My Favorite Places to Eat in Pune #BlogchatterFoodFest

Food is more than just something to eat—it’s a feeling. I have so many favorites in Pune—some are connected to my school days, and others are filled with family memories. This blog post features some of My Favorite Places to Eat in Pune that will always hold a special place in my heart. Let me know if you have been to any of them before?

Priya Hotel

This famous South Indian joint is an iconic old-school spot that’s always bustling with people. This place was discovered by my mom when she came here for a typing course in camp. She is quite picky when it comes to food, and this is one of the best places that we always ensure to visit for a hearty meal. The place is usually packed and often requires a wait time. The servers are always on their toes, carrying plates in their hands, so please wait patiently as the place is quite small. I feel they should expand and move to a bigger space. The food quality and taste, however, are still just as amazing as ever.

My recommendations: Masala Dosa, Uttapam, Cheese Dosa (for kids), Dahi Vada, Medu Wada.

Duns Dairy or New Poona Cold Drink House

Located on MG Road, Camp, this place is a hit among locals and shoppers. The falooda here is so good, you’ll keep craving more! Order the regular one and enjoy every spoon – it’s simply divine. I went there during my college days. Now we visit Priya for Dosa, and later complete our meal with a falooda here.

Diamond Bakery

This place is located just opposite the Sahyadri Hospital in Fatima Nagar. A small inconvenience that people face here is that Cash is only available for below Rs. 400, and a minimum of Rs. 400 for UPI payments. Please ensure to carry cash accordingly.

My recommendations: Bread, Cheese Sandwich, Chutney Sandwich (this comes sweet), Chicken Sandwich (shredded chicken with pepper), Shrewsbury biscuit, wine biscuits, butter, khari, etc. My dad is a regular customer here and before every long journey that morning, he gets cheese, chutney, and a chicken sandwich for us to relish.

Donut Magic

Established in 2008, this place is a gem for fresh and tasty donuts. Every donut is priced under Rs. 100. They have it all right from chocolate/sprinkler glazed to chocolate-filled donuts. They live by their motto Magical Moment with every bite.

My recommendations: Get whatever is left, as they usually sell out the same day. Love their chocolate-filled and red velvet donuts. You can try the classic ones as they taste delicious too. During my recent Pune trip, I had these donuts twice, and once got them myself. Their name board is now replaced with Pot Pie, and I got Korean buns from them. It was good and fresh too. The donut magic is kept on the side, so many of them get confused, but the place is located at Green Acres, Salunkhe Vihar.

As per their website, they have two more locations in Camp and near Pulgate, but I never got anything from those stores. You can check any of the shops at your convenience.

Varsha Bhel

Childhood memories are deeply tied to this place. I guess this was started around 1984. They started with a small thela near Shivarkar Garden. I still remember riding on my dad’s two-wheeler to get there. After my sister was born, we’d squeeze in together, and later, we started coming by car. Today, they have a proper setup at Jagtap Chowk. The taste, however, is still the same—just as delicious and satisfying.

Back in the day, the thela near Shivarkar Garden was run by two brothers. Now, they run the Jagtap Chowk branch along with their father. I’m not sure about the other brother—I think he still runs the original Thela at Shivarkar Garden. What I love most about this place is that every dish is packed with flavor. I’ve never had a single item that smelled odd or tasted off.

My recommendations: Wet Bhel, Dry Bhel, Panipuri, Shevpuri (my favorite), Dabeli, Masala Dosa, Uttapam, Tawa Pulao, and their sandwiches. They add khairi to the wet bhel during the season. There are so many fond memories of us having dinner here as a family—they serve a variety of dishes that everyone enjoys.

Hope you loved reading about my favorite places to eat in Pune. Let me know if you are from Pune and have any favorites.