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The Garden Cafe
Lonavala, Maharashtra, India, India
- 50 guests
- 0.0
About The Garden Cafe
A Garden Setting in the Sahyadris
The Garden Cafe at Zaras Resort is an open-air dining and event space set within the resort's lush garden surroundings in Khandala, Maharashtra. Perched in the Sahyadri hills along the Mumbai–Pune expressway corridor, the cafe brings together the relaxed charm of a hill-station retreat with the comfort of a full-service resort. The setting is characterised by verdant greenery, open skies, and the cool, misty air that makes Khandala a favoured escape from the plains — making the Garden Cafe a space that feels distinctly of its place rather than a generic banquet room transplanted into a resort.
The space suits gatherings where the surroundings are as important as the occasion itself. Its garden-integrated layout encourages an informal, convivial atmosphere, whether guests are seated for a leisurely meal, mingling at a cocktail reception, or simply enjoying the hill-station environment. The natural backdrop reduces the need for heavy décor investment, letting the landscape do much of the work while organisers focus on personalising the finer details.
Events & Occasions
The Garden Cafe is well suited to a range of social and celebratory events that benefit from an outdoor or semi-outdoor setting. Intimate weddings and pre-wedding functions — mehendi ceremonies, sangeet evenings, and post-wedding brunches — find a natural home here, as the garden environment lends itself to the kind of relaxed, picturesque moments couples look for in a destination event. Family reunions, birthday celebrations, and small corporate off-sites seeking a break from conference-room formality are equally at home in this setting.
Because Khandala is a popular weekend destination for guests travelling from Mumbai and Pune — both roughly 80–90 kilometres away — the Garden Cafe also works well as the social centrepiece for multi-day resort buyouts, where attendees can move between the cafe, the resort's other facilities, and the surrounding hills across the course of a stay. The combination of a dedicated event space with on-site accommodation at Zaras Resort means that organisers can plan a full programme without guests needing to leave the property.
Location & Accessibility
Khandala sits along one of India's busiest travel corridors, making it more accessible than many hill destinations. The town is approximately 80 kilometres from Mumbai and close to Pune, with direct access from the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. Lonavala railway station, which is served by trains from both cities, is a short distance away and provides a convenient option for guests who prefer not to drive. The elevation and surrounding ghats give the area a noticeably cooler and greener character compared to the cities below, particularly during and after the monsoon season — a quality that makes Khandala events feel genuinely like an escape.
Zaras Resort's position within Khandala means that guests arriving from either direction face a manageable journey, and the resort's own grounds provide ample space for the kind of relaxed, unhurried event experience the Garden Cafe is designed to deliver.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Garden Cafe is suited to a variety of social and celebratory occasions, including intimate weddings, pre-wedding functions such as mehendi and sangeet, birthday celebrations, family reunions, and small corporate off-sites. Its open garden setting makes it particularly well suited to events where a relaxed, scenic atmosphere is a priority. For a full list of event formats the space can accommodate, it is best to check directly with the Zaras Resort events team.
The Garden Cafe is an open-air, garden-integrated space set within the resort's lush green surroundings. As with any outdoor venue in the Sahyadri hills, organisers should discuss weather contingency options — such as canopy or tent arrangements — with the resort team when planning events during the monsoon season.
Khandala is approximately 80 kilometres from Mumbai and similarly close to Pune, with convenient access via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. This makes the Garden Cafe a practical destination for day or weekend events drawing guests from either city.
Yes, Lonavala railway station — served by trains from both Mumbai and Pune — is close to Khandala and provides a convenient option for guests who prefer not to drive. The resort team can advise on the best way to travel from the station to the property.
Zaras Resort is a full resort property with on-site guest accommodation, making it possible to host multi-day events where attendees stay on the property. Couples or organisers planning destination weddings or corporate retreats can enquire about room blocks or resort buyout options directly with the reservations team.
Specific capacity figures for the Garden Cafe depend on the event layout and setup style chosen. It is recommended to contact the Zaras Resort events team with your guest count and seating preferences to confirm what the space can accommodate for your particular occasion.
Zaras Resort is a full-service resort property and is expected to offer catering services for events held on its premises. To confirm menu options, cuisine styles, and whether outside caterers are permitted, prospective clients should speak directly with the resort's food and beverage team.
The Garden Cafe's garden setting in the Sahyadri hills, combined with Zaras Resort's on-site accommodation, makes it a strong choice for couples seeking a destination wedding within manageable distance of Mumbai or Pune. Pre-wedding functions such as mehendi ceremonies and sangeet evenings work particularly well in the open-air garden environment. The resort team can walk couples through packages and available dates.
The natural garden backdrop of the space reduces the need for extensive décor, though the resort can advise on what in-house décor or setup support is available for events. For bespoke floral arrangements, lighting, or themed décor, the events team can confirm whether preferred external vendors may be brought in.
Availability of audio-visual equipment, sound systems, and lighting rigs for the Garden Cafe should be confirmed with the Zaras Resort events team, as requirements vary by event type. Given the open-air nature of the space, it is also worth discussing any applicable noise or sound guidelines with the resort.
Khandala's elevation in the Sahyadris makes it noticeably cooler and greener than Mumbai or Pune, which is part of its appeal as an event destination. The monsoon season brings heavy rainfall to the region, so organisers planning outdoor events between June and September should discuss weather contingency arrangements with the resort well in advance.
As a resort property, Zaras Resort is expected to have on-site parking for guests driving in from Mumbai or Pune. The exact capacity and any arrangements for larger event groups should be confirmed with the resort directly.
The Garden Cafe's relaxed, garden setting makes it a natural social hub for corporate off-sites and team retreats that want a change from a conventional conference environment. Combined with the resort's accommodation and other facilities, it can serve as the centrepiece of a multi-day programme. Enquiries about full or partial resort buyouts can be directed to the Zaras Resort sales team.
Availability at the Garden Cafe, particularly for weekend dates and peak season events, is best secured as early as possible given Khandala's popularity as a Mumbai–Pune getaway destination. The Zaras Resort events or reservations team can guide prospective clients through the enquiry, site visit, and booking process, including deposit and cancellation terms.
Pricing for events at the Garden Cafe varies based on guest count, event type, catering requirements, and the specific services requested. The most accurate way to receive a tailored quote is to contact the Zaras Resort events team directly with the key details of your occasion.
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