Shisha Jazz Café in Pune made me fall in love with it. May be this is a good time to disclose that I have been fascinated with the place without having visited it until recently.
I’m a lover of all things jazz and years ago, when I had heard of Shisha Jazz Café I was filled with intrigue. On Thursday nights Shisha hosts live jazz nights where upcoming talents are encouraged to perform while it has also been the home to prominent artistes like Gary Lawyer and Louis Banks. The live performances begin at about 8:30PM and continue till about 10PM. Don’t forget to get your seats accordingly.
The first thing I noticed about Shisha was the sprawling space it covered. Spread across two levels, towards the entry of the café I witnessed a softly lit cosy café, well enclosed with trees. However, taking the stairs to the next level, the bass of the jazz got warmer and the intricately decorated showcase welcomed me. It was love at first sight! The second thing I noticed were the larger than life posters of Montreux Jazz Festival, which instant made me feel at home.
I visited the café on a tribute night to Jaco Pastorius and it was expectedly crowded. The high roof, the low hanging lamps, the charming music artefacts and the Iranian trinkets—all worked for me. The beer was chilled and the fries were all right. Honestly, I was focussed more on the music and that didn’t disappoint at all. The acoustics of the place is great and the clarity is impressive. Getting a table away from the stage is not a feasible idea since there are quite a few distractions if you want to enjoy an uninterrupted viewing experience. However, the sound doesn’t falter at any corner.
I thought they could have done a better job with the service. It took me a lot of time to get the server’s attention for my second mug of beer. They’re usually around but somehow they take a while to notice you’re calling out for them!
What I drank: Two regular mugs of beer for Rs. 380 and a portion of fries for Rs. 120. On Thursday nights, they take a cover charge of Rs. 250 per adult which will eventually be added to your bill.
What I thought: I haven’t been to very many live jazz bars in the country and I would definitely consider Shisha as an imperative one. They have been around since 2003 and are here to stay.
Will I go back: A million times over!
Getting there: ABC Farms, Survey #35 & 36, North Main Road, Koregaon Park, Pune, Maharashtra.
Hours: 10AM to 11:30PM
Have you been to Shisha in Pune? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
Amrita Das
I have been a travel and culture independent journalist. My bylines have appeared in many publications worldwide including National Geographic Traveller India, Lonely Planet Magazine India, The Indian Express and World Travel Magazine. A fellow of Media Ambassadors India-Germany 2019 program by Robert Bosch Stiftung and Centre for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Currently, I am the photo editor for RoundGlass Sustain, a wildlife and conservation e-publication. I live in India.
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I was literally just reminiscing about Shisha yesterday! I had the opportunity to visit twice during NH7 a few years ago, and I absolutely fell in love with the place and the atmosphere. Lovely tribute to a lovely place!
xx
Thanks for the kind words Veena. Shisha is a special place and it’s tough feeling otherwise towards it :)
Its one of my fav places as well :)
Oh, with such a lovely vibe, it’s tough not to like it :)