Hyderabad’s Most Intriguing Cocktail Address is Behind A Bookshelf
Oxymorns, a tucked-away cocktail bar in Begumpet, turns experimentation, nostalgia, and intimacy into an experience you didn’t know you were missing.
There’s something oddly satisfying about a place you have to look for. Inside Country Club in Begumpet, Oxymorons (founded by veteran F&B Entrepreneur, Rehan Guha), isn’t an easy find. You don’t walk into it, you discover it. Past a bookshelf, almost like a secret kept in plain sight, is a 30-seater bar that feels equal parts lab, living room, and time capsule.
The first thing you notice isn’t the drinks, it’s the mood. The lighting is warm but not dim to the point of guesswork. The music feels familiar, like it’s been borrowed from someone’s personal playlist rather than curated for effect. Think ‘Smooth Operator’ by Sade or ‘Down Under’ by Men at Work…songs that don’t just play, they transport. And then there are the coasters--quirky, artistic, and oddly nostalgic, like something you would pocket without thinking twice.
Honey Jain Guha | Photo By Arrangement
“We were actually looking for an R&D space for our consultancy… somewhere we could keep experimenting through the year,” says co-founder Honey Jain Guha. What they found instead was this cozy, character-filled space that refused to stay just a lab. By day, it still functions as one, ideas brewing, ingredients fermenting, processes unfolding. By evening, it shifts gears. “Every drink you are having has probably been in the works for at least 48 hours… sometimes longer. There’s a whole process behind it,” she adds.
That intent shows up in every glass.
The menu, deliberately tight at 12 cocktails, doesn’t overwhelm. Instead, it nudges you to trust the bar. Names like ‘Seriously Playful’, ‘Loving Insult’, ‘Familiar Strangers’, and ‘Clearly Misunderstood’ set the tone before the first sip does. And then the drinks arrive, often challenging your expectations in the best way.
Rehan’s brother Rohit, who plays bartender (and fondly referred to as ‘second moron of Oxy’), walks you through it with the ease of someone who enjoys the storytelling as much as the craft. “A lot of our cocktails sound strange on paper, but once you taste them, they make sense. That’s the fun of it.”
He isn’t wrong. Take a tequila-based drink layered with gongura and bajji chilli…it sounds like a dare, but drinks like a revelation. Or a savoury cocktail with chicken broth (surprise!) that divides opinion but refuses to be ignored. Even the more approachable options carry subtle twists--curry leaves in a highball, or amaranth slipping into something deceptively light. What stands out isn’t just creativity, but restraint. Nothing feels like it’s trying too hard.
Beyond the bar, the food holds its own. The dry ramen, in particular, is a quiet standout…comforting, flavourful, and exactly what you want alongside a well-built drink. The finger food here is anything but an afterthought. The shoestring fries, thin and crisp, dusted with curry powder, are dangerously easy to keep reaching for, then there's their signature ricotta bhurji, which is warm, indulgent, and the kind of bite that disappears before you realise it. The lotus stem adobo has familiar textures, but flavours that take a sharp, unexpected turn. If you are in the mood to graze, the mini mezze platter is a solid pick, with hummus, muhammara, spicy olives, and lavash coming together in a way that’s both comforting and bold.
Rehan Guha | Photo By Arrangement
And then there’s the philosophy that quietly ties it all together. The name ‘Oxymorons’ isn’t just clever branding, it’s a way of thinking. Opposites coexist here without friction. A lab and a bar. Playful names and serious technique. Nostalgia and experimentation.
“We wanted a space where people feel comfortable enough to explore. Not intimidated, not rushed, just curious,” says Honey. That’s exactly what it feels like. Not a place for loud nights or hurried drinking, but one where conversations stretch, playlists linger, and every now and then, a drink surprises you into paying attention.
You may come here for the cocktails... But you will remember how it made you feel.
