Hood Guide: Eat, Shop, Work & Drink At Baner

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One of the areas in Pune that everyone keeps talking about is Baner. A few years ago, it was an upcoming suburban neighbourhood but now, it is considered one of the busiest and prominent neighbourhoods of the city. In the earlier days, Baner was a small village that was not apart of Pune, however, the area got developed at a fast pace and soon became a part of the city (that too an important one).

Baner is a mix of residential cum commercial neighbourhood. One adjective we would use to describe the area? HUGE! Did you know Baner Gaon is still a small part of the big area where they have maintained the rustic neighbourhood setting? One of the prominent features of this place is that it is surrounded by four super popular and lit neighbourhoods on all four sides. It has Aundh to its North, Balewadi to its West, Pashan to its South and Pune University to its East. it comes under the Pune Municipal Corporation jurisdiction. The real estate is a big hit and everyone taps on the opportunity to own a flat here. You will find some gorgeous and well-known apartments and societies that are known for their magnificent strictures, opulent designs, and posh amenities. Despite the modernity and development, it has quite a lot of greenery, has a hillock called Baner Hills and is known for the ‘Varkari’ Parampara and Bhakti aradhana.

It has a lot of stores, shopping complexes, restaurants, bars, cafes, lounges, and other interesting places. In Pune, most of the weekend plans are made in specific areas and Baner is one of them.

Here’s a hood guide that tells you where you can eat, drink, shop and have fun in the area.

Where To Shop

Factory Outlet Complex

Situated on the main road, this factory outlet complex has so many branded stores such as Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Levi’s and they offer some tempting discounts. Keep an eye out for their deals and you can get upto 50% discount on the branded merch. This is ideally where you can shop till you drop.

Tejaswee Design Studio

Get wedding ready by wearing designs by Tejaswee. This boutique in Baner customises exclusive ensembles that are very much inspired by Bollywood fashion. If you’re heading out for wedding shopping, Priyanka, the owner of Tejaswee, is the fairy-godmother of your dreams. Her plan is to revive heritage design and the lost art of old cultural fashion trends in a new avatar. For wardrobe designing, and designer daily wear. Prices start at INR 3,500.

The Jungle By Ugaoo

Plant parents, we’re sure this nursery store is your paradise as it is ours. Visit The Jungle By Ugaao and shop for all kinds of indoor/outdoor plants, planters, potted saplings, succulents, etc. They have monstera, ficus, fig shrub, jade, snake plant, peace lily, etc. During Ganesh Utsav, you can find the eco-friendly tree Ganesha that has seeds within. You can simply leave it in a pot and let it turn into a sapling.

The Mud House

Initially located in Aundh, The Mud House is an exclusive home décor and furniture boutique store that screams elegance. The vintage cum contemporary-chic furniture pieces can instantly make your place look gorgeous. This place is where you can find the perfect housewarming present. Check out the beautifully-crafted designs, cushion covers, frames, furnishings, etc. They also provide interior design services.

The Pantry Baner

This is a supermarket that will take care of all the gourmet ingredients for your fancy cooking. Shop for a variety of jams, spreads, pickles, infused oils, dressings, dips, sauces, and many more condiments along with exotic cheese, spices and other essentials. They have a fine wine section as well. If you are a health freak, opt for the oil-free, meat-free snacks!

Where To Eat

Chinar- With Love, From Kashmir

This restaurant in Baner exclusively serves the valley food and they do it in the most authentic way. Chinar- With Love, From Kashmir is a lovely little place where you can experience unique Kashmiri cuisine. Before you eat, make sure you enjoy some authentic kehwa. Normally, you will find non-veg dishes on the menu although there are some veg dishes. Few of the must-try dishes include tabak maas, mirchi korma, daniphol, mutton kanti, seasonal waaza haakh, Nadru (lotus stem) curry, phirni, etc. Meal for two comes up to INR 1200.

Talli Kitchen & Bar

This hip resto-lounge is where we love to party. Talli Kitchen & Bar is situated where Agent Jacks was earlier. They have an indoor as well as an outdoor seating area with multiple seating options. Sitting at sky cabanas is what we prefer because that way, we can enjoy a fab city view while dining and boozing. The bar is lit and the food is delicious. We prefer Indian over continental here. Try outing the LIITs (they are wicked!) and flaming shots. In food, we like the crispy corn, biryanis, gravies and naans. The indoor area turns into a dance-floor at night and the DJ plays tracks that you cannot resist dancing to. Meal for two comes up to INR 2000.

Moshi Moshi

Love Asian? Enjoy a variety of sushi and dimsums at Moshi Moshi. Situated on the main road, it is a lovely restaurant with a colourful décor and a well-lit outdoor garden area. Here, we cannot get enough of the shrimp gyoza, sashimi, nigiri rolls, pickled kappa maki, Jungle white tiger uramaki, and Asian tapas. The taste as well as the plating is exquisite. Shell out INR 1600 for two. If you are looking for a first date destination in Baner, this is a perfect option.

Thikana

No plans for the weekend? Party like there’s no tomorrow at Thikana. Situated in Daron Heights, this bar/club is the best place to gulp down pitchers of your favourite cocktails and dance to Bollywood songs. We love the starters here. The Amritsaro chaap tikka, podi onion rings, and pastas are our favourite. The Thikana signature cocktails are a must-try. The outdoor seating is so romantic with string bulbs. Price for two comes up to INR 1500.

The Rustle Nest

This picturesque café in a bungalow is where you unwind with a cuppa coffee, a croissant and a BanhMi sandwich! This is an ideal brunch destination too as they have an exclusive power brunch menu. The surroundings are lush-green, calm and you can actually read a book in peace. Your Insta will be filled with the photos as it’s so pretty. We love that they serve many vegan options too. The Panko Tofu BamhMi, brunch bowls, enchiladas, and breakfast platters are a must-try. They have an in-house bakery counter where you can gorge on artisanal desserts too. Don’t miss the Eton Mess. For two people, the bill comes up to INR 800.

Raasta Café

Let’s face it. No one likes that place where you’ve got to scream on top of your voice to make a conversation. Baner has a solution to that in the form of Rasta café where light music and dim lights make it perfect for a date or good time with your gang. Enjoy word-fired pizzas with Raasta’s cocktails and we bet your evening is memorable. It is usually INR 1500 for two.

Others

We cannot stop the list when we have plenty of more options. Some of the must-try options include FabCafe, The Tenth Floor, SA Dosa Café, Anna Idli, Elephant & Co, Origin Bistro, Greedy Man’s Pizzeria, Bhairavee Pure Veg, Nandu’s Paratha, Buon Cibo, Chaitanya Paratha, Giridhar, Akshay Pure Veg, Jalebi Junction, Son Of A Gun, Tea Villa, Flour works, URBO etc.

Other Things To Do

Climb Atop Baner Hills

If you love trekking but don’t have many hours to spare for a getaway, we have a solution. Climb atop the Baner Hills and enjoy a mini trek right in the city. These lush green hills separate the two suburbs- Baner and Pashan. Once there, enjoy a serene atmosphere and a scenic view of the city. Many people enjoy watching sunrise and sunset as well. It’s a lovely way to break a sweat and do some body movements too.

Groom Yourself At Juice Salon

Make an appointment at The Juice Salon and enjoy an elaborate self-pampering session. Get a haircut, blowout, and styling done from the experts. While you can avail all salon services, the nail-care services are something we love here. Enjoy a mani-pedi session, get your nails done and try out various nail art services too. The salon is a plush place to pamper yourself.

Join Fitness Dance Classes At Pinkfit Studios

If regular workouts don’t interest you, why not jazz them up? Join the fun dance workout classes at Pinkfit Studios. The sessions incorporate dance techniques into workout making it a super-fun activity. The rocking Zumba sessions here are super popular. They even host Zumba classes for kids! Go all Latin and master the flamenco, salsa, and bachata moves too. They even conduct regular dance classes that teach you the western forms only.

Quietly Read At Pagdandi Café

Want to enjoy some quiet time alone? Visit Pagdandi- The Book Café and read some of your favourite books while sipping chai/coffee. This café has a lovely setting and is pretty quiet. If you are into open-mics, slam poetry, stand-ups, this place is known for hosting such fun events. The tickets, food, drinks, etc. are super affordable and many students prefer hanging out here.

Visit The Street Park For Pop-ups

The Street Park is a vibrant place that is high on cool vibes and fun. Enter the place and voila! There are multiple premium food trucks and small stores here. Enjoy a variety of cuisines including spicy Korean, shop at the pet store, check out some homegrown brands and attend various pop-ups that it hosts! The events are super-fun and here, you get to check out multiple new, local brands.

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Food, Travel & Lifestyle Keeda🌻 Disneyphile. Flowers. Sustainable Slow Living✨ A Timeless Classic💌