5 MUST-VISIT CAFES IN PUNE
2025 is about the cafe scene— visiting cutesy, artistic, and aesthetic cafes.
My Instagram feed is a continuous list of new and old cafes with cute interiors, gorgeous ocean views, sprawling city views, open fields, and whatnot.
This year, instead of sending reels to each other, my sister and I decided to visit some cafes, and that’s how we began our tradition of visiting 1-2 cafes monthly.
So far, we’ve visited nine cafes across Pune. However, only a select few made it onto my list of “Must-visit cafes in Pune”.
Here are the eateries that made it onto my must-visit cafes in Pune list.
- One 8 Commune
- Mocha
- The Sassy Spoon
- Pimlico
- Trooh
P.S. This is not the final list. I’ll be adding new names as I go. So, stay tuned to know which other cafes make it onto the list.
This blog post comprises my reviews of each cafe and why I think they are a must-visit in Pune.
ONE 8 COMMUNE, PUNE
When I heard that Virat Kohli’s One 8 Commune had reopened in Pune, I had to visit.
I hadn’t been to the previous one, but after comparing the photos of the older one and having been to the new restaurant, I liked the latter.
The revamped One 8 Commune in Koregaon Park perfectly blends modern, stylish and elegant interiors. It boasts a welcoming atmosphere and a friendly vibe.
The staff was accommodating and attentive. Also, service was quick despite the large crowds.
One of the reasons One 8 Commune made it onto my list of must-visit cafes in Pune is the food.
The food was delectable and simply fantastic.
I had Virat Kohli’s favourite — the mushroom Googly dim sum. It was flavourful and juicy and my favourite item on their menu.
I recommend trying their chicken pizza. It was one of the best pizzas I’ve had at a cafe. The crust was soft and not hard like most thin-crust pizzas, and the chicken pieces were plenty and well-seasoned.
I also had their alio pasta and nachos. They were both good but not really for me.
I would also recommend their sushi platter. I didn’t try it, but it looked tasty.
PHOTO OP TIP:- The stairs leading to the terrace, the bar, the mural left of the entrance, Virat Kohli’s signature at the reception and the green couch alcove adjacent to the bar are great places for photos.
TIMINGS:- Open through Monday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
RATINGS:- 4½ / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (½ ⭐ because they have valet parking)
PRICE:- ₹₹
MOCHA, SALUNKI VIHAR
After seeing Mocha’s makeover, I had to visit.
The 2.0 version is a rooftop restaurant in a building complex in Salunki Vihar.
The new interiors are modern, elegant and trendy. Their interior seating is best for daytime, and the outdoor seating is best for evenings.
I visited Mocha on Mother’s Day, so I expected it to be busy. I called to reserve a table. They replied I didn’t need one. But when I arrived, the host told me I would need a reservation as it was busy. When I told him about the reservations, he seated us at a corner table. It was not a good seat.
The service was slow. It might be that our table was in the corner or it was busy and the weekend.
The sole reason Mocha made it onto my list was the food.
I had their peri-peri chicken wings, teriyaki chicken Bao, thin-crust chicken pizza, and the Baked Cream Cheese Kunafa.
My favourites were the teriyaki chicken Bao — the bun was soft and fluffy, and the tender chicken was sweet and spicy. The Kunafa was warm, and the sugar syrup added a slight sweetness.
I think I chose a busy day for my visit. But I’d like to give it another try.
PHOTO OP TIPS:- The terrace during golden hour, the seating under the straw lamp/chandelier, and the passage separating the two seating areas.
TIMINGS:- Mocha is open Monday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
RATINGS:- 3/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ( I deducted ½ ⭐ for the seating and another ½ ⭐ because they didn’t have valet facilities. The building’s parking was full. I had to drive around for 20 minutes before finding a spot within walking distance.)
PRICE:- ₹₹
THE SASSY SPOON, KOREGAON PARK
The Sassy Spoon was the first cafe I visited after my sister and I began our monthly cafe-hopping tradition.
Sassy Spoon is a crowd-favourite among Punekars. It’s only gotten popular with time.
The colourful, vibrant and cheerful interiors are welcoming. Pops of blue and pink make the place lively.
The cheerful vibe makes one feel relaxed. It reminds me of Sunday brunch with family or a girls’ luncheon.
Service is quick, and the staff is attentive and accommodating.
When we arrived, there were only a handful of guests. Since there were few people, my sister and I decided to do a quick photo op in the cafe.
Gratefully, the staff gave us free rein, from sitting at different tables, at the bar or moving things around. They even offered to take photos for us without us asking.
It’s small things like these that add to the experience.
Besides the quick service and cool interiors, the food is outstanding.
I tried their Margherita flatbread, vegetable tacos (I can’t recall the exact name), Chicken 65, salted caramel cheesecake and chocolate cake.
The flatbread was good, but I liked the tacos and the chicken 65 more. However, my favourites were the desserts.
PHOTO OP TIP:- The bar, the staircase, the book wall, the table under the pillar with colourful glass bottles and the van are great places for photos.
TIMINGS:- The Sassy Spoon is open daily from Monday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
RATINGS:- 3½ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (An additional ½ ⭐ for private parking space. However, finding a vacant spot on weekends is a matter of luck.)
PRICE:- ₹₹
PIMLICO, PUNE
Of all the cafes I’ve visited since starting my monthly cafe-hopping tradition, Pimlico has to be the second best (after One 8 Commune).
I didn’t have a chance to visit Pimlico before its renovations, but my sister did. According to her, the 2.0 version is better.
The interiors are elegant, sophisticated and classy. The wood decor, plants, and flower installation on the ceiling are exceptional. It’s like sitting in a secluded glasshouse.
The staff is well-trained and efficient. Despite the lunch rush, the service was quick.
Besides the lovely decor and service, the food is why I added Pimlico to my list of must-visit cafes in Pune.
I had their Farmhouse Pizza, the veg Lasagna, and Sweet and spicy chicken wings (I forgot the name of the dish).
The Veg Lasagna was cheesy, but I would have liked the non-veg one more. Their Farmhouse Pizza was superb. It was as good as the one I had at One 8 Commune. The chicken wings were awesome. I think they were honey-glazed, but I’m not too sure. They were tasty.
I wanted to try their desserts, but after all the cheesy goodness, I could eat no more. The desserts looked appealing, but I controlled myself.
However, if you try, let me know which you like best.
After visiting Pimlico, I realised why Pimlico is a favourite among Punekars.
PHOTO OP TIPS:- The doorframe that leads to the indoor seating, the bar, the entrance, and the corner table. Almost every table in the cafe is good for photos.
TIMINGS:- Pimlico is open from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
RATINGS:- 4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (If you’re wandering, yes they do have valet parking)
PRICE:- ₹₹₹
TROOH
I came across Trooh on Instagram. The glowing reviews and the photos online convinced me.
The videos I saw online described Trooh as a Bali-themed restaurant. However, to me, it resembled a desert theme. The colour scheme, the plants, and the wall patterns made me think of Egypt.
Maybe I am wrong, and the restaurant is Bali-themed. Well, it’s a matter of perspective.
The sandy-coloured shores are modern and trendy. It has a warm and welcoming vibe.
They have indoor and outdoor seating.
Their indoor seating is suitable for day and night, whereas the outdoor is best for evenings.
Besides lovely interiors, they have a well-mannered and polite staff. The service was quick, and the waiting staff was patient.
I wanted to take photos of the dishes for my blog. The server patiently waited until I was satisfied with my photos.
Another reason Trooh is on my list of must-visit cafes in Pune is the food.
I had their chicken tikka, a thin-crust pizza and the Karage chicken with sesame podi and chilli honey.
The chicken tikka was juicy and soft, but my favourite was the honey-glazed chicken with sesame seeds. The pizza was okayish, but their sushi looked appealing. Try that instead.
Lastly, don’t forget to try their Shahi Tukda sprinkled with frozen rose petals on top.
PHOTO OP TIPS:- The outdoor seating, the indoor seating, the indoor corner tables, the logo-mounted wall, the bar, staircases, and the outdoor bar.
TIMINGS:- Open on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Tuesdays and Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
RATINGS:- 4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
PRICE:- ₹₹₹
CONCLUSION
That brings us to the end of the list.
To conclude, my sister and I have been cafe-hopping for the last few months to compile a list of must-visit cafes in Pune. So, far I’ve been to 9 cafes, of which 5 made it onto my list. They are —
- One 8 Commune
- Mocha
- The Sassy Spoon
- Pimlico
- Trooh
This is not the final list and I’ll be adding more names as I go. So, stay tuned.
Also, with the monsoons approaching, here’s a list of weekend gateways from Pune.
Hopefully, this was helpful. If you have any suggestions or queries, let me know in the comments.
