Explorer of Experiences

Size Matters It is news when in a real estate-crunched city like Pune you have a restaurant that’s bagged a space that spans 15,000 sq ft. It is rare still to walk into a restaurant that is that big; a restaurant with an indoor section, a huge outdoor dining area and even an amphitheatre. Without an intention to compare, when you walk in, Classic Rock feels like High Spirits v 2.0, mature and mammoth-sized. Its sprawling premises promises to easily harbor about 1500 revelers. And where they score over lots of restaurants is their parking lot that can accommodate almost 200 vehicles. Obviously, their manning is huge with 80 people on the payroll. Cocktails & Coffee At Classic Rock, they take both their coffee and cocktails very seriously. Let’s talk Arabica first. They source their coffee beans from Kerala and even have a glistening silver roasting machine on site. Beans are roasted and grinded, so you’re guaranteed a freshly brewed Cappuccino (Rs 140). If you’re int...

These book cafes make sure that Pune’s reading culture doesn’t die out. The rise in cafes dedicated to their love for books as much as food is a reassurance that reading as a passion is still alive. Pune’s bookworms have quite a few options where they can sit in a cosy corner and enjoy flipping pages of their favourite books while snuggling up to a hot cuppa. Pagdandi Book Cafe, Baner, Pune Pagdandi – Books/Chai/Café ,  Baner When you have a backpacker and a yoga teacher bringing together their entrepreneurial minds, what you get is Pagdandi. The cafe has a library, comfortable mattresses to sit on, a small cafe space and board games if you want a break from reading. Live acoustic jams, storytelling circles and open mic are hosted regularly to bring together a group of aspiring writers. Their  kahwa  and hot chocolate with marshmallows are highly recommended. You can also tuck in a bowl of hot Wai Wai while reading your favourite book. Cafe Nook Café N...

Very, very close to where I work lies one of Pune's iconic landmarks that one should plan for whilst they're on a visit in the city. This landmark is nothing more than a near-dilapidated old Irani cafe called Vohuman Cafe. It's got quite a small little space filled up with plastic round tables and chairs, a few counters for display here and there and nothing much else.  The owner (known to be both cheery and nasty at the same time) takes charge from the cash counter which is right at the entrance. Seated, he greets familiar faces, hurls orders to his staff and carries out the cash exchanges. Those who've patronized his cafe, swear by the tea and cheese omelette the kitchen churns out. You can routinely expect a roar of laughter and chatter  from huddles of men revelling in life's simple pleasures - chai and bun-muska post their morning work-out.  I can't believe that despite having lived in Pune for several years now, it was only last week when I first vi...