Top 12 Restaurants in Pune You Must Try for an Amazing Food Experience
It’s not just the weather and the student energy that people love. It’s also the food of Pune that has grabbed attention in the recent past. There are so many cafes, rooftop bars, heritage joints, and quirky new-age kitchens just waiting to be explored. Once you’ve taken a call about the kind of meal you want – a fancy dinner, a street-style snack, or a lazy brunch, you simply know that the city is the genie that grants your every craving!
Restaurants in Pune
After a thorough food tasting marathon and review analysis, we have come up with a list of recommendations for the top eateries and restaurants in Pune. If you’re new to the city, you could choose a reliable and pocket-friendly self-drive car rental in Pune and go on a fun food tour. Think of this as your ultimate Pune food bucket list—easy, snackable, and fun.
1. Malaka Spice – Pan-Asian Dreamland
Their food tastes like pure joy, and they are virtually an institution in Koregaon Park. One of the best restaurants in Pune, Malaka Spice, has been serving up Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Japanese plates. The dumplings and laksa are iconic, and they use farm-fresh produce grown on their own farms. And when swooning over the food, let’s not forget the cozy vibe complete with fairy lights, open-air seating, and lush greenery.
Must-try: Chicken satay, stir-fried greens, coconut-based curries.
2. Paasha – Luxe Rooftop at JW Marriott
If you’re after a proper “wow” dinner, Paasha’s your spot. It’s on the rooftop of JW Marriott, and trust me, the skyline views are breathtaking. Add frontier-style kebabs, rich curries, and well-crafted cocktails, and you’ve got a date night (or celebratory dinner) worth remembering.
Must-try: Kakori kebabs, lasooni jhinga, dal Paasha.
3. The Daily All Day – Lounge Meets Brunch
This Koregaon Park spot is effortlessly stylish. Huge open-air space, moody lighting, live music nights, and cocktails that come with flair. By day, it’s perfect for laid-back brunches; by night, it flips into a lively lounge.
Must-try: Avocado toast, espresso martini, mezze platter.
4. Prem’s – Comfort food
One of Pune’s OG restaurants, open since 1986. Prem’s is all about comfort food in a leafy outdoor setting. They serve everything from North Indian to Chinese, and the place has a very relaxed, old-school charm. The bar menu adds extra fun when the sun sets.
Must-try: Biryani, parathas, tandoori starters.
5. The Sassy Spoon – Paris Vibes in Pune
Want a pretty café that doubles up as your all-day hangout? The Sassy Spoon nails it. Pastel interiors, cozy corners, books on the shelves, and food that ranges from hearty breakfasts to indulgent desserts. Perfect for long catch-ups or solo chill time.
Must-try: Eggs Benedict, salads, cupcakes, and wine.
6. Nora
One of the newer names on the block, Nora stands out because of its concept—no gas cooking, only charcoal and wood-fired magic. Chef Amninder Sandhu runs the show, and the menu is creative without being intimidating. Expect elevated Indian with global twists.
Must-try: Butter chicken, thecha prawns, grazing platters.
7. Café GoodLuck – The Irani Legend
When on the lookout for non-veg restaurants in Pune, GoodLuck is where you want to be. Open since 1935, it’s the Irani café of dreams. Old wooden furniture, bun maska with chai, keema pav for breakfast—it’s pure nostalgia. This is where you head for unpretentious food that hits the soul.
Must-try: Bun maska, keema pav, omelettes, Irani chai.
8. Vaishali
Another Pune landmark and one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Pune, Vaishali on Fergusson College Road, is the ultimate South Indian vegetarian spot. Always buzzing with college kids, families, and foodies. The dosa here is legendary, and so is the filter coffee. It’s casual, affordable, and full of nostalgia.
Must-try: Masala dosa, medu vada, filter coffee.
9. We Idliwale Barroom
Started as a tiny dosa stall, We Idliwale has turned into one of the best restaurants in Pune (as some would swear by it) and a full-fledged restaurant and bar. The food here is playful South Indian-inspired fusion. Get ready to binge on pork ribs vindaloo, filter coffee eclairs, and dosa paired with creative cocktails. It’s cool, it’s bold, it’s Pune’s new food face.
Must-try: Pork ribs vindaloo, prawn karwari, dosa with cluster bean chutney.
10. Savya Rasa
Savya Rasa takes the cake when it comes to South Indian fine dining. The interiors reflect Tamil Nadu and Kerala homes, and the food is true to tradition. From Chettinad chicken to Kerala fish curries, it’s a treat for those who want depth and authenticity. If you are new to the city, you could consider a reliable self-drive car rental in Pune to avoid the hassle of booking expensive cabs and taking public transport.
Must-try: Kozhi roast, appam with stew, filter coffee.
11. Shreyas – Maharashtrian Thali Magic
On our list of best vegetarian restaurants in Pune is Shreyas near Deccan. Tuck into the choicest vegetarian Maharashtrian thalis that change with the season. From puran poli to pithla-bhakri, this place brings the earthy comfort of home-cooked food to your table.
Must-try: Seasonal thali, puran poli, amti.
12. Tao-Fu – Szechuan Perfection
If Asian food makes you weak in the knees, Tao-Fu at JW Marriott is a must. Their Sichuan flavors, dim sums, and hot pots are consistently raved about. It’s a little premium, but the taste justifies every bite. To keep 100% focus on indulging your taste buds, you could rent a car for a day to make the most of your Pune trip and go on a lovely foodcation.
Must-try: Sichuan chilli chicken, dim sums, noodles.
Final Thoughts
Restaurants in Pune are like the city itself – youthful, diverse, and buzzing with culture. You can wake up to bun maska at GoodLuck, brunch on sushi at Spice Kitchen, grab a dosa at Vaishali in the evening, and still end the night with cocktails at Paasha.
But hopping between Koregaon Park, FC Road, Deccan, and Hinjewadi can be taxing without your own ride, even for the most enthusiastic food enthusiast. And so Revv’s self-drive car rental offers the perfect solution. You get the freedom to plan your own food trail, stop at hidden joints locals love, and more – without waiting on cabs. Comfortable and clean cars, flexible packages, and doorstep delivery – it’s like having your own car without the responsibility of ownership.
