Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale

Perpetually crowded with loyal patrons, this six-decades-old Pune institution is the best place to get your fill of fresh Maharashtrian sweets and snacks. Chitale Bandhu now has branches all over the city, but for a first-hand experience of its charm, had to the original outlet in Sadashiv Peth. The house special is the bakarwadi, spicy and crunchy fried rolls which sell like hot cakes every morning. Visitors with a sweet tooth are spoilt for choice with counters upon counters of colourful sweets in every shape, size and colour. The classics include modaks, shrikhand, amrakhand, basundi, puran poli, amba (mango burfi), peda and kaju katli. Don’t forget to stock up on tangy farsan and chiwda as well.