Sheroes cafe
A mapping of Lucknow’s cafe scene using multiple Google Maps searches identified 287 places, indicating the sheer scale of the city’s present-day cafe ecosystem. By 2000, dedicated coffee-shop-cum-lounges had begun opening in Hazratganj. But in the past 15-20 years, the city has witnessed an exceptional boom in the cafe industry,” said Bhoopesh Rai, founder of a renowned cafe and the literary and cultural festival in Lucknow. By the end of 2010, TOI had reported only around 25-30 coffee shops in Lucknow. That number crossed 100 coffee shops and lounges by 2016, with a large share of the expansion happening in the preceding two years, with a hundred big and small cafes opening around the city.
Because lucknow was traditionally more associated with chai, kebabs, bakeries and traditional eateries than with cafe culture, “The transformation is particularly striking. Because people go there for a cause — Sheroes Hangout, a cafe run by acid-attack survivors,” he said, there are hundreds of cafes in the city at present, but one stands apart. Because it allowed people to experience performing arts in a more informal and accessible setting,” he said, i think the distinct theme struck a chord with Lucknow.
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It was a place of intellectual, political and literary gatherings where young and old generations would sit together,” said journalist Pradeep Kapoor, who has also written a book on the Indian Coffee House. Yet the basic idea remains surprisingly similar,” Kapoor said. He said people were still paying for a cup of coffee partly for the privilege of occupying a table and spending time there. Lucknow’s café culture has made going out much more casual and social,” said LU student Tanishq Gupta. Young people are willing to experiment with cuisines, interiors and new concepts, and that is pushing cafés to constantly reinvent themselves,” said school student Raghuvansh Sharma.
Indian Coffee House Sheroes cafe Indian Coffee House Sheroes cafe From heated debates on politics, literature and social issues over coffee at the iconic Indian Coffee House to Gen Z hopping between specialty brews, rooftop cafés and Instagram-friendly hangouts, including the one run by acid-attack survivors, Lucknow’s café culture has undergone a dramatic makeover. “Lucknow’s modern coffee culture, or cafe culture, has deep roots going back to the 1940s, when the Indian Coffee House was established in Hazratganj. “The Indian Coffee House represented one kind of cafe culture: affordable coffee, fixed tables and long conversations about politics, literature and society. The new cafe represents another: specialty coffee, interiors, photographs, Wi-Fi, music, work meetings, dates and themed experiences. Only the conversation has changed. “This cafe boom in the city did not happen overnight. In the 1980s, coffee-vending outlets became popular around Hazratganj. “Not everyone goes to the theatre, even though they may love performing arts. The idea behind Café Repertwahr was to reverse that equation — instead of people going to performing arts, the idea was to bring performing arts to people,” he added. “We brought theatre, music and other forms of art into a cafe, a space people already visit in their everyday lives. “In the early 2000s, Hazratganj was the cafe hotspot, but the next phase was driven by Gomti Nagar, where cafes began moving beyond the traditional coffee-and-snacks model. “Cafes in Lucknow are no longer places which people visit just for a cup of coffee. “We are seeing people explore Italian, Asian, Mexican and other global flavours while also choosing cafes based on the kind of experience they offer. The cafe has gradually become a social space where food, conversations, music, art and ambience come together,” Ahuja remarked. “For us, cafe culture means a place with zero screen time, and a break from daily routine. “What I like about Lucknow’s cafés is that there is something for every mood. Lucknow has traditionally been known for its food, but cafés have added a new layer to the city’s food culture. Download the TOI App.
Today, Gomti Nagar, Hazratganj, Aliganj, Indira Nagar, Mahanagar and newer commercial pockets have clusters of cafes,” said Jatin Ahuja, owner of a popular cafe and restaurant chain in Lucknow. Today, customers look for experience — from international cuisines and speciality beverages to distinctive themes and ambience,” he said.
Now, we have cafés with different themes, music, books and food. Each place has its own vibe, so youngsters keep exploring new cafés,” Tanishq added.
“Earlier, hanging out usually meant going to a mall or a restaurant.