The Best New Chennai Nightspots For Your Pre-Wedding Catch-Ups
It’s probably the busiest period of your life. You can barely make time for your last-minute pre-wedding shopping and shenanigans, yet you still need to squeeze in those fun catchups with friends and family. Chennai has witnessed a plethora of new restaurant and bar openings that offer everything from progressive Indian cuisine to a jazz-inspired lounge bar and an irreverent Asian restaurant that is not shy to break the rules.
One of our favourite new recent launches, Firo pushes the boundaries of Indian food. Fronted by Chef Ajit Bangera, whose vision shaped Avartana (now an award-winning restaurant brand from ITC Hotels), Firo offers a fascinating new take on Indian cuisine. Huddle around their interactive bar with your bride squad as you watch their mixologists in action or dig into sharing plates like the scrumptious pork-filled crispy dosa tacos. Need to impress those out-of-towners? Sign up for one of their monthly chef’s tables with a specially curated menu paired with craft cocktails.
Where: Second Main Road, RA Puram. Phone: 93840-01434
Open: Wednesdays – Mondays / 12:30 – 4 pm and 6 – 11:30 pm
Nostalgia always dominates conversations at pre-wedding get-togethers with friends and family, often reminiscing about good times. Take a trip to the Madras that was, to a bar that aims to capture the city’s 1950s vibe when the shift from colonial Madras gradually began. The mood is a welcome break from loud bars and EDM in a venue loaded with old-world charm. Almost every drink (The Biryani cocktail is a house favourite) and small plate has a back story, just like yours.
Where: The Savera, RK Salai, Mylapore. Phone: 98413-10006
Open: 7 pm – 12 am
Tall chairs and interiors that evoke the upbeat Jazz Age. Triniti is an intimate, contemporary jazz-inspired bar that is equally a multi-sensory experience. Whether you’re looking at a sedate evening or a high-energy night with live jazz performances, Triniti can be a bit of both. Live acts swing from classic sets to futuristic jazz, while the cocktail program stays rooted in Chennai's social fabric, with a heady mix of local ingredients and stories. Spread over two levels, Triniti offers an array of spaces including a private dining room for those boisterous pre-wedding sessions.
Where: The Residency Towers, Sir Thygaraya Road, T Nagar. Phone: (044) 3503-5000
Open: 11 am – 12 am
It’s tough to imagine a city with strict drinking laws as one of the earliest Indian cities with a drinking culture shaped by taverns as early as the late 18th Century. Art Deco interiors combine with a cocktail menu that pays tribute to classic Madras punch houses in one of the city’s most immersive new nightspots. The food menu has been curated by Chef Adrial Branco whose portfolio includes A-list bars like Bar Spirit Forward.
Where: Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Phone: 89259-77804
Open: 12 – 11 pm
Chennai’s newest luxury hotel is also home to one of the city’s most atmospheric rooftop nightspots. Patterned tiles, red brick walls and a glass canopy are among the signature design elements in a restaurant dominated by Northern Indian comfort food with the occasional twist. You don’t need to spend too much time with the menu; take in the 360-degree views of the city and enjoy their bestsellers – like the burrata chaat or signature dal- at this dinner-only venue.
Where: Pullman Chennai, Anna Salai, Teynampet. Phone: (044)2830-9999
Open: 7 – 11 pm
The perfect antidote for those shopping weary heels, this high-energy Asian destination keeps throwing up surprises. A toothbrush in your drink? Why not. Fu Fu hasn’t launched its alcohol menu yet but it’s their zero ABV cocktails that are perfect for detox night. The uncomplicated food menu plays more safe than their drinks menu with a slant on comfort plates. From old school chop suey to baos and hand rolls wrapped in crispy nori, there’s enough to pass around.
Where: CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet. Phone: 96000-37124
Open: 12 – 3:30 pm and 7 – 11 pm
Need to slow things down and experience chill vibes before the big day? One of the city’s premier sky dining venues is back after a makeover. The all-new Lava – Grill, is the perfect venue for sundowners, conversations (and gossip). The dim lights on your table merge with the city lights at a venue that also offers an indoor seating option with a Mediterranean vibe. The menu doesn’t stick to a script, choosing a global plates odyssey with everything from grills to sushi along the way.
Where: Taj Club House, Club House Road, Royapettah. Phone: (044) 6631-3131
Open: 7 – 11 pm