Chennai (Madras) Travel Guide

Chennai (Madras), India — Food and Dining

Restaurants in Chennai (Madras), India

Restaurants
Expensive

Dakshin
Dakshin has a superb selection of top-class southern dishes from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It's especially noted for its seafood, ranging from fish and prawn to lobster and squid dishes. The interior is ornate yet reasonably intimate, with statues of traditional deities and atmospheric lighting. There's live Indian music daily.

Sheraton Park Hotel & Towers, TTK Road
Tel: (044) 2499 4101.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html

Peshawri
Sister restaurant of the award-winning Bukhara in Delhi, Peshawri also serves up delectable North-West Frontier cuisine. Predominantly cooked on the charcoal grill and clay oven, in an open kitchen, the beautifully marinated meat dishes are succulent perfection. There are also good vegetarian choices for non-carnivores. Individual platters are a terrific way to sample a selection of dishes (meat or veg). Wonderful ambience with authentic rustic décor of the region. Busy at weekends.

Sheraton Chola, 10 Cathedral Road
Tel: (044) 2811 0101.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html

six-o-one
Specialising in freshly cooked pasta and wood-fired pizzas, this 24-hour informal restaurant has contemporary, stylish décor and also a selection of Indian and Western dishes. Perch at the pasta-choco bar while your dish is prepared in front of you, or indulge in the diverse Sunday Brunch. There's an admirable international wine selection.

The Park, 601 Anna Salai
Tel: (044) 4267 6000.
Website: http://chennai.theparkhotels.com/chennai_rest.html

Moderate

Benjarong
Widely regarded as the city's best Thai restaurant, Benjarong is justifiably popular. Apart from its yummy food, the staff are courteous and the interior is tasteful and soothing. It's best known for its seafood preparations, but also offers a very tempting selection of meat and vegetarian fare, from chargrilled duck to old-fashioned stir fries.

146 TTK Road, Alwarpet
Tel: (044) 2432 2640.

Cheap

Saravana Bhavan
A real Chennai institution, this ever-expanding chain has over 15 branches scattered around the city and is a perfect place to feast on a marvelous range of south Indian cuisine, from the well-known staples like dosa, uttapam and idli to something more extravagant. They also do a very good job of thalis - a variety of dishes served on a compartmentalised stainless steel plate.

Tel: (044) 2480 2577.
Website: www.saravanabhavan.com

Nightlife

Chennai's nightlife scene is curbed by laws that prohibit bars and nightclubs operating beyond midnight, although some do stay open a little longer. Shame, as there are some fabulous venues around, although a fraction of the number seen in Mumbai, Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Delhi. Of the few decent bars and clubs, most are in the 5-star hotels. Many nightclubs have a cover charge (usually only on weekends), a smart-dress codeand may only allow couples (ie not single males).

Bars

Zara's
Is considered one of the hippest places to be, a tapas bar appreciated as much for its 'Spanish short eats' as its luscious cocktails and funky music; busy on Friday and Saturday nights.

74 Cathedral Road
Tel: (044) 2811 1462.

Leather Bar
The dark, sexy Leather Bar in The Park hotel has olive suede walls, leather sofas and black leather floors; it attracts a very stylish crowd, and plays some very danceable music.

601 Anna Salai
Tel: ((044) 4267 6000.
Website: www.theparkhotels.com

Bike & Barrel
Located in the Residency Towers Hotel, this is a cheerful, split level English pub with a lively atmosphere, adorned with (you've guessed it) barrels for tables and a huge motorbike suspended from the ceiling.

Sir Thyagaraya Nagar Road
Website: www.theresidency.com

Clubs

Pasha's
For a real boogie, head upstairs to the ever so trendy Pasha's in The Park hotel, another magnet for Chennai's beautiful people.