As we are the top family travel bloggers in India, Dhempe’s Travel Blog was recently invited for a staycation at one of India’s best hotels, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, which was recently refurbished entirely. This is a dual property in Hitech City which is spread over 15 acres.
We had a comfortable ride from the airport to the hotel which took around 45 minutes on a Friday afternoon. Best part is that due to the outer ring road, you can reach the hotel within 45 minutes to 1 hour anytime of the day.
Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre was one of the original pioneers of five-star hospitality in Hyderabad having opened more than 15 years back. The hotel now has new and contemporary designed rooms, vibrant restaurant upgrades, an elegant lobby and a spirited bar. We were welcomed very sweetly by the hotel tea with a wet towel, traditional teekha and some cool refreshing drink. 
We checked into our suite room which had a lot of wonderful surprises waiting for us. They were done in a contemporary fashion with lot of modern elements. The rooms are spacious and give out good vibes to relax and recoup.
The bed was really comfortable and had the best of the linen which was perfect for a good night of sleep!
I personally loved the eatable Instagram frame made for our welcome – a delicious almond sponge layered chocolate and coffee flavored french pastry!
I met the executive chef Gaurav Malhotra who treated us to some of the best savories of Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh along with Irani Chai! It was a really much required break after traveling from Bangalore.
Gaurav Malhotra, Executive Chef, said that the new restaurant Food Exchange will act as a hub for the coming together of conversations, specializations, food innovations and the celebration of multi cuisines. The venue offers a casually elegant dining experience with a progressive approach to food creation and beverage innovations. The outlet will also feature artisanal desserts, familiar comfort food and other treats, all curated for the modern diner’s palate.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the variety of seafood which was there considering that Hyderabad is not close to the sea. I was told by the chefs that the fresh catch is flown in daily from Godavari belt and coastal Andhra.
Some of the seafood on display was king prawn, pink perch, tuna fish, red snapper, white pomfret, lady fish, mackerel, squid, baby octopus, mud crab, sea crab and Indian salmon. The ambiance created was like that of a seafood market, where you could choose the seafood you like and then it would be grilled according to the type of spices you like.
Some of the best dishes were sea crab, pomfret and prawns. Such world class sea food in Hyderabad was really a dream come true and kudos to Novotel chefs for the same!
We then went to The Bar for some cocktails while watching IPL matches. The bar has been given a more chic and contemporary feel, making for a cheerful ambiance. It has been transformed to target and attract the young crowd over weekends. Guests can look forward to innovative concepts and more interactive offerings.
Best part is that the bar has got license to officially be open till 3am every night! That’s much better than the night life of entire Bangalore! So it’s a great place to let you hair down after a long day and enjoy with friends and colleagues!
We had a great swim the next day and basically relaxed by the pool while enjoying some sumptuous breakfast from The Food Exchange. The outlet is characterized by a social and interactive atmosphere with flexible seating options offering indoor casual and poolside outdoor seating. Live kitchens and conversations with the chef make this venue interactive and flamboyant, with an emphasis on freshness, local ingredients and organic produce.
Food Exchange is bringing together food, culture and traditions from across the world and making your breakfast, lunch and dinner exciting! The bright colors on the walls are really welcoming and the seating space are also very well done. With regards to the food, you of course have all the best cuisines in the world like Italian, Oriental, etc but also local flavors from South India, specially Andhra Pradesh. The cold cuts section is really exhaustive and so is the desserts section. There are a lot of live stations which are present to create your customized food in buffets.
Food Exchange is an all-day dining and social hub for discerning palates. Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre seeks to further deepen its impact in Hyderabad with the newly curated gastronomy offerings at Food Exchange, strengthening its decade long positioning in the market. With both western and Pan Asian cuisine on the menu, Food Exchange is a modern interpretation of food markets found across the globe and is reminiscent of places where local people in-the-know go to dine.