From speakeasy restaurants and bars to casual diners that caught up with international standards, Chennai witnessed a raft of new restaurant launches and revamps through 2024. Some of the city’s favorite daytime meals got a fresh lease of life as the city’s well-heeled revival continued. Thanks in part to the ‘will travel for food’ spirit, he experimented with his cuisine preferences. While the city’s preference for local flavors and Pan Asian cuisine played into some of these launches, we saw a clear skew toward engaging experiences that went beyond traditional preferences. We pick out some of our favorite launches from 2024 that you’ll have to head to in 2025 if you haven’t already.
Also read: Date Night Dining In Chennai: 10 Most Romantic Restaurants And Dining Spots
Here are 10 new restaurants in Chennai you should visit in 2025:
1. 601, Park Chennai:
601 takes its name from the hotel’s address and Park Chennai’s iconic location has long been a comfort zone for the city’s foodies. The place for a tiramisu or a delicious pasta at 2 am. This popular all-day diner has returned in an all-new avatar. New design elements include a unique ceiling that pays homage to the 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 of Bistros:
At a time when many new restaurants and bars focus heavily on optics with an eye on Instagram, Hundreds of Bistro came as a refreshing change. This elegantly designed restaurant brings a fresh approach to Indian cuisine without compromising on the authentic flavours. From a delicious talay and their take on a Lucknowi biryani, the food is usually on point. The restaurant also has a sinful range of desserts, including a cool twist on the classic Tres Leches cake, built on a ras malai base.
Where: Harrington Road (OPP: Shoppers Stop)
Hundred’s Bistro
3. Tokyo Dinner:
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 an adventure on Japanese cuisine and requires prior booking. Tokyo Dinner offers an immersive experience and a special chef’s menu for the day that takes you through several courses. you just have to find the password
Where: Khader Nawaz Khan Road
Also read: Chennai Breakfast Trail: 12 must-see places in the city for authentic food
tokyo dinner
Photo Credit: Ashwin Rajagopalan
4. Park Brasserie, Park Hyatt Chennai:
One of Chennai’s hottest new day diners offering comfort food in a relaxed setting. The tranquil lily pond views provide the perfect setting for you to relax in the middle of a frantic work day. This all-day dinner is zoned into different locations that complement your mood for the day. Chennai gourmands have given a thumbs up to its hearty miso ramen, saffron poached pear and arugula salad and 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 charm 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 dining for different times of the day.
Where: Residency Towers, T Nagar
6. VINYL AND BREW:
Great coffee and music that takes you back in time. What do you dislike? Chennai’s first spot to ride the resurgence of vinyl records worldwide is also a great spot to grab a coffee and small plates. Vinyl & Brew has become a favorite with the city’s music aficionados, where you can chill with your favorite music (from their large collection of vinyl records) and enjoy one of their artisan coffees or desserts.
Where: ttk road
7. Madras Cocktail Company:
One of Chennai’s hottest new bars isn’t easy to spot and that’s the whole idea. MADCO. Or Madras Cocktail Company is tucked away in one of the city’s most vibrant F&B areas and positioned as the city’s first speakeasy bar. You need to follow MADCO. To gain access to this bar go through an Insta DM on Instagram. The interiors are a whimsical mix 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’ Chinese restaurants since its opening in 2020. While the first restaurant in Abiramapuram leaned towards Chinese signatures, the new outpost at the city’s busy entertainment hub – ECR, rounds up dishes emblematic of Southeast Asia. , The decor follows the same design template with splashes of white and blue; We love the never-ending windows and natural light that elevate this elegant dining space during the day.
Where: East Coast Road, INJAMBKKAM
zhouyou
9. Special:
It’s not just the extensive views that make Khaas a welcome addition to Chennai’s food scene. It is also an answer to Chennai’s constant search for authentic North Indian cuisine that includes everything from Lucknow kebabs to Delhi’s street food favourites. Khas gets its food mostly right and goes beyond the clichés of food from north of the Vindhyas. But most of all it is the views that add to its charm.
Where: Ethiraj Salai
10. Crystal Woo Dimsum House:
Hong Kong flavors and dim sum carts come together at this all-new Asian diner in the heart of Chennai. The city’s love for dim sums is well documented, with diners greeted with a gleaming cart offering an array of dim sums. There’s more than just dim sum on the menu, though. The menu has room for larger plates that include everything from XO Fried Rice to Chicken Hokkien Rice.
Where: Khader Nawaz Khan Road
