Ah! Prabhat Road! This leafy neighbourhood is home to many wonderful things including boutiques and of course, one of Pune's all-time favourites, Le Plaisir. But till some time ago, no coworking space graced this neighbourhood. Thank god for Blend, the newest kid on the block, which is serving up cafe fare and some of the cosiest nooks you can spot to work out of.
First-gen owner Nikita Mane hopes to serve small and big bites, well-brewed coffee, and scrumptious bakes to a neighbourhood she too is a resident of. But, her goal with Blend is to transform it into a coworking space for freelancers and creative types. With subscriptions in place, access to a printer, WiFi, and even discounts if you're looking for a space to work out of long-term, Blend is set to be THE place to hop to for work, chai/coffee, and more.
Neutral and warm colours set the tone for a cozy cafe that you want to spend hours at. There's an outdoor and indoor section with nooks that are Instagramable! The outdoors has beautiful cane fixtures, while the indoors have high-chairs overlooking the road, and even a comfortable cushioned nook. The basement makes up for the coworking space which has big tables for teams of 7-8 and even individual desks that you can sit and work at. We love the focus on the elephant that you'll see across the cafe. Walls have gold elephant decals, and lots of statues of the animal dote the place.
The food menu features something for everyone. You can snack on nachos and cheese potato balls, fill up on chicken gyozas, or sink your teeth into vegetarian and meaty burgers. For a bigger bite, there are plates of pesto penne, carbonara spaghetti, and square pizzas, among other items. We tried a Chicken Khowsuey which was beautifully fresh thanks to a generous flavouring of lemongrass and well-cooked bites of chicken. And, we couldn't help but gobble up a Chimichanga, which is rare to find in Pune. This deep-fried burrito that's loaded with veggies and retains those delicious Tex-Mex flavours is a must on days when you simply can't do without some grease.
If you're dropping in for a quick snack and coffee or chai, try their Aloo Puff, which is reminiscent of a vada pav, but the aloo masala in a flaky puff...it's simply brilliant. They offer other breads and bakes too. For something sweet, their Baked Cheesecake and Blueberry pastry is what you must get.
The cafe has a coffee bar that pours well-brewed classics like hot and cold Americano, Latte, and more. For non-coffee drinkers, there are chai, fruit juices, and coolers too.
A meal for two here will set you back INR 900. To enquire about their co-working subscription plans and half-day or full-day passes, get in touch with Blend.
