Oxymorons

Text: Reshmi Ramakumar

There’s something oddly satisfying about a place you have to look for. Inside Country Club in Begumpet, Oxymorons isn’t an easy find. Past a bookshelf 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, the music feels familiar, like it’s been borrowed from someone’s personal playlist. Think Smooth Operator or Down Under…songs that transport. Even the coasters feel quirky and nostalgic.

“We wanted a space where people feel comfortable enough to explore. Not intimidated, not rushed, just curious,” says Honey Jain Guha, who founded the bar with her husband, Rehan Guha.

The menu, deliberately tight at 12 cocktails, nudges you to trust the bar. Names like Seriously Playful and Clearly Misunderstood set the tone. A tequila-based drink with gongura and bajji chilli or a savoury cocktail with chicken broth challenge expectations but make sense once you taste them. Nothing feels like it’s trying too hard.

Beyond the bar, the food holds its own. The Dry Ramen is comforting, the Shoestring Fries with Curry Powder are easy to keep reaching for, and the Ricotta Bhurji is indulgent.

Oxymorons is not a place for hurried drinking, but one where conversations stretch into the night and every drink makes you pause.

Only Option	Loving Poison	Rehan Guha, Founder	Honey Guha, Co-Founder

Pillar Number C-1405, 
Metro Station, Uma Nagar, Begumpet, Hyderabad 500016
Mob: 0 72077 65656
Meal for two: Approximately Rs 3,000 + taxes, with alcohol