In July this 12 months ITC Grand Chola, one in every of Chennai’s premier luxurious inns unveiled Cholatails, a group of cocktail recipes in a guide that makes a robust connection to town’s heritage. The Cholas have been amongst India’s most formidable dynasties and their affect unfold past the boundaries of recent India due to their maritime exploits. It is the identical for contemporary foods and drinks traits that boast a wider attain past conventional boundaries. Chennai’s cocktail scene has actually developed this decade. It is a part of a wider world development that has seen traits like sustainable cocktails, zero-proof cocktails and a lovely medley of the classics and new-age drinks reshape bars and nightspots.
The town’s well-heeled, expats and enterprise guests are reshaping the cocktail panorama within the metropolis as mixologists are discovering their A-game. Many of those mixologists are additionally tapping into the area’s robust culinary heritage and leaning on native elements to create distinctive beverage experiences. We take you thru a number of the metropolis’s greatest spots for cocktails and zero-ABV drinks:
Tranquebar, ITC Grand Chola
Photograph:Tranquebar, ITC Grand Chola
This cleverly named bar shares its identify with the erstwhile Danish buying and selling publish of Tranquebar (Tharangambdi) about 285 km south of Chennai. It is one in every of two devoted bars on the ITC Grand Chola that is additionally residence to Cheroot, a malt and cigar lounge. The resort launched into an formidable program to create an array of cocktails throughout seven completely different eating venues in 2023 and created a financial institution of 280 drinks within the course of. Our favourites are the Cholatails that the resort likes to name drinks from Tamarind City that embrace Puli (Tequila with tamarind and jaggery), the proper thirst quencher for Chennai and Chukku Kaapi which is a intelligent spin on filter espresso with Cognac, dry ginger and inexperienced cardamom within the combine.
The place: ITC Grand Chola, Mount Highway, Guindy.
Additionally Learn:Sip Into Weekend Leisure Mode With These 5 Creamy And Easy Cocktail Recipes
The Leather-based Bark, The Park Chennai
Photograph:The Leather-based Bark, The Park Chennai
The Leather-based Bark stays one of many metropolis’s most refined techno lounge bars. The interiors pay homage to the area’s robust reference to leather-based merchandise. The bar’s new cocktail menu seeks inspiration from town’s cultural threads and likewise flavours of seasons. There’s Maami’s Martini which mixes town’s favorite brew (filter espresso) with Irish whiskey and occasional liqueur and Full Bloom, a fragile floral cocktail that captures the bouquet of town’s well-known Koyambedu flower market. The various beverage choice is complemented by bar bites that ingeniously mix conventional methods and flavour with a recent contact.
The place: The Park Chennai, Anna Salai
Girl Connemara Bar and Lounge at Taj Connemara
Photograph:Girl Connemara Bar and Lounge at Taj Connemara
Positioned at one in every of South India’s oldest luxurious inns (that dates again to 1854) and an integral a part of Colonial Madras, this bar takes its identify from Girl Connemara the spouse of the then Governor of Madras. One of many bar’s signature cocktails – Madras no: 1, pays tribute to town’s first licensed bar that first opened as ‘The Cocktail Bar’ suggesting that town’s love for iced cocktails isn’t totally a contemporary development. Regulars additionally suggest 1891 which is crafted in reminiscence of Girl Connemara who spent a 12 months on the resort.
The place: Taj Connemara, Binny Highway.
Pandan Membership
Photograph:Pandan Membership
India’s first Peranakan delicacies restaurant and bar, Pandan Membership has received awards for its cocktail program. Pandan Membership launched into a novel journey – ‘Shortest Route’, a cocktail guide that makes the connection between the high-energy vibe of Singapore’s streets and Chennai’s wealthy tradition. These cocktails will not be simply nice for the ‘gram’ but in addition function scrumptious twists. One in every of our picks is Serangoon Smith which recreates the excitement of Serangoon Highway in Singapore with notes like Lemongrass & Gula Melaka.
The place: Bazullah Highway, T Nagar
Sundays Chennai
Photograph:Sundays Chennai
It could be positioned as ‘The On a regular basis Getaway’ however there is a distinct Sunday afternoon vibe about one in every of Chennai’s hottest cocktail bars. That is one cause why this informal bar positioned within the coronary heart of one in every of Chennai’s quintessential residential pockets attracts many diners throughout the day. It is the proper getaway on a Thursday or Friday afternoon whenever you’re already longing for the weekend. Sundays gives a wide selection of cocktails and a mixture of Indian and worldwide plates.
The place: D Block, Anna Nagar (East)
KooX, Novotel Chennai Chamiers Highway
Photograph:KooX, Novotel Chennai Chamiers Highway
KooX has remained one in every of Chennai’s hip rooftop Asian eating locations and high-energy weekend hangouts because it launched again in 2019. The edgy decor and panoramic views complement the KooX expertise. KooX lately launched Koi and Khao, a menu that blends the wealthy flavours of Thai delicacies with the fragile artistry of Japanese dishes. The menu additionally has room for cocktails just like the Nitro Thai Basil Fizz which includes elements like Thai basil shrub, including to its fame as one of many metropolis’s most well-liked cocktail spots.
The place: Novotel Chennai Chamiers Highway
Additionally Learn:5 Suggestions To Make The Good Espresso Martini At Residence
The Velveteen Rabbit
Photograph:The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit borrows its identify from Margery Williams’ novel of the identical identify. A preferred vacation spot for a relaxed evening with good meals, associates, drinks and conversations. The bar is unfold over a number of ranges with refreshed interiors and an all-new menu. It is Velveteen Rabbit’s cocktails that function each classics and up to date, artisanal cocktails which might be an enormous draw with its regulars.
The place: 2nd Most important Rd, RA Puram
Noci Adante
One in every of Chennai’s latest hotspots, Noci Adante is conveniently positioned in one of many metropolis’s common retail and leisure locations – Categorical Avenue (EA) Mall. This nightspot is designed to morph from a nice eating area to a celebration zone because the evening progresses. Noci is Japanese for lifestyle whereas Adante (in Italian) refers to taking part in an instrument slowly. The menu is a mish-mash of worldwide plates whereas the cocktail program is sort of daring with a mix of native flavours and worldwide influences.
The place: EA Mall, Royapettah
