Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan may have immortalized Benarasi Paan, but this palate cleanser and mouth freshener has always been an inherent part of the city’s culinary temptations. It is also said that the Seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan was very fond of the paandaan, a coffin used to store these betel leaves. It’s no wonder then that Hyderabad has a good mix of small Paan Dabbas and specialty paan boutiques. Here is a list of some popular ones in the city.
PVS Paan Mahal Paradise Circle, Secunderabad.
If there was one place that could be defined as an opulent Paan Shop, this would be it. It has a menu where you can choose from with the ingredients like supari, gulkand, qiwam, kattha, chuna and tambaku on display like a showroom. In terms of varieties, you can choose from sada (plain), meetha (sweet), to maghai (the twin variety), rampiyari, baba kashmiri, etc. Their kalkatta meetha paan is a mouthful. They also serve a designer paan with real silver and gold waraq (silver leaf) and it costs a mind-boggling 2,500 rupees. Also available outside are the very attractive ice golas (ice candy) that go perfectly with the paan. This place also has a large collection of international bada suttas.
shy pan Palace Sindhi Colony, Prenderghast Road, Secunderabad.
Done on the lines of PVS Paan Mahal, Dimmy Paan Palace is another designer paan shop in town. This place has more of a late night hangout feel with chaat, sandwiches, ice pops and soft drinks also available here. Their specialty is the kalkatta meenakshi paan which has a mint flavor and is filled with elaichi (cardamom). Also try their rampiyari and don’t forget to order soft supari (bhuna hua chaliya) in your paan if you don’t like grinding your teeth. We recommend the kalkatta meetha paan with extra gulkand (pink sugar), saunf (fennel), elaichi, laung (cloves) and kesar (saffron) for the complete experience. This place also has a good collection of international suttas and bada suttas.
Blue Diamond Paan Shop Near LB Stadium, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad.
For a taste of the old neighborhood corner paan dabba experience, head to the Blue Diamond Paan Shop in Basheerbagh. This place has been running successfully for over forty years. Their specialty is the regular patta meetha paan, which is nicely folded into a small portapaan. They also have a selection of very traditional paans like Navratan and Kashmiri and they also offer unique blends like Navratan Meenakshi and Navratan Rampiyari. Looking for suggestions from the same paanwala? That is also available.
paan shop Near Sahib Sindh Sultan, 5th Floor of City Center Mall, Banjara Hills Road No.1, Hyderabad.
It is located on a corner near the Sahib Sindh Sultan restaurant. The paanwala is dressed in typical Benarasi style with a dhoti and a Nehru cap with a handsome mustache. The specialty of this shop is their maghai (twin paans). The meetha paan is also quite tasty and the supari is quite soft. Also on offer is the kesar-stuffed rampiyari, which is a nice twist on an already popular paan. It’s a must stop after a meal at one of the BJN restaurants here.