Pune does ice cream differently from the rest of the country, because Pune has mastani. It is a thick milkshake with ice cream stacked on top, invented here, and no other city sells it the way the old peth counters do. Around that sit fruit-first parlours, eighty year old bakeries in Camp and new gelato counters in Kalyani Nagar. Here are 44 places worth the trip, across every major part of the city.
Running since 1967, Sujata is the name most Punekars give when someone asks where to try mastani. Mastani is Punes own thing, a thick milkshake with ice cream sitting on top, and Sujata makes it in more than thirty flavours.
Kiga serves an ice cream thali, a platter of small scoops built around traditional Maharashtrian flavours. It is a Pune idea done nowhere else in the city and works best when a group shares one.
Naturals is the fruit-first ice cream chain that Pune trusts most. The flavours are made from real fruit with no artificial colour, which is why sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango taste like the fruit rather than an essence. Seasonal flavours come and go with the fruit.
Huber and Holly is known for its thick, dense ice cream and the loaded shakes and sundaes built on it. The portions are large by design, and the counters are bright and made for sitting a while rather than grabbing and going.
Cream Stone built its name on the stone slab method, where your scoop is mixed with the toppings you pick on a chilled granite counter in front of you. That makes every order a bit different, and it is why groups of friends end up ordering four different things.
A cafe in Hermes Waves doing Italian style gelato and sorbet rather than regular ice cream. Gelato is churned slower and served warmer than ice cream, which gives it the denser texture Piatto is known for.
Koko Scoop builds its menu around coconut, serving coconut based ice creams and fresh tender coconut treats. It is a narrow idea done properly, and there is nothing quite like it elsewhere in east Pune.
A Pune based parlour on Moledina Road in Camp, running since 1999 and carrying more than thirty five flavours. Tiramisu and roasted almond are the two that regulars keep coming back for.
A Baner parlour in Regent Plaza Mall carrying high protein and sugar free options alongside regular scoops. It is aimed squarely at the Baner gym and IT crowd who want dessert without wrecking the day.
Kawre is one of the old Pune mastani names, with its best known counter in Tulshibaug. It sits right in the middle of the market, which makes it the standard cooling-off stop when you are done shopping in the lanes.
A fairy tale themed gelato parlour in Aurora Towers on MG Road, built around sundaes and waffles. The decor is as much the point as the gelato, which makes it a favourite with families and younger groups.
Apsara is a Mumbai born ice cream name with a strong following in Pune, and the MG Road counter in Camp is its best known one here. Fruit flavours and kulfi are what regulars order.
The FC Road outlet of Baskin Robbins, the international chain built on its rotating board of thirty one flavours. It also handles ice cream cakes, which is why people order here ahead of birthdays.
The Phoenix Marketcity outlet of Cold Stone Creamery, the American chain that mixes your ice cream with toppings on a frozen granite stone in front of you. Signature creations are pre-designed combinations if you do not want to build your own.
Cream Stone built its name on the stone slab method, where your scoop is mixed with the toppings you pick on a chilled granite counter in front of you. That makes every order a bit different, and it is why groups of friends end up ordering four different things.
Cream Stone built its name on the stone slab method, where your scoop is mixed with the toppings you pick on a chilled granite counter in front of you. That makes every order a bit different, and it is why groups of friends end up ordering four different things.
Cream Stone built its name on the stone slab method, where your scoop is mixed with the toppings you pick on a chilled granite counter in front of you. That makes every order a bit different, and it is why groups of friends end up ordering four different things.
Dinshaws is one of the oldest ice cream names in Maharashtra and the Hadapsar counter carries its familiar range. The cassata slice is the order most people grew up with and still ask for.
Eskopop does gourmet popsicles rather than scoops, made in small batches with real fruit and dipped or coated to order. It is a narrow menu done well, and there is nothing else quite like it in Koregaon Park.
The Kharadi outlet of Gianis, the north Indian dessert chain known as much for its thick shakes and faloodas as for its ice cream. It serves the office belt around EON IT Park.
The Magarpatta outlet of Havmor, the long running Indian ice cream brand. It covers the everyday range, cones, cups, bars and family packs, at prices well below the dessert cafes around it.
Huber and Holly is known for its thick, dense ice cream and the loaded shakes and sundaes built on it. The portions are large by design, and the counters are bright and made for sitting a while rather than grabbing and going.
Huber and Holly is known for its thick, dense ice cream and the loaded shakes and sundaes built on it. The portions are large by design, and the counters are bright and made for sitting a while rather than grabbing and going.
Huber and Holly is known for its thick, dense ice cream and the loaded shakes and sundaes built on it. The portions are large by design, and the counters are bright and made for sitting a while rather than grabbing and going.
Huber and Holly is known for its thick, dense ice cream and the loaded shakes and sundaes built on it. The portions are large by design, and the counters are bright and made for sitting a while rather than grabbing and going.
Huber and Holly is known for its thick, dense ice cream and the loaded shakes and sundaes built on it. The portions are large by design, and the counters are bright and made for sitting a while rather than grabbing and going.
A dessert cafe on FC Road near INIFD, built around fruity and chocolate desserts that are as much about how they look as how they taste. It pulls the FC Road student crowd through the evening.
Khatri Bandhu started at a single counter near Vitthal Mandir in Karvenagar and has since grown to more than twenty stores. The original shop is still the one locals name, and prices have stayed within everyday reach.
The Wakad outlet of Kiga, serving the same ice cream thali the Deccan shop is known for, a platter of small scoops built around traditional Maharashtrian flavours. It is the easiest way to try the thali if you are on the PCMC side.
The Koregaon Park outlet of Meridian, the Pune parlour running since 1999 with a board of more than thirty five flavours. Tiramisu and roasted almond travel across all its branches and stay the two most ordered.
One of the oldest ice cream joints in Pune, sitting on JM Road. Mohan is known for its kulfis and milkshakes rather than fancy sundaes, and it is among the cheapest places on this list.
Naturals is the fruit-first ice cream chain that Pune trusts most. The flavours are made from real fruit with no artificial colour, which is why sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango taste like the fruit rather than an essence. Seasonal flavours come and go with the fruit.
Naturals is the fruit-first ice cream chain that Pune trusts most. The flavours are made from real fruit with no artificial colour, which is why sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango taste like the fruit rather than an essence. Seasonal flavours come and go with the fruit.
Naturals is the fruit-first ice cream chain that Pune trusts most. The flavours are made from real fruit with no artificial colour, which is why sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango taste like the fruit rather than an essence. Seasonal flavours come and go with the fruit.
Naturals is the fruit-first ice cream chain that Pune trusts most. The flavours are made from real fruit with no artificial colour, which is why sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango taste like the fruit rather than an essence. Seasonal flavours come and go with the fruit.
Naturals is the fruit-first ice cream chain that Pune trusts most. The flavours are made from real fruit with no artificial colour, which is why sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango taste like the fruit rather than an essence. Seasonal flavours come and go with the fruit.
Naturals is the fruit-first ice cream chain that Pune trusts most. The flavours are made from real fruit with no artificial colour, which is why sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango taste like the fruit rather than an essence. Seasonal flavours come and go with the fruit.
A neighbourhood ice cream shop in Kothrud serving the everyday scoop rather than an elaborate dessert menu. It sits in the residential belt and works as a regular after dinner stop for the families around it.
An MG Road institution more than eighty years old, Pasteur is a bakery first and a dessert counter second. The classic softies and sundaes are what people queue for, and the prices have stayed modest.
A Viman Nagar sundae specialist near Datta Mandir Square. The whole menu is built around sundaes rather than plain scoops, layered with sauces, nuts and fruit, and portioned for sharing.
A chef led bakehouse in Lalit Estate, Baner, making seasonal gelato from local ingredients alongside its bakes. The flavour board changes with what is in season rather than staying fixed all year.
A Pune ice cream name with outlets on the western side, including Balewadi. It works as an after dinner stop for the crowd coming off Balewadi High Street rather than a destination parlour.
A sit-down ice cream cafe in Karvenagar serving sundaes and shakes alongside scoops. Being close to the Cummins College side, it draws a steady student crowd through the evening.
A Kothrud dessert counter working with frozen yogurt alongside regular ice cream. Frozen yogurt is lighter and tangier than ice cream, which makes it the easier option after a heavy meal.
Photographs are of ice cream generally and do not show these specific businesses. Timings and prices change often, so please confirm on Google Maps before you travel.
Chains with more than one outlet
Browse by area in Pune
FAQs
What is mastani and where do I try it in Pune?
Mastani is Punes own dessert drink, a thick milkshake with scoops of ice cream on top and dry fruit over that. Sujata Mastani in Sadashiv Peth, running since 1967, is where most people have their first one. Kawre in Tulshibaug is the other old name.
Which ice cream in Pune uses real fruit?
Naturals makes its flavours from real fruit with no artificial colour, and has seven outlets in Pune including Baner, Aundh, Kothrud, Hinjewadi, Koregaon Park, Shivajinagar and Bibvewadi. Sitaphal, tender coconut and alphonso mango are seasonal and sell out early.
Where can I get sugar free or high protein ice cream in Pune?
ScoopTown in Regent Plaza Mall, Baner carries both sugar free scoops and high protein options alongside regular ice cream.
Where do I find proper gelato in Pune?
Piatto Cafe in Kalyani Nagar does Italian style gelato and sorbet. Rihla Bakehouse in Baner makes small batch seasonal gelato that changes through the year.
What is the cheapest good ice cream in Pune?
Mohan Ice Cream on JM Road and Pasteur Bakery on MG Road both serve well under Rs.150 for two, and both have been running for decades.
Which ice cream chains have the most outlets in Pune?
Naturals has seven outlets, Huber and Holly six, Cream Stone four, and Kiga and Meridian two each. Every branch is listed separately here with its own area and address.
Conclusion
Start with a mastani in the peths, because that is the one thing you cannot get anywhere else. After that pick by what you want, real fruit at Naturals, gelato in Kalyani Nagar, an ice cream thali at Kiga, or an eighty year old softy in Camp. We keep this page updated as we try more places.