There is a juxtaposition at play in Pune’s storied Deccan district, an old neighbourhood dotted with colleges, trees, and boulevards that appear to be plucked from the past.Navigating the frenetic Fergusson College Road, you slip into Hotel Ketan, where, adjacent yet distinctly its own al fresco address, lies Café Sora. The space looks, feels and breathes like a culinary sanctuary — Sora meaning sky in Japanese. Chef-owner Ambar Rode conceived Sora (which opened towards the end of 2025) as an album of his travels across India and beyond, through Japan, Vietnam and Central Europe.Black-and-white photographs line the terracotta-toned walls, while lush greenery and origami lamps invite you to linger over coffee. “I wanted to create a space where food, conversations and coffee could exist at their own pace, away from hype,” says Ambar. The compact menu moves across sandwiches, Mediterranean bowls, pastas and Southeast Asian curries, headlined by a standout chicken katsu sando.What is unfolding at Sora mirrors Pune’s current café moment. Young restaurateurs, inspired by their travels and a need for urban pause, are building spaces where the vibe is bohemian, the pace unhurried, and the food informed by different cultures.
Why Pune’s cafés of the moment are built for slowing down
Young restaurateurs are creating community spaces with run clubs, coffee raves and workshops. Here, lingering is encouraged, coffee mornings give way to cocktail nights, and globally inspired menus define Pune’s new slow-living café culture.
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