It’s Out in the Open

And he’s not the only one making the slow shift to open-air restaurants on summer evenings. In the few months since its launch in December,rooftop bar WTF! (Where’s The Food) has become quite popular with local patrons. Weekdays at the bar always have a sizeable crowd and in the weekends it’s hard to find a seat.

Nick Hawkins,co-owner of WTF,says,“The outdoor section is very popular and always has a lot of people there. It’s a more natural setting and there’s a nice breeze blowing in the evenings in Pune,even in the summer.”

According to Prathap Reddy,owner of Skye,a rooftop restaurant launched on Senapati Bapat Road in November,foodies in the city have shown a marked preference for open-air dining. “There’s a certain amount of glamour attached to an open-air restaurant,especially when it’s on the rooftop. It also offers a beautiful view of the city,” he says.

Pratibha Kunte,a regular at Skye,says she loves the sight of the clear starlit sky and all the plants. “In the evenings,sitting in the moonlight is also very romantic and I prefer it to candlelit meals when I’m with my husband,” says Kunte.

Picking up on the shift in preference,other cafe and lounges have also expanded their premises to include an outdoor seating area as well. Chai House,a new cafe opened on the ground floor of the O Hotel in Koregaon Park,has wood and wicker chairs that make for a comfortable setting with an overhead screen screening the sun’s glare during the day.

Mix@36,a lounge at The Westin,introduced its outdoor section just a couple of months ago,while Evviva,a new rooftop lounge,was launched by Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre in January on Bund Garden Road. “It’s hot throughout the day but in the evening,it begins to cool down,and people enjoy sitting in the open. It gives them a nice view and lots of fresh,cool air,” says Piyush Deshmukh,assistant food and beverage manager at Mix@36.