“It all started with a dream of having my own bakery,” says Sahithi Reddy, founder of EM Chocolates & Patisserie — and a passionate bystander of happiness. That dream took shape in 2024, with EM opening its doors in Pune’s upscale Kalyani Nagar.
Project Name: Em Cafe
Studio Name: THINK with us
Location of the Project: Kalyani Nagar, Pune
Date of Completion: 15 December 2024
Built Area: 1800 sq.ft
Architects/Designers: Harshal Mutha , Ar. Shubham Gandhi , Ar. Dhwani Gandhi , Aadesh Gandhi
Photographer: Ar. Abhishek Chavhan
Sahithi had been eyeing the quiet, weathered colonial bungalow on the corner for a while. She acquired the space and, while simultaneously looking for designers, chanced upon an Instagram post about Pluvian Cafe — a project by the Pune-based firm THINK with us. Call it fate or good timing, but something clicked. She reached out, they met, and the project took off.
THINK’s principal architects, Dhwani and Shubham Gandhi, helped Sahithi visualise how the old structure could embrace a new-age patisserie. A playful twist came in the form of a corner leaf arch, replacing a window. “From the crossroads, it reads like a semicircle that follows the symmetry in the facade,” say interior designers Harshal Mutha and Aadesh Gandhi. This soon became a photo-worthy corner seat, blurring indoors and out.
As spatial planning took shape, the design team crafted a ‘Soft Earth’ colour palette inspired by EM’s branding. “We captured the muted softness of pink and off-white, grounded with earthy tones like grey-brown and green,” says Harshal. “It’s a reflection of baking ingredients: cream, pistachio, strawberry mousse.”
This palette extends to the exterior, framed by a modernist vintage compound wall, where the beige starts and flows into the interiors. “The wall is key,” adds Shubham. “With mounted and pillar lights and an elegant bronze EM logo, it makes a strong design statement.”
Stepping beyond the gate, the garden — part designed, part preserved — comes into view, a transition space between the façade and the indoors. Beneath a sprawling tree, a few small tables and a community table are set with lightweight metal furniture, allowing intuitive movement, spillovers, and small gatherings. Even the stairway to the plinth becomes a casual perch for takeaway patrons or extra seating during rush hour.
Crossing the threshold, the interiors present a contrast: cozy, chic, and intimate, with seating for just ten. The pink and white palette continues indoors, softened by custom wooden furniture and a wooden menu board. Marble floors and a white-painted ceiling frame the soft-pink ombré counter — the focal point of the space, resembling a layered dessert.
Behind the counter sits the assembly and pantry zone, supporting the café’s daily rhythm. From a quiet corner, a circular staircase winds up to the first floor: a baking haven accessible only to staff. The upper level houses an assembly zone, a hot kitchen, and a washing area tucked between. This is where EM’s sweet and savoury delights come to life: Bombolonis, Pistachio Tea Cake, Avocado Toast, and Date and Walnut Tea Cake, among others. “I have so many regulars now. They come for the food and the vibe. I think we’ve won.” smiles Sahithi.
By night, EM glows softly — interiors lit bright, outdoors dimly, just enough to pull you in. Like a firefly.
