The Ultimate Restaurant & Café Itinerary To Experience Chennai

Chennai’s dining and café culture has scaled significantly in the last few years, solidifying its place as one of the most consistent and mature culinary markets in India. A hospitality report in 2024 ranked the city 4th in India’s Food Services Market, and growth continues. From a design perspective too, new cafés and restaurants are exploring fresher approaches, be it taking inspiration from Chennai’s streets to experimenting with European-style bistros. Design Pataki curates a list of six such dining spots for your next visit.

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1. DUCA: All-Day Dining with Comfort at its Core

What used to be The Summer House Eatery in Alwarpet is now DUCA – Dine & Unwind, a premium restaurant-café experience that transforms effortlessly from a business lunch space to a relaxed dinner with friends. Designed by the founder of the cafe, Yoganandan Guruswamy himself, the interiors maintain warm, single-toned walls, with murals of Seinfeld’s Monk’s Café and Monica’s apartment from Friends to blend nostalgia with contemporary design. The vast pet-friendly garden seating has its own vibe, making it a comfortable spot to unwind and slow down, and enjoy a plate of their Mirapakkai bajji in the rain. 

The menu comprises dishes that are elevated yet familiar, inspired by global cuisines. The Indianella Channa Sprout Chaat makes for a good snack, while DUCA Special Quesabirria Ramen Bowl can be comforting for dinner after a long day. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in the decadent Opera—and wind down with a coffee with beans specially roasted for DUCA’s guests.

2. Sortd: A Design-Forward, Food-First Lifestyle Café

Sathappan Annamalai, founder of an IT services company and Kalpana Rao, founder of design studio OCD Spaces, decided they wanted to build a space that isn’t an office but also not a café, where you can eat and drink but also be productive. They took this idea to Japtej Ahluwalia and Manoj Padmanaban of BORN, and the result is Sortd. Housed in what was once Satha’s grandfather’s home in Alwarpet and designed by Karran Kumar and Inesh Sah of AWOL Design Studio, Sortd has a flow that comprises private work pods, communal tables, boardrooms with soft edges, and cosy corners with diffused lighting. You will find a writing wall for ideas, fidget spinners and sensory tools that make meetings just a little more mindful.

Even for those who aren’t looking to work from Sortd, the menu is reason enough to make your stop. Pick from snack-sized indulgences, a Parotta Egg Kalaki that will awaken your palate, generous portions of sandwiches, high-protein nourish bowls, or grab-and-go breakfast jars—there’s something for every mood. Matcha fans will find solace in the Strawberry Coconut Matcha, while coffee drinkers can experience their popular ‘The Coconut Coffee Cloud’. Work hard, play harder is the vibe of Sortd.

3. Glazed & Co.: Artisanal Bakes & Desserts In A Euro-Mediterranean Aesthetic 

Nestled in the bylanes of R.A. Puram, this premium café, artisan bakehouse, and viral dessert spot offers a cosy look into a European-style café culture. Designed by Tanya Mallavarapu, the café features a classic black-and-white checkered floor, while the walls are painted in warm, sun-washed yellow and lemon hues. A glowing glass display takes centre stage, showcasing the café’s intricate pastries, cakes, and artisanal gelatos. The outdoor area gives the vibe of a European sidewalk-style patio, perfect for an early morning breakfast. 

Glazed & Co. offers a menu that boasts artisanal coffee, detailed latte art, and freshly baked pastries. Dip a flaky croissant into a classic hot chocolate, or savour a cheesy Tomato Mozarella Danish with a Tiramisu Latte or their popular Beetroot Latte—the options are curated to the tee.

4. Firo: A Representation Of India’s Culinary Memory

Firo, in R.A. Puram, is inspired by the heritage of Indian cuisine and the innovation of today. Tanya Mallavarapu brings alive the vision of restaurateur Ashish Thadani through Deco to balance fire and roots, both elements of Indian cooking that are the thought behind the name and concept of this modern Indian restaurant. The bar anchors the ground floor with three tall arched niches in fluted brass, lit from within, standing behind a fluted oak counter that glows along its base. The Elitis Matières Végétales Buri carries the weave of rattan, lining the curved ceiling cove downstairs and a coffered grid upstairs. On the top floor, Arte’s Yala Panthera in rust fills the wall behind the banquette, while Harlequin’s Zori in Fig Blossom sets the register at reception.

The kitchen is helmed by chef Ajit Bangera, who shaped Avartana into one of India’s most celebrated modern South Indian restaurants. At Firo, he delves into a pan-Indian narrative, reimagining recipes through both ancient preservation techniques and contemporary methods. Try some bay prawns ceviche with Kagzi lemon zest and potato crunch, or indulge in a khata meetha chicken bao with tamarind and palm jaggery glaze. A ‘Not so “butter chicken” is made with locally sourced white butter, while desserts feature innovative creations such as a Naga black rice pudding with white chocolate crumble and lime ice cream. Each dish is rooted in the country’s culinary prowess.

5. Rasanai: An Ode to Southern India’s Street Food Heritage

Rasanai is a distinctive dining destination in Besant Nagar that’s rooted in the vibrant streets of South India. Drawing inspiration from ‘akka kadais’, mess kitchens, and roadside stalls, Rasanai celebrates iconic southern street-side preparations. Conceptualised by Vikram Mohan, the interiors, by ICON Design Studio, evoke the ethos and warmth of these streets. A striking Drishti Bommai at the entrance sets a traditional tone, while handcrafted details such as rural-style window frames, Chettinad baskets, hand-hammered plates, and artisanal accents reinforce a connection to everyday cultural life.

The menu serves a range of signature dishes, from the fiery spices of Andhra Pradesh to the coconut-infused delicacies of Kerala, the mellow flavours of Karnataka, and the aromatic spices of Tamil Nadu. Sip a bowl of Malenad Mutton Rassa, bite into some piping hot Paal Katti Paniyaram, or indulge in some military hotel-style Mutton Chops. A zero-proof beverage program accompanies the meal to ensure the food is not overpowered. Rasanai presents itself as a living, breathing expression of street food culture where respect lies in instinct and the simplicity of each ingredient.

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6. Roc-A-Coe: Modern Cocktail Bar Rooted in the Art Deco Aesthetic

Designed as a modern-day interpretation of the Art Deco era by NGGA, Roc-A-Coe in Nungambakkam is the perfect amalgamation of Art Deco design and cocktail literature and reflects Art Deco’s ‘Rule of Three’ in shape, tone, and movement. An omakase-style bar highlights the craft of cocktail creations, while deep structural beams and a low ceiling dictate the architectural rhythm. 

The beverage program, curated by Karl Fernandes, showcases a deep understanding of cocktail culture and its evolution, and presents itself as a modern interpretation of social drinking in the 1920s with a menu that draws from the Old Madras drinking culture, as well as from early 20th-century cocktail books and the 1930s. The food philosophy extends the cocktail experience, with light bites and substantial plates balanced to accompany your cocktails, including street-style plates such as Mushroom Empanadas, meant to be shared, or a Jazzy Pilaf for a more filling meal. Roc-A-Coe prides itself on being a space built on craft, design, and absolute alignment.