editorial

Words by Gargi Guha 
August 19, 2026
A decade after leaving the city formerly known as Madras, a onetime resident returns for a taste of its Chennai restaurants culinary and cocktail evolution.
<figure id="attachment_162246" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162246" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-162246 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Roc-A-Coe-Cocktails.jpeg" alt="The Roc-A-Coe cocktail at its namesake bar in Chennai; the same venue’s whisky-based Cobbles &amp; Hooch drink." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Roc-A-Coe-Cocktails.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Roc-A-Coe-Cocktails-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Roc-A-Coe-Cocktails-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Roc-A-Coe-Cocktails-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162246" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: The Roc-A-Coe cocktail at its namesake Chennai bar; the same venue’s whisky-based Cobbles &amp; Hooch drink. (Courtesy of Roc-A-Coe)</figcaption></figure>
Crisp dosas, pillowy idlis, and full-bodied filter coffee have always been a beloved part of life in Chennai. But the city’s hospitality scene has blossomed over the past few years, with a slew of innovative Chennai restaurants and bar openings giving the coastal capital of Tamil Nadu a fresh edge. All draw inspiration from the past while channeling the spirit of present-day Chennai.
One noteworthy newcomer is <a href="https://www.theresidency.com/towers-chennai/dining/triniti.html?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Triniti</a>, a jazz lounge in the bustling shopping hub of Thyagaraya Nagar. Designed by <a href="https://destinasian.com/travel-guide/singapore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singapore</a>’s WOW Architects, the refined two-floor venue serves thoughtfully balanced cocktails: the Clarinet, for instance, infuses the local nannari root with tofu-clarified galangal gin. Bar bites include avocado chaat with green chickpeas and puffed karuppu kavuni—a black rice variety native to Tamil Nadu.
Jazz is also an underlying element at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rocacoebar.che/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roc-A-Coe</a>, whose recent opening has added to the buzz of café-lined Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Its art deco–inspired style recalls the Jazz Age, while <a href="https://destinasian.com/editorial/discovering-indias-sun-kissed-shores-from-goa-to-gokarna" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Goan</a> mixologist Karl Fernandes bridges the present with the city’s centuries-old drinking culture, shaped in colonial-era taverns and punch houses. Drawing on history, his creations also showcase local ingredients—from jackfruit and ginger to marigold and coffee beans.
<figure id="attachment_162247" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162247" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-162247" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Triniti-Bar-Counter-and-Seating.jpeg" alt="Triniti’s main bar and seating area." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Triniti-Bar-Counter-and-Seating.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Triniti-Bar-Counter-and-Seating-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Triniti-Bar-Counter-and-Seating-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Triniti-Bar-Counter-and-Seating-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162247" class="wp-caption-text">Triniti’s main bar and seating area. (Courtesy of Triniti)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_162242" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162242" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-162242" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Cocktails.jpg" alt="Garnishing a drink at MadCo.; the bar’s Bramble Tart cocktail." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Cocktails.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Cocktails-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Cocktails-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Cocktails-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162242" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: Garnishing a drink at MadCo.; the bar’s Bramble Tart cocktail. (Courtesy of MadCo.)</figcaption></figure>
But it was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/madco_chennai/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MadCo.</a>, or Madras Cocktail Company, that quietly helped usher in a local craft-cocktail revolution when it launched at the end of 2024. Billed as the city’s first speakeasy bar, it’s hidden behind a door at Café Ruse off Cathedral Road. Come for drinks like the fragrant Mallipoo Spritz, a nod to the city’s penchant for perfumed jasmine garlands, and the Kaapi Colada, which combines white rum, dark roasted coffee, dehydrated pineapple, and banana. Chef Mathangi Kumar’s food is equally fun. Standouts include the tangy tempura-esque sorrel leaf chips and prawns drenched in spiced ghee, best sopped up with fluffy Hokkaido-style bread.
Just down the road at The Savera hotel, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thequarter.madras/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Quarter</a> transports guests back to 1950s Madras. Retro interiors, gentle music, and the hum of conversation set the tone for sips such as the bourbon-based Biryani cocktail. South Indian tapas like prawn uttapam pancakes and Chicken 65 sliders (named for a spicy local snack) provide a lovely pairing.
<a href="https://eatatborn.com/fufu?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fufu</a>, a bold pan-Asian restaurant in the upscale residential area of Alwarpet, has a completely different energy. Playful tiger prints complement a menu that doesn’t shy away from spice and flavor. The Sri Lankan crab meat and moringa leaf dumplings pack a punch, while the Korean wakame salad with miso dressing delivers a lingering umami finish. In step with the sober-curious movement, Fufu’s zero-proof cocktails deliver both complexity and depth.
<figure id="attachment_162240" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162240" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-162240" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Fufu-Restaurant-Rice-Rolls-and-Dining-Room.jpeg" alt="Fufu’s take on cheung fun; the restaurant’s neon-lit dining room." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Fufu-Restaurant-Rice-Rolls-and-Dining-Room.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Fufu-Restaurant-Rice-Rolls-and-Dining-Room-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Fufu-Restaurant-Rice-Rolls-and-Dining-Room-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Fufu-Restaurant-Rice-Rolls-and-Dining-Room-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162240" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: Fufu’s take on cheung fun; the restaurant’s neon-lit dining room. (Courtesy of Fufu)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_162244" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162244" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-162244" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Poppadum-Dishes.jpeg" alt="Poppadum’s comforting daal pakwaan; burrata masala papad, also at Poppadum." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Poppadum-Dishes.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Poppadum-Dishes-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Poppadum-Dishes-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Poppadum-Dishes-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162244" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: Poppadum’s comforting daal pakwaan; burrata masala papad, also at Poppadum. (Courtesy of Poppadum)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_162243" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162243" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-162243" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-No-Name-Rooftop-Lounge-and-Chicken-Dish.jpeg" alt="The rooftop lounge at No Name; roasted chicken with herbed potatoes in rosemary chicken jus." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-No-Name-Rooftop-Lounge-and-Chicken-Dish.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-No-Name-Rooftop-Lounge-and-Chicken-Dish-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-No-Name-Rooftop-Lounge-and-Chicken-Dish-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-No-Name-Rooftop-Lounge-and-Chicken-Dish-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162243" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: The rooftop lounge at No Name; roasted chicken with herbed potatoes in rosemary chicken jus. (Courtesy of No Name)</figcaption></figure>
A 10-minute drive away on Chamiers Road, multilevel <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nonameclubchennai/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No Name</a> offers a bit of everything: a dance floor and bar, a restaurant-slash-lounge decked out with low sofas, and a rooftop terrace. The globe-trotting menu is just as eclectic, ranging from lamb kebabs to artichoke pizzas and Cambodian crab curry.
For Indian vegetarian dishes with a twist, head to <a href="https://poppadum.in/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Poppadum</a> in the lively Kilpauk area. One standout is the burrata masala papad: a garlic-scented wafer with creamy burrata atop smoked pumpkin puree, cherry tomatoes, and spiced peanuts. The filter coffee pudding provides a decadent finale.
Across town at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rasanai_pricol/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rasanai</a>, the kitchen riffs on the street food of South India’s roadside stalls and mess kitchens. A meal here is the perfect antidote to a night of revelry. The muttai paniyaram (fluffy egg dumplings) and soft-shell crab ghee roast are two must-tries; savor them in Rasanai’s dining room or on a terrace facing the golden sands of Besant Nagar Beach and the Bay of Bengal beyond.
<figure id="attachment_162245" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162245" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-162245" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Rasanai-Bar-Counter-and-Food-.jpeg" alt="The bar at Rasanai; an Andhra-style dish of naidu gari prawn." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Rasanai-Bar-Counter-and-Food-.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Rasanai-Bar-Counter-and-Food--300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Rasanai-Bar-Counter-and-Food--1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Rasanai-Bar-Counter-and-Food--768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162245" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: The bar at Rasanai; an Andhra-style dish of naidu gari prawn. (Courtesy of Rasanai)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_162241" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-162241" style="width: 1800px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-162241" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Bar-Interior.jpeg" alt="A lively night at MadCo., a speakeasy-style craft cocktail bar in Chennai, India." width="1800" height="1200" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Bar-Interior.jpeg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Bar-Interior-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Bar-Interior-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Bar-Interior-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Bar-Interior-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chennai-Roundup-Madras-Cocktail-Company-Bar-Interior-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-162241" class="wp-caption-text">A lively night at MadCo. (Courtesy of MadCo.)</figcaption></figure>
This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://subscription.destinasian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">August/September 2026</a> print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Cheers to Chennai”). Buy a single issue or subscribe <a href="https://subscription.destinasian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

A lively night at MadCo., a speakeasy-style craft cocktail bar in Chennai, India.

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