New cafés in Lucknow: September 2026 openings and rising spots
Lucknow has 16 new and rising cafés worth a look this month, each rated 4.4 or higher on Google Maps from under 300 reviews, led by Kissa Cafe at 5.0 from 23. Updated 28 September 2026. This launch edition uses low review count as the proxy for "new" until next month's review-growth numbers arrive.
How we researched this
We checked 287 places on Google Maps, 17 Instagram reels and 17 local ads, and 6,358 search terms across four local Instagram accounts. Ratings, review counts, price bands and opening hours come from a Google Maps pull across six café searches. We have not confirmed prices or opening dates by phone yet, so treat every price as "about" and every "new" label as a lead, not a confirmed fact.
Last verified: 28 September 2026. We update this page when ratings, prices or hours change.
At a glance
- Top rated this month: Kissa Cafe5.0 from 23 reviews, open 24 hours.
- Most reviews on the list: Harvin’s Cafe & Bistro4.9 from 263 reviews.
- Cheapest band: Cafe EL RetroAbout ₹400 to 800 for two (Google Maps band ₹200 to 400 per diner, Sep 2026), tied with Backbencher’s and thedailygrind.
- Flowers at the table: myguldastaSame day to any café in Lucknow, starting from ₹699, your letter tucked in.
What changed in Lucknow cafés this month?
This is our first edition, published 28 September 2026, so there is no prior month to compare against yet. We pulled fresh Google Maps data across six café searches and filtered to 16 places rated 4.4 or higher with under 300 reviews, the launch-edition stand-in for "new" while we build a real review-growth history.
A low review count does not prove a café just opened; it can also mean a café is small, out of the way, or simply new to asking for reviews. We are checking opening dates by phone and Instagram before we call any of these "confirmed new" in a future update.
Which cafés are new in Lucknow this month?
Sixteen cafés from our September 2026 Google Maps pull rate 4.4 or higher with under 300 reviews each: Kissa Cafe, Cremaur, Cafe D'Wood, RISE & UP CAFE, Cafe Lamha, Cafe EL Retro, Feeka Cafe, Harvin's Cafe & Bistro, Backbencher's Cafe, thedailygrind, Havana Cafe, Caspian Cafe, Skypiea by Hideout Cafe, Aabshaar Rooftop Bar, Olive & Clove Rooftop Restaurant and Velvet Vibes Cafe.
Date Score legend: 1 to 5 on Privacy, Budget, Safety, Vibe, Food, Convenience and Surprise-ready (room for flowers or a cake); overall is the average. Our editorial judgement from Google Maps data, September 2026; several scores are provisional given how few reviews some of these cafés have.
1. Kissa Cafe
Date Score 3.15.0 stars from 23 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
No price band on Google Maps yet; call to confirm
Listed as open 24 hours (Sep 2026)
The highest rating on this month’s list, though 23 reviews is still thin. Worth a call before you plan around it.
2. Cremaur
Date Score 3.34.9 stars from 104 Google Maps reviews · Ashiyana
No price band on Google Maps yet; call to confirm
Listed until 2 AM (Sep 2026)
A 2 AM listed close, second only to Caspian Cafe among places that shut at all, and a 4.9 from 104 reviews in Ashiyana.
3. Cafe D’Wood
Date Score 3.64.9 stars from 103 Google Maps reviews · Aliganj
About ₹800 to 1,200 for two (Google Maps band ₹400 to 600 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 11 PM (Sep 2026)
Already appears on our main cafés-for-couples guide as a smaller pick, and it is still climbing on Maps.
4. RISE & UP CAFE
Date Score 3.34.9 stars from 68 Google Maps reviews · Kapoorthala
No price band on Google Maps yet; call to confirm
Listed until 10:30 PM (Sep 2026)
A near 5-star average in Kapoorthala, one of two Kapoorthala entries on this list.
5. Cafe Lamha
Date Score 3.44.8 stars from 49 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
About ₹800 to 1,200 for two (Google Maps band ₹400 to 600 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 11:30 PM (Sep 2026)
The same Google Maps band as Cafe D’Wood, with a later 11:30 PM listed close.
6. Cafe EL Retro
Date Score 3.44.8 stars from 51 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
About ₹400 to 800 for two (Google Maps band ₹200 to 400 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 11:30 PM (Sep 2026)
Tied for the cheapest band on this list with Backbencher’s Cafe and thedailygrind, and open until 11:30 PM.
7. Feeka Cafe
Date Score 3.64.8 stars from 187 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
About ₹800 to 2,400 for two (Google Maps band ₹400 to 1,200 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 11 PM (Sep 2026)
Already a smaller pick on our main cafés-for-couples guide, and its 187 reviews are the second most on this list after Harvin’s.
8. Harvin’s Cafe & Bistro
Date Score 3.44.9 stars from 263 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
No price band on Google Maps yet; call to confirm
Listed until 11 PM (Sep 2026)
The most reviews of any place on this list while still holding a 4.9, the closest thing here to a proven rating.
9. Backbencher’s Cafe
Date Score 3.34.8 stars from 116 Google Maps reviews · Ashiyana
About ₹400 to 800 for two (Google Maps band ₹200 to 400 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 12 AM (Sep 2026)
Already a budget pick on our main cafés-for-couples guide, and one of the later closing times on this list.
10. thedailygrind
Date Score 3.34.4 stars from 156 Google Maps reviews · Kapoorthala
About ₹400 to 800 for two (Google Maps band ₹200 to 400 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 11 PM (Sep 2026)
The lowest rating on this list at 4.4, but still above our 4.4 cutoff and one of the few Kapoorthala entries.
11. Havana Cafe
Date Score 3.14.6 stars from 173 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
No price band on Google Maps yet; call to confirm
Listed until 11 PM (Sep 2026)
A 4.6 from 173 reviews: steady rather than spectacular, and not yet on our bigger café lists.
12. Caspian Cafe
Date Score 3.04.6 stars from 57 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
No price band on Google Maps yet; call to confirm
Listed until 3 AM (Sep 2026)
One of the latest closing times we found this month, useful if the plan runs long.
13. Skypiea by Hideout Cafe
Date Score 3.04.4 stars from 59 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
About ₹1,600 to 2,000 for two (Google Maps band ₹800 to 1,000 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 12 AM (Sep 2026)
A rooftop-style entry from our rooftop café search, pricier than most on this list.
14. Aabshaar Rooftop Bar
Date Score 3.04.5 stars from 25 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
About ₹1,200 to 1,600 for two (Google Maps band ₹600 to 800 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed until 11 PM (Sep 2026)
A rooftop entry with only 25 reviews so far; call ahead before you plan an evening around it.
15. Olive & Clove Rooftop Restaurant
Date Score 3.04.7 stars from 22 Google Maps reviews · Not in data
About ₹2,800 to 3,200 for two (Google Maps band ₹1,400 to 1,600 per diner, Sep 2026)
Listed closing at 10 PM (Sep 2026)
The most expensive band on this list and the earliest closing time, so plan an early evening if you go.
16. Velvet Vibes Cafe
Date Score 3.44.9 stars from 20 Google Maps reviews · Gomti Nagar
No price band on Google Maps yet; call to confirm
Listed as open 24 hours (Sep 2026)
The smallest review count on this list at 20, so treat the 4.9 as early and unproven; worth a call before a long trip across town.
Sources: Google Maps listings (ratings, reviews, price bands, hours), pulled 28 September 2026 from new-cafe, aesthetic-cafe, rooftop and area searches. Opening dates not yet confirmed; areas marked "not in data" are missing from this pull.
Take a cake to celebrate the discovery
Eggless option, delivered to the café or straight to their door in Lucknow, your message on the board free.
Which Lucknow cafés are rising fastest?
We cannot show review-growth numbers yet. Our 287-place Google Maps snapshot was taken on 28 September 2026, the same day as this launch edition, so it is a starting line, not a comparison. Real "fastest growing" numbers arrive with our next refresh.
Until then, the 16 cafés above are our best proxy for "rising": young by review count and already rated well by the people who have been.
Which cafés opened in previous months?
Nothing here yet. This is our first edition, so there is no prior "new this month" list to move down. From our October 2026 refresh onward, this section will hold last month's new cafés once they have had a full cycle to settle in.
Which new Lucknow cafés are cheap for two?
Cafe D’Wood, Cafe Lamha, Cafe EL Retro, Backbencher’s Cafe, thedailygrind show Google Maps bands of ₹200 to 600 per diner, about ₹400 to 1,200 for two, the cheapest bands among this month's new and rising list.
| Café | Google Maps | Cost for two |
|---|---|---|
| Cafe D’Wood | 4.9 from 103 | About ₹800 to 1,200 for two (Google Maps band ₹400 to 600 per diner, Sep 2026) |
| Cafe Lamha | 4.8 from 49 | About ₹800 to 1,200 for two (Google Maps band ₹400 to 600 per diner, Sep 2026) |
| Cafe EL Retro | 4.8 from 51 | About ₹400 to 800 for two (Google Maps band ₹200 to 400 per diner, Sep 2026) |
| Backbencher’s Cafe | 4.8 from 116 | About ₹400 to 800 for two (Google Maps band ₹200 to 400 per diner, Sep 2026) |
| thedailygrind | 4.4 from 156 | About ₹400 to 800 for two (Google Maps band ₹200 to 400 per diner, Sep 2026) |
Source: Google Maps price bands per diner, doubled and rounded, 28 September 2026; not confirmed by phone.
Which new Lucknow cafés are worth spending more on?
Feeka Cafe, Skypiea by Hideout Cafe, Aabshaar Rooftop Bar, Olive & Clove Rooftop Restaurant top out at Google Maps bands of ₹800 to 1,600 per diner, about ₹1,600 to 3,200 for two, mostly the rooftop-style entries from this month's pull.
| Café | Google Maps | Cost for two |
|---|---|---|
| Feeka Cafe | 4.8 from 187 | About ₹800 to 2,400 for two (Google Maps band ₹400 to 1,200 per diner, Sep 2026) |
| Skypiea by Hideout Cafe | 4.4 from 59 | About ₹1,600 to 2,000 for two (Google Maps band ₹800 to 1,000 per diner, Sep 2026) |
| Aabshaar Rooftop Bar | 4.5 from 25 | About ₹1,200 to 1,600 for two (Google Maps band ₹600 to 800 per diner, Sep 2026) |
| Olive & Clove Rooftop Restaurant | 4.7 from 22 | About ₹2,800 to 3,200 for two (Google Maps band ₹1,400 to 1,600 per diner, Sep 2026) |
Source: Google Maps price bands per diner, doubled and rounded, 28 September 2026; not confirmed by phone.
How do we track new cafés in Lucknow?
Every month we re-run a Google Maps scrape across six Lucknow café searches, compare review counts against the previous month's snapshot to find the fastest climbers, and check four local Instagram accounts for openings Maps has not caught yet. The next refresh is due 28 October 2026.
Instagram has also flagged a few names we have not put on this list because we have not confirmed when they opened: Mio Marito Gelato, Chihiro, Cheri, The Urban Coffee, Evora Bistro, Criollo, Coterie House by Giriraj, and Third Wave Coffee's newer Lucknow outlets. We would rather leave a name off than guess at its rating.
A café is a public place. If you are meeting someone new there, go in daylight or early evening, stay in the open, busy part of the café, and keep your phone charged. In Uttar Pradesh, police rules say couples in public places should not be questioned or asked for ID (UP DGP, 2017). If anyone harasses you, call 112, or 1090 (Women Power Line).
Frequently asked questions
What are the new cafés in Lucknow this month?
Our September 2026 Google Maps pull surfaced 16 cafés rated 4.4 or higher with under 300 reviews each, the launch-edition proxy for "new and rising": Kissa Cafe (5.0), Cremaur and Cafe D’Wood (4.9 each), and Cafe Lamha, Cafe EL Retro, Harvin’s Cafe & Bistro and RISE & UP CAFE (4.8 to 4.9). Full list and closing times below. We have not yet confirmed each one’s actual opening month; that is the next step.
What are the new cafés in Gomti Nagar?
Velvet Vibes Cafe (4.9 from 20 reviews, open 24 hours) is the one Gomti Nagar entry in our low-review, high-rating list this month, from the "cafe in Gomti Nagar Lucknow" Maps search. We will add more as the monthly refresh turns up fresh listings there.
Which new café is best for a date?
Feeka Cafe rates 4.8 from 187 Google Maps reviews (also logged at 260 in an earlier pull), stays open until 11 PM, and already turns up on our best-cafés-for-couples list, so it is the safest new-ish pick to trust. Kissa Cafe (5.0 from 23 reviews, open 24 hours) is the highest rated but small enough that reviews are still thin.
How do you find new cafés?
We re-run a Google Maps scrape across six Lucknow café searches every month, compare review counts against last month’s snapshot to see which places are climbing fastest, and check four local Instagram accounts for openings the Maps data has not caught yet. See "How we track new cafés" below for the full method.
Does a low review count mean a café is new?
Not on its own. A café can have few reviews because it is genuinely new, or because it is small, out of the way, or just bad at asking customers to review it. We treat low review count and a high rating together as a lead worth checking, not proof, and we confirm the opening month by phone or Instagram before we call a place "new" in a future update.
How often is this list updated?
Monthly. We re-run the Google Maps scrape on the same searches, diff review counts against the previous month’s snapshot, and refresh the page. Our first refresh after this September 2026 launch edition is due 28 October 2026, when the "Rising" section gets real review-growth numbers.
Are the prices on this list confirmed?
No. Where Google Maps lists a per-person price band, we show it and double it into an "about" cost for two, since it is not a confirmed menu. Several cafés on this list, including Caspian Cafe, Kissa Cafe and RISE & UP CAFE, have no price band on Maps yet; we say so rather than guess.
first visit to a new place
Bring flowers to the discovery
A small bouquet delivered to the café, your letter printed and tucked in, confirmed on WhatsApp before it arrives.
Sources: Ratings, review counts, price bands and opening hours · Google Maps, six Lucknow café searches within 287 places checked, pulled 28 September 2026 · Instagram openings needing verification · public posts from @knocksenselucknow, @things2doinlucknow, @lucknow_wants and @thee_awadh.vibes, September 2026 · Couples and police questioning · UP DGP instructions, 2017 · Helplines 112 and 1090 (Women Power Line), Uttar Pradesh Police
Published September 2026. Last verified 28 September 2026. Written by myguldasta, which sells bouquets in Lucknow and is not a café. No café paid to be listed.