Vishal Bhindora, Director, Zane’s Cafe & Pet Spa

For most people, a café is a place to unwind over good food and great conversations. For Vishal Bhindora, Director of Zane’s Café & Pet Spa, it is a space where every wagging tail is welcomed with open arms, every furry guest is treated like family, and every pet parent can finally relax knowing their beloved companion comes first.

At a time when “pet-friendly” often means little more than allowing pets through the door, Vishal Bhindora and the team at Zane’s have reimagined the experience from the ground up. Here, pets aren’t an afterthought… they’re the VIPs. From serving water to four-legged guests before their humans are handed a menu to creating a leash-free environment, a thoughtfully curated pet menu, live-view grooming sessions and wellness-focused care, every element reflects one simple philosophy: don’t just accommodate pets, celebrate them.

What makes Zane’s Café & Pet Spa truly special is that it was born out of lived experience. Like countless pet parents, its founders struggled to find spaces where their own dogs felt genuinely welcome. Instead of accepting the status quo, they chose to create the kind of destination they had always wished existed… a place where pets could play freely, be pampered without stress, and simply be themselves, while their humans enjoyed exceptional hospitality alongside them.

Under Vishal’s leadership, Zane’s Café & Pet Spa has become more than a café or a pet spa. It is fast emerging as a lifestyle destination built on empathy, inclusivity and the belief that our pets deserve experiences that enrich their lives just as much as our own. Every thoughtful detail… —from anti-skid flooring and shock-proof power points to nutritious, chef-curated pet meals and transparent grooming… reflects a deep understanding that pets are no longer “just animals”; they are cherished members of the family.

In an exclusive interview with Sumita Chakraborty, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, TheGlitz, Vishal Bhindora, Director, Zane’s Café & Pet Spa, shares the inspiring story behind India’s truly pet-first café, why welcoming pets means so much more than simply opening the door, the growing evolution of pet parenting in India, and his vision of creating a nationwide culture where every pet is not merely accepted, but genuinely loved, celebrated and treated like family.

Over To Vishal Bhindora, Director, Zane’s Cafe & Pet Spa

Zane’s Café & Pet Spa isn’t just pet-friendly… it’s proudly pet-first. What inspired the move to go beyond the conventional model and create a space where pets are the true VIPs?
Honestly, it came from a place of frustration that I think every pet parent can relate to. Our founders have six dogs, and they constantly ran into the same issue: Where can we actually go and feel genuinely welcome, not just tolerated?

Another huge gap we noticed was the grooming experience. Usually, you drop your pet off and you’re stuck waiting in your car, or scrambling to find a nearby coffee shop. Plus, you can’t see how your pet is being handled, which is incredibly stressful. That’s exactly how the idea for Zane’s was born.

We put the pet spa on the first floor and a human-friendly café on the ground floor. Now, you drop your pet off for some pampering, grab a complimentary coffee downstairs, and watch the entire grooming session live on a tablet. Humans have the whole world—pets have Zane’s. And we mean that down to the smallest detail. If you walk into our café, your pet gets served a bowl of water before you even get a menu.

From serving water to pets before their humans to creating a completely leash-free indoor environment, every detail at Zane’s reflects a thoughtful philosophy. How did you design the experience to ensure both pets and pet parents feel equally at home?
The secret with pet parents is actually pretty simple: if their fur baby is happy and well-looked after, the parents are instantly at ease. So, we started there. But we also didn’t want the human experience to be an afterthought. We haven’t cut a single corner.

We’ve designed a fantastic experience for both sides, featuring an incredible all-day breakfast, specialty coffee, a dedicated pet menu, delicious mains, and exciting small plates. We’re even opening our bar soon! Every single detail is tailored to ensure that both the pets and their humans have a genuinely premium, comfortable time.

Many establishments still impose breed, size, or behavioural restrictions. Zane’s has chosen to welcome every pet without discrimination. Why was inclusivity such an important part of the vision, and what has the response been like?
Look, if you’re placing restrictions on breed or size, you aren’t really welcoming pets—you’re just tolerating them under specific conditions. We wanted to blow those doors wide open. We absolutely love the chaotic, beautiful energy pets bring with them.

The response has been incredibly heartwarming. There is nothing better than watching a pet parent completely unwind because they see their dog moving around freely, comfortable and happy, instead of being chained to a corner or having to constantly supervise their every move. It changes the entire energy of the room.

The combination of a café, curated pet menu, and wellness-focused pet spa makes Zane’s much more than a dining destination. Did you always envision it as a lifestyle hub for pet parents, and how do you see this concept evolving?
Absolutely. The goal from day one was to become an seamless part of a pet parent’s daily routine. We didn’t want to be a place you visit just once for a special occasion; we wanted to be the automatic, go-to choice whenever someone thinks about heading out the door with their pet.

Today’s pet parents increasingly see their pets as family members rather than companions. How has this shift influenced the way you’ve designed everything… from the menu and interiors to the overall hospitality experience?
Our founders see their pets as their children, so when you build a business from that mindset, the standards change completely. Every pet who walks in has to feel important. That’s why the space is entirely leash-free, the floors are anti-skid, all the power points are shock-proof, and we intentionally left a lot of open layout space for them to play and explore.

We took the same approach with the kitchen—our pet menu is incredibly thoughtful, featuring dishes that cater to all kinds of specific dietary requirements and sensitivities.

Safety, comfort, nutrition, and wellness are clearly central to the Zane’s experience. How important is it for businesses in the pet industry to move beyond basic services and create spaces that genuinely enhance a pet’s quality of life?
At the end of the day, if you’re not actively enhancing someone’s quality of life, you shouldn’t be in the hospitality industry. Whether it’s providing a nutritious meal or ensuring their health and hygiene through proper, stress-free grooming, this is a service industry. Our job is to become an essential, positive support system for pet parents and their pets. If you aren’t genuinely adding value to their lives, why are you doing it?”

If you could change one perception about pet-friendly spaces in India through Zane’s Café & Pet Spa, what would it be? And what is your long-term vision for creating a truly pet-first culture across the country?

“I want businesses to understand what it actually means to be pet friendly. Don’t just let them past the door—welcome them. Cherish them. Celebrate them! Stop tolerating and start embracing. As for our long-term vision, we want to expand the Zane’s family, open more locations, and share this truly pet-first experience with pet parents all across the country.

TheGlitz Take

At TheGlitz, we believe true luxury isn’t measured by opulence alone… it’s measured by thoughtfulness, compassion and the ability to make everyone feel they belong. Zane’s Café & Pet Spa embodies that philosophy beautifully.

In a world where pets are increasingly cherished as family members, Zane’s is challenging the very definition of “pet-friendly.” It isn’t simply a café that allows pets through its doors; it’s a destination thoughtfully created around them. Every detail, from the leash-free spaces and wholesome pet menu to transparent grooming sessions and heartfelt hospitality, reflects a genuine understanding of the unique bond between pets and their humans.

What truly touched us is the philosophy behind it all: don’t just tolerate pets… celebrate them. It’s a simple idea, yet one that has the power to transform the way hospitality embraces our four-legged companions.

As India witnesses a remarkable evolution in pet parenting, concepts like Zane’s are paving the way for a more inclusive, compassionate and joyful future. We hope this is just the beginning of a movement… one where cafés, hotels, restaurants and public spaces across the country recognise that welcoming pets isn’t a trend; it’s a reflection of a kinder, more empathetic society.

…Because sometimes, the warmest welcome isn’t the one reserved for people… it’s the bowl of water waiting patiently for a wagging tail.