REVIEW · PUNE
Food walking tour in Pune to stimulate your taste buds
Book on Viator →Operated by 5 Senses Walks Pune · Bookable on Viator
Pune food runs on street-snack momentum. This 3-hour walk mixes a local guide with Maharashtrian street food stops, so you taste the city’s favorites instead of guessing what to order. You’ll hit a string of spots tied to specific foods, from festival snacks to sweet biscuits.
I love that tastings are included, so the $40 covers what you’ll actually eat. I also love the small group size, which keeps the pace human and makes it easier to ask questions. One drawback: you’re eating a lot of fried, and the tour runs only in good weather.
In This Review
- Key highlights you’ll feel fast
- Price and what $40 gets you in Pune
- Meet-up at 4:00 pm and how the route feels on your feet
- Stop 1 at Vaishali Restaurant: Sabudana vada first bite
- Stop 2 at Pune City Post Office: Misal pav with serious spice structure
- Stop 3 at Kayani Bakery: Shrewsbury biscuits and a clever sweetness break
- Stop 4 at Deccan Gymkhana: Bakarwadi spirals with coconut and seeds
- Stop 5 at Garden Vadapav Center: Vada pav and the Portugal connection
- Group size, guides, and what to look for while you eat
- Who this Pune food walk is best for
- Should you book this Pune food walking tour?
- FAQ
- How much does the Pune food walking tour cost?
- How long is the tour?
- How many tastings are included?
- What time does the tour start?
- Where do I meet the group?
- Where does the tour end?
- Is pickup available?
- What group size should I expect?
- Do I get a mobile ticket?
- What if the weather is bad?
- Can I cancel for a full refund?
Key highlights you’ll feel fast

- Tastings included in the price so you don’t budget snack by snack
- Small group size (max 15) for more personal attention from your guide
- Start at 4:00 pm for an easy afternoon-to-evening food rhythm
- Five focused stops that map to recognizable Maharashtrian classics
- Optional hotel transfers if you’d rather not navigate first
- Mobile ticket for a smoother check-in
Price and what $40 gets you in Pune
At $40 per person for about 3 hours, this is priced like a true food experience, not a “just walk around” tour. The best value is that the tour includes the tastings at each stop, so you’re not constantly paying extra or trying to translate menu items while hungry.
The fixed price also helps your decision-making. You know you’ll sample a spread: savory fried snacks, a spicy curry dish, and something sweet before ending with one of Pune’s best-known street eats.
You can also read our reviews of more walking tours in Pune
Meet-up at 4:00 pm and how the route feels on your feet
The tour starts at 4:00 pm at Vaishali Restaurant on Fergusson College Rd (Ganeshwadi, Shivajinagar). You end at Garden Vadapav Center in Camp (Buttee Street area).
Because it’s a walking route with multiple tastings, the timing matters. Late afternoon is a sweet spot in Pune for eating out—snacks don’t feel like a rushed meal, but you still get that street-food energy as the day cools.
It’s also designed for real life. Pickup is offered, and optional hotel transfers are available for an additional fee if you want to cut down on transport time. You’ll get a mobile ticket, which is handy on the day itself.
Stop 1 at Vaishali Restaurant: Sabudana vada first bite

You start with sabudana vada at Vaishali Restaurant—deep-fried and a classic Maharashtra snack. Sabudana vada is made from sabudana (tapioca pearls) and it’s especially popular during festivals when many people keep fast.
Why that first stop works: sabudana vada is filling and flavorful without needing a complex explanation first. It also sets the tone for the tour—this isn’t “one fancy dish,” it’s a sequence of culture-specific bites.
A small practical point: because it’s deep-fried right away, go easy at the first few nibbles if you’re sensitive to oily foods. The upside is that it’s a strong opener, and it helps you appreciate what comes next as your flavors shift.
Stop 2 at Pune City Post Office: Misal pav with serious spice structure
Next you’ll go to a famous eatery tied to the best misal pav in Pune. Misal is a spiced curry made from moth beans, with onion, garlic, ginger, and chilies. It’s then topped with boiled potatoes, and served with pav (bread).
This is where the tour shifts from snack comfort to something with real depth. Misal has layers: the beans bring body, the spice blend brings heat, and the toppings make it feel like a full meal instead of just another bite.
If you like spice, this stop will be a highlight. If you’re cautious, you can still enjoy it—just take smaller bites at first so you can judge how spicy your serving is. Either way, misal pav is one of those dishes that helps you understand Maharashtrian street-food logic: bold flavor, quick assembly, and lots of texture.
Stop 3 at Kayani Bakery: Shrewsbury biscuits and a clever sweetness break
At Kayani Bakery, you’ll taste the iconic Shrewsbury biscuits. These are named after a town in Shropshire, England, and they’re known for their buttery melt-in-your-mouth feel.
This stop is smart pacing. After fried and spicy foods, a sweet, crisp biscuit gives your palate a reset so the rest of the walk stays enjoyable. It also shows the range in the local food scene—Pune isn’t only about savory streets.
Worth noting: biscuits can be deceptively filling, especially after fried snacks. If you’re the type who gets full fast, you may want to savor rather than rush through this one. It’s part of the tour’s design: sweetness to balance the rest.
You can also read our reviews of more food & drink experiences in Pune
Stop 4 at Deccan Gymkhana: Bakarwadi spirals with coconut and seeds
Then it’s time for bakarwadis, a favorite evening snack in Pune. Bakarwadi is made from gram flour dough shaped into spirals and stuffed with a mixture of coconut, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds.
This is a great stop if you enjoy snacks that have a little engineering behind them. The spiral shape isn’t just pretty—it often means a different crunch pattern and a more interesting bite than flat fried snacks.
Flavor-wise, expect a mix of nutty, toasted notes (from sesame and poppy), plus sweetness from coconut, all wrapped in a savory outer crunch. Like the other fried options, it’s best eaten slowly so you can catch the difference between the outer dough and the stuffing.
Stop 5 at Garden Vadapav Center: Vada pav and the Portugal connection
You finish with vada pav at Garden Vada Pav Center—Pune’s go-to street snack. The basic idea is potato inside a fried format, served with pav (bread). The interesting detail here is cultural: the potato and pav are described as imports from Portugal.
That’s a fun way to see how food history travels. Even if you think of vada pav as “local street food,” there’s a broader influence behind it, and the tour quietly points that out instead of treating the snack like a sealed tradition.
This last stop is satisfying and filling, so it’s also a good moment to slow down and taste deliberately. If you’ve been eating spice earlier, vada pav can feel like a comforting landing—starchy, savory, and ready for the end of a 3-hour loop.
Group size, guides, and what to look for while you eat
This tour runs with a maximum group size of 15 people, which is key. In practice, smaller groups keep the flow smooth: you don’t get stuck behind someone ordering extra, and your guide can actually explain what matters without turning it into a lecture.
Based on the overall vibe people talk about, the guide is a real strength here—friendly, helpful, and clearly focused on making sure you enjoy the food. The best way to get value from that is to ask simple questions as you go, like what makes one version better, or what ingredient drives the flavor.
Also, since you’re walking and eating across several locations, bring small practical habits:
- pace yourself at each stop (you’re tasting, not dining for a full meal at one location)
- drink water if you need it, especially after spicy items
- go in ready to eat with your hands for at least part of the experience if the snack format calls for it
Who this Pune food walk is best for
This tour is a good match if you want:
- a guided path through Pune street-food favorites without figuring out where to go alone
- a snack mix that includes savory fried bites, misal pav, and a sweet biscuit
- a small group vibe with enough attention for questions
It also works well for first-time visitors who want to get their bearings fast through food. And because tastings are included, it’s a straightforward way to sample multiple classics without turning your evening into budgeting chaos.
I’d think twice if you strongly avoid fried foods, or if you know you’re very sensitive to chilies. Also, because the experience needs good weather, don’t plan it as an ironclad “must-do” on a day forecast that looks unstable.
Should you book this Pune food walking tour?
Yes—if you want a practical, value-focused introduction to Maharashtrian snacks with tastings included and a friendly local guide guiding the order of flavors. The $40 price makes sense here because you’re not paying for access only; you’re paying for the food sequence.
Book ahead because it’s commonly reserved about 25 days in advance. If you like street food, enjoy structured tastings, and you’re okay with a lot of fried and spicy flavors, this is one of the easiest ways to have a memorable Pune evening without second-guessing menus.
If your idea of a food tour is quiet, sit-down courses and slow pacing, you may want a different style of tour. For everyone else who likes to eat their way through a city, this one hits the sweet spot.
FAQ
How much does the Pune food walking tour cost?
It costs $40.00 per person.
How long is the tour?
The duration is about 3 hours.
How many tastings are included?
All tastings at the scheduled stops are included in the tour price.
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 4:00 pm.
Where do I meet the group?
Meet at Vaishali Restaurant, Fergusson College Rd, Ganeshwadi, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411005.
Where does the tour end?
The tour ends at Garden Vadapav Center, 948 and 949 Buttee Street, Camp, Gawaliwada, Cantonment Area, Pune, Maharashtra 411001.
Is pickup available?
Pickup is offered, and optional hotel transfers are available for an additional fee.
What group size should I expect?
The tour has a maximum of 15 people.
Do I get a mobile ticket?
Yes, the tour uses a mobile ticket.
What if the weather is bad?
The tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Can I cancel for a full refund?
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time for a full refund, using local time for the cut-off.


























