I’ve lived in Pune for more than half of my life. You’re used to Army kids talking about “being from everywhere” but those of us born, raised and transferred by the Forces do find home when we spend more than 4 years at a place. Pune for me is that home, a city I’ve seen in the 90s (1990 to be precise, when I was just a year old, so even though I may not remember it, what’s important is that I was introduced to the city much before I even learnt how to speak.) Pune deepened its connection with me as I made my way back a couple of times from 1991-1996, after which I came back, this time for good, in 2000. 22 years later, even after I’ve moved to Bangalore, Pune remains home. A laid-back town that is home to my folks, Polo our pet dog and the house that I grew up in (the furniture in my room is still pink, haven’t had the heart to revamp the room I spent my teens in.)
I’d like to believe that 22 years in a city gives you an authority to recommend guides, which is why I’m here with a food & bar guide for those who are figuring their way around the city. I would like to believe that I know a thing or two about good service and quality, and can even go ahead and say that I have good taste. Keeping this context in mind, here are some of my favorite places that I would love to share with you.
Please note – this is in no particular order, and I aim to keep updating it as and when I come across anything that suits the list.
Café Yezdan for a chai break
From 7am-8pm every day, Yezdan is buzzing with people who take their chai seriously. The waiters never sit idle here- there’s always someone waiting for their chai, broon maska, butter toast and cheese omelet. Even with food prices going through the roof, Café Yezdan is still more competitively priced than several other eating places. A plate of butter toast with 2 cups of chai and a double egg omelet will cost you less than 200INR. Ambiance may not be their forte, but that’s the charm of an Irani tea cafe, isn’t it? Majority of the customers are individuals with modest means, looking out for simple and wholesome meals and snacks. This café also sees people meeting for interviews, or plain social gatherings. Once upon a time it was rare to see a woman here, but that’s changed over the years. It’s safe, hygienic and definitely worth your money.
Le Flamington for hot chocolate
If it’s your first visit, I’d recommend the Signature Dark (hot) They recently introduced a cold version of it too, which may slowly turn out to be my new favorite. The Orange Mocha is bursting with flavors and makes for a good choice for those who wish to spruce up a coffee break. Their chicken sandwiches and chocolate bonbons are a family favorite, and do keep an eye out for the creative entremets that usually run out by late afternoon (I’m not the only one who loves what they have to serve!) Their chocolate bonbons are a great gift idea too. What stands out is the ace quality of ingredients that they use to make everything. From their drinks and chocolates to bakes and mains, they ensure their quality is never compromised. Ensuring this takes effort, and they invest time and money in sourcing the best ingredients for their kitchen, and only produce in small quantities, which explains why the prices may be on the higher side. The Kalyani Nagar café is great for meetings, workshops, dates or even a solo day out, while the one in Salunke Vihar Road is smaller, more intimate. Recommend a visit to understand great quality of food, creativity and good hospitality.
We Brew for coffee
A new entrant in the café scene in Pune, We Brew is a tiny, green space right behind ABC Farms in Wanowarie. It is being operated out of a private apartment that has been converted into a B&B-cum-café of sorts. Suhel is the barista who also runs the brand, and has been an active part of the brewing world for a few years now. We Brew previously used to supply coffee beans to other popular cafes across the city, and is now also venturing into the B2C space. The service is excellent, and if you’re curios about coffee you’ll have a great time chatting up with Suhel. When you’re in the mood for hot, frothy coffee order the cappuccino or the cortado, and you may have a new favorite brew in the city. I gifted this coffee to some of my friends and I’ve received great feedback. The space is perfect for a solo coffee date, a meeting, or even a lazy evening out with friends. Highly recommend this if you’re a coffee nerd/enthusiast. A cup of cortado and cappuccino will cost you 300INR. They are slowly introducing bakes on the menu too.
Persian Bakery for veg puff
The freshly baked, hot, soft puffs are to die for! They’ve been a favorite for years now. We used to buy the freshly baked bread from them early in the morning in the 90s. I still remember the bread being so tasty that I’d eat it immediately, without even waiting to apply butter on it. The love for vegetarian and chicken puffs has been consistent all these years, but if I had to choose I’d pick the veg puffs over the non-veg ones. Their rum balls used to be great too, but the quality has severely dropped in the last couple of years. You can also pick up pizza base/buns/naan bread from here. Some of their cookies are nice too, but since I’m not a bakery cookie fan I won’t be able to help with a recommendation. The jam rolls are another favorite, another taste of nostalgia that has stayed consistent all these years. The puffs cost 40INR.
JJ Garden for vada pav
Everyone will ask you to visit this iconic establishment, and for good reason. The vada pavs are some of the best in the city, and are served fresh every day from 9am-10pm. The handcart on the side of the road is a hotspot for locals and tourists alike, but I’m glad to see some order in the way things work here now. Instead of crowding around, people now stand in long lines to place their order. I like eating at the vada pav center and not the handcart, because there’s more space to stand, plus you can watch the vadas being fried and served to you immediately. It’s so satisfying to watch your food as it is being prepared, do you feel that way too? If yes, head to the center next time. A plate costs 25INR.
City Bakery for cakes
The freshly baked mawa cake and brownies are quite a hit with everyone. They open at 7am, and are one of the few people who are still following Pune’s old way of life because they love their afternoon breaks from 1-4pm. If you’re here early in the morning, I would recommend picking up the freshly baked breads. The plum cake during Christmas is definitely worth a try- we had it last year and I was pleasantly surprised at the balance of flavors (rum cakes tend to become bitter so I’ve avoided them most of my life.) They even have cookies that I’ve heard are quite good. Visit if you’re missing that comforting, old-school taste of bakeries.
Elephant & Co for a night out
Eco is second home, and if you’ve been following me for a while now you would know how much I enjoy a good party. I’ve been a regular since the time I first walked into the cozy space in their first month. Together we’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, dates, had meetings, and made friends over the years. Eco isn’t a bar for me anymore, it’s my comfort zone that I will reach out to. It’s familiar, safe and comforting, and I’ve made too many good memories here. I was so excited for them when they decided to open in Goa, and I’m so proud of the team as they’re slowly building the brand to be a favorite choice for party goers. You can keep an eye out on their Instagram page for gig announcements. What I love about Eco is the fact that they focus on their cocktails (so good!) the food (SO GODDAMN GOOD! Their waffle dosa-Chettinad chicken is beyond amazing) and have an aesthetic space that you can enjoy on a date, a casual meeting, a brunch with the girls, with family or at a party when you’re in the mood for a late night. For a complete experience like this, the cost isn’t too high either. Plus you’ve got some of the kindest people running the show- the hospitality makes everyone feel special. Whatever be the mood, do drop by at least once to see what I’m talking about. They are located in Kalyani Nagar and Baner.
Qora for a long night out
Qora was the talk of the town during the launch earlier this year, and I’m happy to see that the buzz remains. Qora is a cocktail bar and kitchen, but I’ve only visited after 11pm which means I’ve only experienced the bar offerings. Having said that, I hear the food is good so you may want to book a table and come over in the evening, and move on to a heavier night at the dance floor. The menu is priced on the higher side (2 shots, or 2 drinks can cost you 1500INR) They have a great sound system in place, so the gigs here are always quite a rage. Weekends are packed with party-goers up until the wee hours of the morning. I would recommend this as a post-drinking party plan, unless you don’t want to move around too much- you can then start an early evening at Qora itself, and make your way to the dance floor as the night progresses.
Tsuki for the best Pan Asian food
I’m not going to be beat around the bush here, Tsuki IS the best pan Asian experience in Pune. Chic, minimal decor, good music, crystal clear cocktails and food to die for- Tsuki is perfect for a celebratory meal. You can visit with your family, close friends, come here on a date…whatever you wish, but I’d not recommend solo dining here because you wouldn’t be able to go through all the food, which would be a pity. Kids and pets are not allowed here. While I have a whole bunch of recommendations on the menu, it’s the Isaan Grilled Pork that I MUST ask you to order. That, and the duck bao. And the Norwegian rolls. And Nama Chocolate. This post has all the details about what I’ve eaten here. The experience will be a premium one, but it’s worth every penny.
Cake-n-counter for cake
Cake-n-counter has been a family tradition for all birthdays since the 90s. The best part is that the taste has remained the same even after all these years. Even the shop hasn’t changed much- it’s a simple store lined with a glass counter that displays similar looking cakes, plain walls, dark wooden furniture, with no added frills. The vanilla sponge cake with chocolate icing is my favorite, and if I’m feeling too indulgent I opt for the chocolate sponge with chocolate icing. Their pineapple cakes are great too. They do special orders for the Yule Log during Christmas. I’m quite happy to see them on Instagram, and the fact that they now accept GPay, but I know this also means a slow modernization of a favorite childhood brand that had maintained it’s authenticity for over 30 years. Not saying that it’s not authentic anymore, but as a loyalist since I first learnt how to eat cake, it’s heartbreaking to deal with change. I’m glad the cakes taste the same though. If you don’t have a reason to get the cake, drop in early in the morning (preferably anytime before lunch) to get their freshly baked pastries in the same flavors (vanilla-choc icing and choc-choc icing) There are no tables here, so you can get your pastry and head out to the pavement right outside the store to enjoy this indulgence.
Ahling for chindian
Here’s another one that still gets OG Pune excited. This restaurant is one of the few old-school “Indo-Chinese” joints where the decor is dominated by dragons and the color red, bamboo mats line every table, and the 10-page menu overwhelms you with different versions of chilly, schezwan and manchurian dishes. I usually dine in because I live and love in nostalgia and what’s more iconic than sitting in an old iconic establishment and quietly enjoying a satisfying meal with your close people? Nothing, that’s right. If you’re not in the mood to dine in, you can place your order and have it delivered to you via Dunzo (the last time I checked, they were not on Zomato/Swiggy ) Talk to the waiters and ask him for recommendations, they usually do a fab job. Also, complete value for money! Perfect for days when you want to enjoy cozy meals. Not a place where you can be loud or move around, it’s an intimate space that is best enjoyed with people close to you.
Kwality for a late night meal
If you’re having one of those super late nights and are thinking about food at 2am, head to the closest Kwality (the one in Kalyani Nagar, Raja Bahadur Mills and Wanowarie are great) The food is great, and not the “I am so drunk everything tastes great” but more like “wow, there’s actual thick, creamy Mughlai gravies that I would like to order when I’m sober too!” I love their do-pyaaza, kadhai, tawa and handi preparations. I’ve eaten there and ordered home too, and the quality has stayed consistent. They also serve great portions, and meals here are usually great value for money. Perfect for after-party meals. You can also start your night here early with daru and chakhna, and move on to dinner. I’ve done this on dates here, it’s been kinda perfect.
Irani Cafe, Camp/NIBM for chai break
I usually end up here in the non-productive hours of the day, immediately after lunchtime. A glass of chai and some buttered toast always shakes things up. I’ve noticed that the chai is much better in the Camp and NIBM branches. I like the samosa in the NIBM branch, the Kalyani Nagar and Camp ones have disappointed me. The chai in the Kalyani Nagar one is too milk for my taste, it’s the one in Camp that hits the right spot. Even the service at the Camp branch is the best. It’s great value for money, and perfect for a chai break or even a quick informal meeting.
Tokyo Bakery for Japanese bread
Their story is nothing short of inspirational, a great example of persistence paying off. It’s their story that has kept me interested in the brand, and I got a chance to visit the space recently (October 2022) Custard Cream Buns, Cheese filled buns, Melon buns, Cheesecake and Rolls, I’ve made my way through their offerings. Threw in a chocolate croissant too because it’s against my principles to avoid good looking, freshly baked croissants. This post has more details on their journey, and some photos of the food. Cute space for a date, a cozy meetup or even a solo coffee break. If you’re confused about what to have, please start with the Japanese cheesecake. The food is not too expensive either- rolls and croissants will cost you 90INR – 150INR.
Chafa Cafe for healthy, wholesome meals, and productive work days
Visit for great, healthy food that’s the real deal. I’ve been a fan of their space since inception, and I love how things have only got better here. An open space with ample foliage, an indoor seating area decorated with plants, the white and green color palette, a constantly evolving menu, great tasting food and ergonomic seating made this my favorite place to work out of all of 2019-2020. I’ve enjoyed all of their wholesome meals, their bowls are some of the best in the city, and their coffee-dessert combos are a complete hit. The menu is priced on the higher side, but you are assured of great quality and a good time. I’ve enjoyed peaceful, productive days here, and spent 1000INR on an average, which includes my morning cuppa, lunch and dessert for the midday slump. Perfect for a date, a meeting, to workout of, or to spend some me-time in a quiet corner of a bustling neighborhood.
Aufside for a good party
Those of you who love a high energy good Bollywood party, Aufside is where you end the night. Be prepared to meet almost everyone who you know, because anyone looking for a good break on the weekend finds themselves at Aufside after hours. Walk in post midnight, especially on a weekend, and you can party till the wee hours of the morning. The pizzas here are great too, in case you, like me, need to fuel in between the drinks and dancing. While Bollywood is the main genre here, you’ll also find some karaoke nights and other gigs happening here.