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The clink of glasses, the soft hum of conversation, and that first bite of sumptuous food with your favourite beer—can the festive winter air get any better? Bringing all of this together is Baraza, a familiar neighbourhood spot in the heart of Pune’s Creaticity Mall in Yerwada that has just undergone a stunning transformation.
A much-loved local haunt for nearly eight years, Baraza has reopened as a sprawling beer garden. Reborn with a breezy, light-filled design that invites lingering afternoons and unhurried evenings, it is nestled in what has now become an IT and hospitality hub of Pune. With a diverse clientele—ranging from IT professionals and office goers to youngsters and families—Baraza holds the calm assurance of a place that knows exactly the kind of comfort it wants to offer each guest.
“Baraza means ‘a meeting place’ in Swahili, and that perfectly captured the soul of what we wanted to build. From day one, the idea was simple: create a space where people naturally gravitate to unwind after work, catch up with friends, meet colleagues, network, or simply enjoy good beer and great food without overthinking it. With this revamp, we focused on creating a space that feels warm, familiar, and unmistakably yours,” she adds.
Walk into the restaurant, and the words come alive. A large open-air space with striking upholstery and fairy lights complements the cosy interiors where walls have colourful, fluid art accents and a happening dance floor by the side. At its heart lies a 15-beer tap line-up—one of the most extensive in the neighbourhood—and now the defining feature of its beer garden identity.
“Pune has always had an easy-going, social drinking culture, and beer naturally fits into that. But over the past few years, the beer culture here has evolved in a really exciting way. People are far more curious, more discerning, and far more appreciative of beer styles and brewing techniques than before. Beer on tap, especially, has seen a huge surge because guests today want freshness, variety, and quality. They enjoy trying different brews, experimenting with flavours, and gravitate toward places that offer a wide and thoughtfully curated tap list,” explains Rachel.
Guests can choose from a rotating selection of craft brews from Toit and Drifters, alongside crisp, classic draughts that cater to every kind of beer drinker. Whether it’s a clean, uncomplicated lager after a long day, a citrus-forward wheat beer for a lazy afternoon, or a seasonal special for the more adventurous, Baraza turns beer into a spirited experience.
And their cocktails take it to another level. From Coco Kiss, with its blend of gin, coconut, and cranberry, to Sky Tide, tinged with lavender and blue pea for a soft floral calm, and Shore Thing, which brightens the table with citrus and pineapple, all have a heady tale to tell. Gold Coast, blending whiskey with goat’s cheese, maple syrup, cold brew, and orange bitters, tastes just as unique as it sounds, while Sun Splash, where Aperol meets tequila, feels like it was crafted specifically for golden hours in Pune.
It is rare to find plates that keep up with the pour, but Baraza manages it with aplomb with their inspired small plates, hand-stretched pizzas and comfort classics. Along with old favourites like Cottage Cheese Satays and the delectable Raan Biryani, the menu now boasts a platter of new additions. Avocado Basket Chaat brings in freshness and crunch along with the coastal comfort of Coconut Prawns and the robust punch of Mutton Pepper Fry. The fiery Bhoot Jolokia Chicken Tikka is a must for the spice seekers, and the Three Cheese Pizza featuring the coconut and garlic thecha and a Chicken and Mushroom Alfredo Pizza with Sriracha pair perfectly with beer and more.
“We have been meeting here for the past four years, the ambience is very good, as is the food…we love their mojito. Location-wise, the place is great, and now the revamping is the cherry on the top, love the vibe,” says Swati Dharaskar, a software engineer.
Another regular, entrepreneur Pratik Mahanti, adds, “We have been coming here for very long—they have a lot of new beers now, we are going to try them soon, love the transformation.”
Interestingly, bucking the trend of popular restaurants opening in Mumbai first and then making their foray into Pune, Baraza has done just the reverse. “Baraza has been a Pune favourite for seven years, and entering our eighth year felt like the right moment to evolve. The strong recall and the love we have received over the years gave us the confidence to finally take Baraza to Mumbai. It’s a reverse trend, yes, but one that happened organically. We built something that resonated deeply here, and now feels like the right time to introduce the concept to Mumbai. If all goes well, our Mumbai outpost should open early next year,” says Rachel.
In a city full of watering holes, this beer garden has nailed the balance between familiarity and freshness, standing out as Pune’s go-to destination for an unfussy yet unforgettable time.
