Why Pune’s cafés of the moment are built for slowing down
There is a juxtaposition at play in Pune’s storied Deccan district, an old neighbourhood dotted with colleges, trees, and boulevards that appear to be plucked
There is a juxtaposition at play in Pune’s storied Deccan district, an old neighbourhood dotted with colleges, trees, and boulevards that appear to be plucked from the past. Navigating the frenetic Fergusson College Road, you slip into Hotel Ketan, where, adjacent yet distinctly its own al fresco address, lies Café Sora. The space looks, feels and breathes like a culinary sanctuary — Sora meaning sky in Japanese. Chef-owner Ambar Rode conceived Sora (which opened towards the end of 2025) as an album of his travels across India and beyond, through Japan, Vietnam and Central Europe. Black-and-white photographs line the terracotta-toned walls, while lush greenery and origami lamps invite you to linger over coffee. “I wanted to create a space where food, conversations and coffee could exist at their own pace, away from hype,” says Ambar. The compact menu moves across sandwiches, Mediterranean bowls, pastas and Southeast Asian curries, headlined by a standout chicken katsu sando. What is unfolding at Sora mirrors Pune’s current café moment. Young restaurateurs, inspired by their travels and a need for urban pause, are building spaces where the vibe is bohemian, the pace unhurried, and the food informed by different cultures.
“Pune’s café culture has exploded,” says Minoti Makim, head of Pune-based PR firm Carpe Diem. “Some cafés offer quiet, Nature-led spaces; others experiment with formats like Japanese kissaten. Many are simply beautiful, boho-styled spaces made for lingering.” In Kalyani Nagar, Handmade Café leans into this sensibility. A leafy outdoor garden holds the café, merging into a well-lit indoor section, leading up to a mezzanine housing its sister label, clothing brand Chidiya. The menu features thoughtfully curated dishes: a nostalgic PB&J on sourdough, Turkish eggs profuse with labneh, and a coconut cardamom latte. The women-led space feels like a warm hug within the city’s rush. Writer, editor and brand consultant Tracy Chen says that “specialty coffee and independent cafés have made a major breakthrough in recent times. Experience and aesthetics are driving this new culture, mostly.” She adds that “people also seek these spaces for quiet “me time”. Across the city, cafés are taking on distinct personalities. In Baner, Flipside shifts from a quiet, conversation-led café by day to a bar with deep house music and martinis by night. Bookbar Café pairs books with a menu of sandwiches, pastas and bakes, alongside a strong coffee programme — its Iced Midnight Valencia, a riff on the espresso martini, is a draw.
The BriefWire