cantonese technique, but the presentation is modern and unfussy. The menu respects tradition while keeping the flavours clean, balanced and relevant to today’s diner.
Here, food is treated as language, not theatre. A Dashi Sichuan dish delivers deep umami with heat that is measured rather than aggressive. The Deconstructed Wanton Salad plays on texture and acidity with quiet confidence, while the Candied Pork Belly Bao balances caramelised richness with controlled spice. Ho Fun noodles arrive grounded in smoke and savoury depth, lifted by nutty xiang, and the Yuzu Chilli Chocolate Wedge closes the meal with a clean, elegant finish that lingers without weight. “At Lili, balance is everything,” says Chef Tarun Bhatia. “We honour tradition, but we refine it. The goal is depth without drama.”
Cocktails:
If the kitchen speaks in nuance, the bar answers in poetry. The cocktail programme, curated by Gaurav Dhyani, World Class India Winner 2018, draws from Cantonese philosophy and Chinese folklore, translating them into modern mixology. Each drink is structured to complement the cuisine, never competing with it.
A cocktail like Love Demons layers tropical softness with bitterness and smoke, evoking the idea of creation and contrast. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, named after the Cantonese word for purple, is milk clarified to achieve a crystalline texture and calm aromatics. Flip Death plays on fate and connection, weaving citrus brightness with cherry and sparkle. As the menu deepens, No 13 introduces miso honey and saline balance, while Long Live Martini is built with the precision of a culinary martini, sesame oil infusion and tomato water calibrated to the last drop. The journey concludes with 45 Represent, where pepper tingle, fresh chilli heat, yuzu sharpness, and tequila warmth are held in controlled tension.
“Technique is our bridge between culture and craft,” says Gaurav Dhyani. “Infusions, clarifications, and controlled dilution enhance the ingredient, they never overpower it. The drinks are complex, but never inaccessible.”
With just 45 seats within its close to 1,000 square foot space, Lili is designed to feel intimate without ever feeling tight. The scale allows for a service style that is attentive yet unobtrusive, and a pace that never feels rushed whether it’s a weekday lunch that flows seamlessly or a weekend dinner that lingers well into the night.
In a city that is constantly expanding its culinary vocabulary, Lili chooses to whisper instead of shout. It invites guests to slow down, to notice texture and temperature, to taste balance in its purest form. In doing so, it doesn’t just introduce a new restaurant to Hyderabad, it introduces a new way of dining.
About Lili
Lili is a 45-seat Cantonese kitchen and bar in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, created by House Of Tequileria LLP. Rooted in authenticity and elevated by art, design, and modern mixology, Lili redefines Cantonese dining through intimacy, balance, and cultural depth.
Additional Details:
Operation Time:
Weekday Timings:
Lunch:12pm-2pm | 2pm-4pm Dinner:7pm-9pm | 9pm-11pm
Weekend Timings:
Lunch:12pm-2pm | 2pm-4pm Dinner:7pm-9:30pm | 9:45pm-12:30am
Address: Plot No. 1069, Road No. 45, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad-500033
Contact Details: +91 8143820055
Price for two: INR 5000 for two (including alcohol)
