Best Restaurants in Pune That Will Steal Your Heart
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Pune Food Walk: Old Classics and Quirky Cafes
Sizzling spices, sweet treats, and stories to savor…Click here to listen.
Pune: A City Steeped in Spice
Pune, once the heart of the Maratha Empire, now thrums with a modern beat. Yet, beneath the bustling streets and gleaming high-rises, a rich tapestry of flavors endures. Food, as they say, connects us to places, and on a quest to unravel Pune’s culinary soul, we sought the wisdom of a local.
Siddhartha Jain, a Pune native with an insatiable appetite, became our guide to discover the best Restaurants in Pune. With a twinkle in his eye, he challenged us, “One day? Let’s see how much of Pune’s food story we can devour in that time!”
Vada Pav Paradise
“Even with weeks,” Siddhartha laughed, a hint of warmth in his tone, “you couldn’t cover it all. But let’s hit some Pune classics!”
First up: a legendary vada pav stall, slinging close to 2,000 of these potato fritter buns a day! Street-side carts are the way to go; that’s the true vada pav vibe. Siddhartha agreed, a touch of Bourdain-esque directness creeping in, “The fun is standing there, sweating, chili in hand!” They add this crunchy ‘choora’ on the side – amazing texture. You get soft pav, crunch, then the potato…pure comfort food.
“This is why Pune is the true king of street food,” Siddhartha declared, channeling a hint of playful pride. “Mumbai wishes it had this!”
Marzorin: A Trip Back in Time
Following the heady aromas of frying potato, we navigated the bustling streets with Siddhartha, his excitement palpable. We soon arrived at Marzorin, one of Pune’s oldest Irani cafes. The place has a nostalgic, old-school charm that transports you – a feeling Ruskin Bond himself would have cherished. Siddhartha shared, a mischievous glint in his eye, “For my generation, this was the place to be.
We even ran a sandwich errand here for Teacher’s Day once! ‘Those sandwiches were late, I recall,'” Siddhartha grinned, a touch of Austen-esque drama in his voice, “‘Let’s just say your driving skills were…developing.'”
Their chicken and chutney sandwiches are legendary – simple flavors, soft chicken…so Pune. Places like this, with their timeless charm, are some of the best restaurants in Pune. They always bring back memories, and we loved hearing Siddhartha’s stories.
A Walk Through Camp
With happy bellies and a touch of nostalgia, we strolled through the Camp area with Siddhartha. Exploring by foot lets you really see the city’s mix of old and new. Pune’s got great weather and tons of old-world gems – bakeries, cafes, and restaurants that have been around for ages.
Dorabjee & Sons: Parsi with Passion
One such institution is Dorabjee & Sons. “My great-grandfather kicked it off as a tea stall,” the owner told us, a no-nonsense glint in his eye. “Now I’m the fourth generation slinging Parsi grub. Folks craved more, so we obliged.” The air hangs thick with the scent of wood and coal fires – been burning since the beginning. “That’s what makes the difference,” he explained, “You feel it in the food.” He’s a trained chef, you can tell – the dude’s got fire in his belly.
A regular butts in: “That dal? I’d drown in it. That dhansak, farcha… slow-cooked till it falls apart.” He winks, “Best damn hangover cure in the city…and you’ll find it at some of the best restaurants in Pune!
Cookie & Coffee: Corporate Escapees
We headed to the suburbs next, drawn to a cafe with the best name: Cookie & Coffee. Smita and Aniket, the owners, left their corporate lives for this pet-friendly dream. Their fat Labrador, Cookie, greets you alongside the amazing coffee smell.
“I was with Coca-Cola, managing 33 countries,” Smita shared. “A grand position indeed, and yet…cafes held a certain allure!” The absence of dog-friendly havens in Pune proved the final nudge. Their motto, a testament to simple elegance: food, done well. We couldn’t resist their Vietnamese iced coffee – hot espresso dripping onto condensed milk, then over ice. Such a union of chocolatey richness and a most curious contraption!
“This surpasses any spreadsheet!” Siddhartha sighed, a blissful smile gracing his lips.
Starting out was fraught with difficulties. “We argued on every point!” Smita confessed, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Our friendship teetered on the brink!” Yet, cafes such as theirs hold a unique charm. Fine food, prepared with care – truly, such endeavors make the trials of travel worthwhile.
Pune’s Flavor Tapestry
Pune’s food scene is a beautiful mix – old icons and fresh flavors pushing things forward. This quest for the best restaurants in Pune showed us just that! “If this is how I spend retirement,” Siddhartha mused, “I’m quitting my job tomorrow.”
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Pune Food Stroll: Indulge in Vada Pav Delights & Iconic Irani Café Adventures!
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