From speakeasy restaurants and bars to casual diners that caught up with international standards, Chennai witnessed a flurry of new restaurant launches and revamps through 2024. Some of the city’s favourite all-day diners got a fresh lease of life as the city’s well-heeled continued to experiment with their cuisine preferences, thanks in part to the ‘will travel for food’ spirit. While the city’s preference for local flavours and Pan Asian cuisine did play out in some of these launches, we saw a clear slant towards engaging experiences that went beyond traditional preferences. We pick some of our favourite launches from 2024 that you must visit in 2025 if you haven’t already.
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Here Are 10 New Restaurants In Chennai You Must Visit In 2025:
1. 601, The Park Chennai:
601 takes its name from the address of the hotel and the iconic location of The Park Chennai has long been a comfort zone for the city’s foodies. The spot for a Tiramisu or a delicious pasta at 2 am. This popular all-day diner has returned in an all-new avatar. The new design elements include a unique ceiling that pays tribute to single-screen cinemas that used to rule the roost in Chennai. The menu has expanded to include more international and local flavours, while the tiramisu still hits the spot.
Where: Anna Salai
601
2. Hundreds Bistro:
At a time when many new restaurants and bars tend to focus too much on optics with an eye on Instagram, Hundreds Bistro came as a refreshing change. This elegantly designed restaurant brings a whole new approach to Indian cuisine without compromising on authentic flavours. From a delicious seekh and their take on a Lucknowi biryani, the food is usually on point. The restaurant also offers a sinful range of desserts including a cool twist on the classic tres leches cake that is built on a ras malai base.
Where: Harrington Road (Opp: Shoppers Stop)
Hundreds Bistro
3. Tokyo Diner:
You need a password to access Tokyo Diner, Chennai’s first speakeasy Japanese restaurant. This quirky restaurant ‘hidden’ inside a popular gourmet bakery on Khader Nawaz Road offers a bold take on Japanese cuisine and requires prior bookings. Tokyo Diner offers an engaging experience and a special Chef’s menu for the day that takes you through multiple courses. All you have to do is find the password
Where: Khader Nawaz Khan Road
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Tokyo Diner
Photo Credit: Ashwin Rajagopalan
4. Park Brasserie, Park Hyatt Chennai:
one of Chennai’s best new all-day diners offers comfort food in a relaxed setting. The views of the calming lily pond offer the perfect setting for you to unwind in the middle of a frenetic working day. This all-day diner has been zoned into distinct spaces that complement your mood for the day. Chennai’s gourmands have given a thumbs up to their hearty Miso Ramen, the Saffron Poached Pear & Arugula salad and the Belgian chocolate cake.
Where: Park Hyatt, Velachery Main Road
Park Brasserie
5. Carnaby, Residency Towers:
The place borrows its name from a lively street in London that is a hub for food and art. Carnaby is positioned as the perfect blend of London’s charms with the warm hospitality of Chennai. This restaurant is located in the heart of Chennai’s most vibrant shopping quarter and is never short on energy. The menu reflects the changing preferences of Chennai’s gourmands with an emphasis on a la carte meals for different times of the day.
Where: The Residency Towers, T Nagar
6. Vinyl & Brew:
Great coffee and music that takes you back in time. What’s not to like? Chennai’s first spot to ride the resurgence of vinyl records across the world is also a great space to catch up over coffee and small plates. Vinyl & Brew has become a favourite with the city’s music aficionados You can chill with your favourite music (from their large collection of vinyl records) and enjoy one of their artisanal coffees or desserts.
Where: TTK Road
7. Madras Cocktail Company:
it’s not easy to locate one of Chennai’s hottest new bars and that’s the whole idea. MadCo. or Madras Cocktail Company is tucked away in one of the city’s most vibrant F&B zones and is positioned as the city’s first speakeasy bar. You need to follow MadCo. on Instagram to gain access to this bar via an Insta DM. The interiors are a whimsical blend of minimalism and quirkiness while the cocktails are crafted almost entirely with in-house infusions.
Where: Cathedral Road
8. Zhouyu:
Zhouyo instantly became one of the city’s ‘go to’ Chinese restaurants since its debut in 2020. While the first restaurant in Abiramapuram leaned towards Chinese signatures, the new outpost on the city’s busy entertainment hub – ECR, rounds up emblematic dishes from across Southeast Asia. The decor follows the same design template with splashes of white and blue; we also like the never-ending windows and natural light that elevate this elegant dining space during the day.
Where: East Coast Road, Injambkkam
Zhouyo
9. Khaas:
it’s not just the sweeping views that make Khaas, a welcome entrant to Chennai’s dining scene. It’s also an answer to Chennai’s constant search for authentic Northern Indian cuisine that includes everything from Lucknow kebabs to Delhi’s street food favourites. Khaas gets its food mostly right and goes beyond cliches of food from the North of the Vindhyas. But most of all it’s the views that add to its charm.
Where: Ethiraj Salai
10. Crystal Woo Dimsum House:
Hong Kong’s flavours and dim sum carts come to the heart of Chennai in this all-new Asian diner. The city’s love for dim sums is well documented, diners are greeted with a shiny cart that offers an array of dim sums. There’s more than just dim sums on the menu though. The menu has room for large plates that include everything from XO fried rice to Chicken Hokkien rice.
Where: Khader Nawaz Khan Road
