best restaurants in pune (2026) - honest reviews of 25 spots i've actually eaten at

tldr: out of 25 restaurants, my top 3 are malaka spice (best overall, koregaon park), shabree (best non-veg, deccan), and vaishali (best value, fc road). spent around rs 65k eating across pune over 4 months. full reviews with prices, what to order, and honest opinions below.

---

i’ve been living in pune long enough to have strong opinions about where to eat.

and most “best restaurants in pune” lists are garbage. they’re either sponsored by the restaurant, written by someone who’s never been, or they just copy-paste from zomato. i’ve actually eaten at all 25 of these. multiple times for some. my wallet remembers.

here’s the thing about pune’s food scene: it’s genuinely underrated. it’s not mumbai flashy or bangalore tech-bro trendy. it’s quieter, more personal, and the prices are still reasonable. you can have an incredible meal here for rs 500 that would cost rs 1500 in mumbai.

i categorized everything by what you’re actually looking for. because “best restaurant” means nothing without context. if you’re specifically after cafes, street food, or biryani, i’ve written dedicated guides for those.

---

the awards (my personal picks)

• best overall: malaka spice, koregaon park
• best fine dining: masu, baner, japanese precision
• best casual dining: vaishali, fc road, the pune institution
• best non-veg: shabree, deccan, maharashtrian non-veg king
• best veg: shreyas, deccan, thali perfection
• best for dates: the flour works, kalyani nagar
• best value: goodluck cafe, fc road, rs 400 for two and you’re stuffed
• best new opening: toast & tonic, koregaon park
• best for groups: barbecue nation, multiple locations
• most overrated: little italy, it was good 5 years ago

---

the full list

#	restaurant	area	type	cost for two	my rating
1	malaka spice	koregaon park	pan-asian	rs 1400	9/10
2	the flour works	kalyani nagar	european	rs 1400	9/10
3	masu	baner	japanese	rs 2500	9/10
4	shabree	deccan	maharashtrian non-veg	rs 800	9/10
5	vaishali	fc road	south indian / snacks	rs 300	8.5/10
6	goodluck cafe	fc road	irani cafe	rs 400	8.5/10
7	shreyas	deccan	veg thali	rs 600	8.5/10
8	the sassy spoon	koregaon park	continental	rs 1800	8.5/10
9	marzorin	camp	bakery / cafe	rs 350	8.5/10
10	panchali	sadashiv peth	veg	rs 500	8/10
11	persian darbar	camp	mughlai	rs 700	8/10
12	blue nile	fc road	biryani / mughlai	rs 600	8/10
13	barbecue nation	multiple	buffet	rs 1600	8/10
14	toast & tonic	koregaon park	modern indian	rs 2000	8/10
15	grandmama’s cafe	koregaon park	comfort food	rs 1400	8/10
16	sigree global grill	viman nagar	buffet grill	rs 1800	7.5/10
17	le plaisir	deccan	european	rs 1800	7.5/10
18	barbeque trails	baner	bbq	rs 1200	7.5/10
19	mainland china	koregaon park	chinese	rs 1600	7.5/10
20	little italy	multiple	italian	rs 1400	7/10
21	deccan harvest	deccan	north indian	rs 1000	7/10
22	mirchi & mime	baner	north indian	rs 1200	7/10
23	cafe peter	viman nagar	fusion	rs 900	7/10
24	ohri’s jhankar	camp	north indian	rs 1200	6.5/10
25	abc farms	koregaon park	multi-cuisine	rs 1200	6.5/10

---

fine dining (when you want to feel fancy)

1. malaka spice

koregaon park / rs 1400 for two / 9/10

this is my favorite restaurant in pune. full stop. pan-asian done right. thai curries, malaysian laksa, indonesian nasi goreng. every single dish has depth.

the outdoor garden seating is magical in winter. fairy lights, live music on weekends, and the kitchen actually understands southeast asian cooking. the pad thai here is better than what i’ve had at most places in bangkok.

the rendang curry is what i order every single time. rs 450, and it’s the best thing on the menu. the portions are generous for the price point too.

what to order: rendang curry, pad thai, nasi goreng, mango sticky rice verdict: best restaurant in pune for me. consistent, delicious, great atmosphere.

2. masu

baner / rs 2500 for two / 9/10

japanese fine dining in pune. sounds weird but it works. the sushi is genuinely good. not “good for india” good, just actually good. the chef trained in japan and it shows.

the omakase is rs 2500 per person but worth every rupee. the miso ramen is comfort food elevated. the ambiance is dark, intimate, very japanese.

yes, it’s expensive. but this is the one pune restaurant where the price matches the quality. most “fine dining” here is overpriced mediocrity. masu is the exception.

what to order: omakase, black cod miso, truffle edamame, matcha tiramisu verdict: best fine dining in pune. splurge here, not at overpriced hotel restaurants.

3. the flour works

kalyani nagar / rs 1400 for two / 9/10

i’ve talked about this in my cafes guide but it’s also a legit restaurant. the pancakes get all the attention but the dinner menu is slept on.

the seafood paella is outstanding. the lamb burger is my go-to weeknight dinner when i don’t want to cook. pet friendly, opens at 7am, and the staff remembers your order after 3 visits.

what to order: seafood paella, lamb burger, ricotta pancakes, eggs benedict verdict: best european restaurant in pune. doubles as the best brunch spot too.

4. the sassy spoon

koregaon park / rs 1800 for two / 8.5/10

the pink vintage car at the entrance. the brick walls. the hydrangeas. yes, it’s instagram-friendly. but the food is genuinely good. the chef does continental with asian twists and it works.

cocktail menu is impressive. the truffle fries are addictive. portions are generous enough that you don’t leave hungry despite the fancy presentation.

what to order: truffle fries, chicken roulade, prawn risotto, tiramisu verdict: best restaurant in koregaon park for a date. looks premium, tastes premium.

5. toast & tonic

koregaon park / rs 2000 for two / 8/10

relatively new opening that’s making noise. modern indian food with excellent cocktails. the interiors are gorgeous. it’s from the same group that runs toast & tonic in bangalore.

still finding its feet but the potential is massive. the pork belly is incredible. the bar program is the best in koregaon park.

what to order: pork belly, butter chicken pizza, charcoal naan, gin cocktails verdict: best new restaurant in pune. watch this space.

---

casual dining (everyday favorites)

6. vaishali

fc road / rs 300 for two / 8.5/10

if you’ve lived in pune for more than a month and haven’t been to vaishali, are you even living in pune? this place has been here since 1951. let that sink in. seventy-plus years.

the dosa is crispy perfection. the filter coffee is rs 40 and better than any rs 300 specialty coffee. the crowd is a mix of college kids, professors, families, and old uncles who’ve been coming here since the 70s.

is it fancy? no. is the service slow? sometimes. does the food slap? every single time.

what to order: paper masala dosa, filter coffee, misal pav, batata vada verdict: best casual restaurant in pune. an institution. go hungry, leave happy.

7. goodluck cafe

fc road / rs 400 for two / 8.5/10

since 1935. ninety years. the bun maska and irani chai combo is a pune ritual. the kheema pav here is elite. not good. elite.

the vibe is old-world charm. marble tables, ceiling fans, newspaper-reading uncles. you come here to eat, not to take selfies. the caramel custard is the perfect ending.

i wrote more about this in my cafes guide. but honestly, goodluck is more restaurant than cafe.

what to order: kheema pav, bun maska, irani chai, caramel custard verdict: pune institution. the kheema pav alone is worth crossing the city for.

8. marzorin

camp / rs 350 for two / 8.5/10

the cold coffee here is legendary. thick, creamy, served in a tall glass. but beyond that, the pastries are old-school perfect. chicken patties, veg puffs, cream rolls. stuff your grandparents would eat.

it’s been around since the 1960s and nothing has changed. that’s the charm. the prices are still reasonable by some miracle.

what to order: cold coffee, chicken patty, mutton puff, cream roll verdict: best old-school bakery-restaurant in pune. the cold coffee is a pilgrimage.

9. grandmama’s cafe

koregaon park / rs 1400 for two / 8/10

comfort food done right. feels like eating at a well-decorated grandmother’s house. the portions are generous, the menu is safe but executed well. good for groups.

the chicken tikka pizza sounds wrong but tastes right. the desserts are solid. weekend brunch here with 4-5 friends is a pune staple.

what to order: chicken tikka pizza, butter chicken pasta, banoffee pie verdict: best group restaurant in koregaon park. everyone finds something they like.

---

non-veg specialists (carnivore heaven)

10. shabree

deccan / rs 800 for two / 9/10

maharashtrian non-veg done right. this is where pune locals eat. not tourists, not instagram food bloggers. locals. the mutton sukka is life-changing. the kombdi vade (chicken with crispy bread) is what i dream about.

the ambiance is nothing special. fluorescent lights, basic tables. you come here for the food. and the food delivers.

this is the kind of place where the menu doesn’t have pictures because it doesn’t need them. order the thali and let them decide. you won’t regret it.

what to order: mutton sukka, kombdi vade, thali, solkadhi verdict: best non-veg restaurant in pune. authentic maharashtrian food. no frills, all flavor.

11. persian darbar

camp / rs 700 for two / 8/10

mughlai food that’s been consistent for years. the chicken biryani is solid, the seekh kebab is smoky perfection, and the roomali roti is paper-thin. the camp location is the original and the best.

busy on weekends. the ambiance is basic but clean. you’re not here for the decor.

for dedicated biryani reviews, read my biryani guide.

what to order: chicken biryani, seekh kebab, butter chicken, roomali roti verdict: best mughlai restaurant in pune. reliable, affordable, always good.

12. blue nile

fc road / rs 600 for two / 8/10

another fc road institution. been serving biryani since before most of us were born. the mutton biryani is the star. fragrant, meaty, properly layered.

it’s not fancy. the seating is basic. but when the biryani arrives and you break through the dum seal, nothing else matters.

what to order: mutton biryani, chicken afghani, kebab platter verdict: best biryani on fc road. an institution that still delivers.

13. barbecue nation

multiple locations / rs 1600 for two / 8/10

look, i know it’s a chain. i know food snobs look down on it. but the unlimited starters + main course + dessert for rs 800 per person is genuinely good value. the live grill at your table is fun.

the baner outlet is the best. the koregaon park one gets too crowded. go on a weekday if you can.

what to order: everything. it’s unlimited. go wild. verdict: best value buffet in pune. leave your pretension at the door and eat.

14. barbeque trails

baner / rs 1200 for two / 7.5/10

part of baner’s bbq strip. good grills, decent variety, but not quite barbecue nation levels. the ambiance is better though. more intimate, less chaotic.

the tandoori starters are the highlight. the main course is average. stick to the grills and you’ll be happy.

what to order: tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, grilled prawns verdict: solid bbq spot in baner. better ambiance than barbecue nation, slightly less value.

---

veg restaurants (for the vegetarians)

15. shreyas

deccan / rs 600 for two / 8.5/10

the best vegetarian thali in pune. rajasthani and gujarati thali with unlimited refills. dal baati churma that melts in your mouth. the staff keeps refilling your plate until you physically can’t eat more.

the ambiance is clean, well-lit. proper family restaurant. the thali is rs 350 per person and worth every rupee.

what to order: rajasthani thali, dal baati churma, gulab jamun verdict: best veg thali in pune. go empty stomach, leave rolling.

16. panchali

sadashiv peth / rs 500 for two / 8/10

pure veg maharashtrian food. the kind your grandmother would make if she had a restaurant. the puran poli is outstanding. the bharli vangi (stuffed brinjal) is smoky and perfect.

old pune location, traditional vibes. this is where you come to understand what maharashtrian veg food actually tastes like, beyond vada pav and misal.

what to order: maharashtrian thali, puran poli, bharli vangi, aamti verdict: best maharashtrian veg restaurant in pune. authentic, soulful, affordable.

---

worth trying (but not top tier)

17. sigree global grill

viman nagar / rs 1800 for two / 7.5/10

global cuisine buffet with live grills. good variety but nothing exceptional. it’s the safe choice when you have a group and can’t decide on a cuisine.

verdict: safe group choice. good variety, nothing outstanding.

18. le plaisir

deccan / rs 1800 for two / 7.5/10

european bistro by a le cordon bleu chef. the food is technically excellent. eggs benedict, perfectly poached. but the portions are small for the price. read more in my cafes guide.

verdict: technically perfect food. small portions. worth it once.

19. mainland china

koregaon park / rs 1600 for two / 7.5/10

reliable chinese chain. the food is predictable but competent. the crackling spinach is still addictive after all these years. good for chinese cravings when you don’t want to experiment.

verdict: safe, reliable chinese. nothing exciting, nothing disappointing.

20. little italy

multiple locations / rs 1400 for two / 7/10

honestly? little italy has been coasting on its reputation for years. the pasta is decent. the pizza is fine. but for rs 1400 for two, i expect more. it was great 5 years ago. now it’s just… fine.

there are better italian options in pune now. 1000 oaks for pizza, le plaisir for pasta. little italy isn’t bad, it’s just not special anymore.

verdict: living off reputation. fine but not worth seeking out.

21. mirchi & mime

baner / rs 1200 for two / 7/10

north indian food served by hearing and speech impaired staff. the concept is beautiful and the food is decent. the dal makhani is good. but i wish the food was as remarkable as the concept.

verdict: beautiful concept, average food. go once for the experience.

22. deccan harvest

deccan / rs 1000 for two / 7/10

solid north indian food. nothing fancy, nothing disappointing. the paneer butter masala is reliable. the naan is fresh. it’s the “let’s just go somewhere decent” restaurant.

verdict: reliable north indian. your fallback when you can’t decide.

23. cafe peter

viman nagar / rs 900 for two / 7/10

fusion restaurant doing korean-indian-japanese. the concept is wild. some dishes work (korean fried chicken), some don’t (japanese curry pasta). i covered this in my cafes guide too.

verdict: hit or miss fusion. order the korean stuff.

24. ohri’s jhankar

camp / rs 1200 for two / 6.5/10

been here forever. the reputation is bigger than the current food quality. the biryani is average, the kebabs are dry. it’s riding on nostalgia at this point.

verdict: skip. there are better options for the same price.

25. abc farms

koregaon park / rs 1200 for two / 6.5/10

multi-cuisine restaurant in a farm-like setting. sounds great on paper. but the food is inconsistent. some dishes are good, some are genuinely bad. the outdoor seating saves it.

verdict: go for the vibe, not the food. bring low expectations.

---

some stats

• total spent across 25 restaurants: around rs 65,000 over 4 months
• average cost for two: rs 1,080
• restaurants i’d go back to this week: malaka spice, shabree, vaishali, the flour works
• most overrated: little italy, ohri’s jhankar
• most underrated: shabree, marzorin
• best area for restaurant hopping: koregaon park (6 restaurants on this list)
• best value area: fc road (vaishali, goodluck, blue nile, all under rs 600)

---

quick pick: what are you looking for?

• fine dining date? masu (baner) or malaka spice (koregaon park)
• casual with friends? vaishali (fc road) or grandmama’s (koregaon park)
• best non-veg? shabree (deccan) or persian darbar (camp)
• best veg? shreyas (deccan) or panchali (sadashiv peth)
• budget meal? goodluck cafe (fc road) or vaishali (fc road)
• biryani craving? full biryani guide here
• bbq night? barbecue nation or barbeque trails (baner)
• new place to try? toast & tonic (koregaon park)

---

more on rahul.biz

if you’re hungry for more pune food content: best cafes in pune (29 cafes reviewed), best biryani in pune (12 spots), best street food in pune (the complete trail), and best bars in pune for when food turns into drinks.

beyond food: coworking spaces, gyms, thrift stores, and tattoo studios.

and if you want to know why i spend so much money eating out, this probably explains it.