This Pune Café Was A Favourite Of Rajesh Khanna And Dev Anand
The legendary Cafe Goodluck has been an integral part of Pune's culture since it opened in 1935, offering Irani chai and bun-maska and plates of anda bhurji
Pune wears many hats—an industrial powerhouse, a renowned education hub, a city steeped in history, and a longstanding defence stronghold. As students and young professionals continue to flock here, its café culture has flourished over the decades. Among the most iconic is Café Goodluck, located on Fergusson College Road. This beloved establishment is one of Pune’s enduring Irani cafés, reflecting the city’s multicultural fabric and Parsi culinary influences—paralleling the heritage of its larger neighbour, Mumbai.
Irani Fare
Founded in 1935 by Hussain Ali, the cafe is believed to be the oldest Irani cafe in Pune. After Haji Hussain Ali Yakshi died in 1989, his brother Kasim took over the cafe. The family moved to India after a famine hit Iran. Hussain Ali trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan. After coming to India, he worked in Delhi and then moved to Mumbai, before coming to Pune.
Over the years, the cafe has built a cult following with local customers and visitors from far shores thronging here for spongy, buttery buns with maska (butter) and cups of milky Irani chai.
It features three dining halls, each with its own space for breakfast and lunch. On their menu is the signature Irani cafe dishes such as egg bhurji, keema-pav, bun omelette, bheja masala, keema samosas, and, of course, caramel pudding. Another popular dish is their biryani, which features fragrant rice and tender meat. Cafe Goodluck also serves a spicy Chicken Chill curry that differs significantly from the popular Chinese dish, Chilli Chicken.
An Iconic Eatery
Cafe Goodluck began as a little shop that mostly sold chai and bun maska. Initially, the decor included the customary wooden chairs and beautiful tiles that are typical of an Irani cafe. These are long gone, and the cafe now uses plastic chairs. The cafe also incurred some damage during the Pune floods of 1961.
The atmospheric cafe has a loyal following of customers, many of whom have been coming here for decades. Among its customers are Bollywood stars such as Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, and Radhika Apte. And the Goodluck Friends, a group of friends who have been coming to the restaurant since 1955.