There are very few cities where you can watch the sunrise on the beach and then head straight for a scrumptious breakfast. While Chennai breakfast specialties usually include piping hot idlis or crispy dosas and a freshly made cup of invigorating filter coffee, the city’s breakfast fare goes far beyond these stereotypes. Whether you are looking for a flat white or a degree coffee (aka filter coffee) or you want to start your day with a Pongal vadai or eggs benedict, we have got you covered.
Photo Courtesy: Madras Pavilion, ITC Grand Chola
12 places for breakfast in Chennai that you must try:
1. Krishna Restaurant, New Woodlands Hotel:
The first wave of restaurants in Chennai was started by entrepreneurs who migrated from Udupi to coastal Karnataka. They introduced Chennai to the Udupi-style masala dosa. New Woodlands is one of the leading makers of Udupi-style breakfasts adapted to Chennai’s taste buds. Try their filter coffee and a variety of dosas. You can also check out Mathsya and Ashoka Hotel (both in Egmore) for more Udupi flavours.
Location: Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore
2. Food cycle:
Want to get a taste of Bengaluru (including a slightly sweeter sambar) in Chennai? Head straight to Eating Circles. From crispy and fail-proof masala dosa (dosa in Bengaluru) to crunchy maddur vada and MTR-style rava idlis, this restaurant has it all.
Location: CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet
3. Sangeetha:
One of the best places to have Chennai style breakfast. We are fond of their RA Puram and Adyar outlets. Their Pongal Vadai and filter coffee is great and so is their range of grainy Idlis and Dosas. But what stands out the most is the range of side dishes they serve – their Sambar and Chutneys never fail to impress. You can also check out the A2B (Adyar Anand Bhavan) outlets across the city for Chennai style breakfast.
Location: Third Cross Road, RA Puram
4. Pumpkin Stories:
Run by three female entrepreneurs, this cheerful space with plenty of natural light is a great place to start your day. It’s hard to get a table on Sundays, when regulars come in for their eggs Benedict variety, power smoothies, and morning glory bowls.
Location: Bheemanna Garden Street
Photo Credit: Pumpkin Stories
5. Madras Pavilion, ITC Grand Chola:
It is difficult to choose your favourite breakfast buffet at a luxury hotel in Chennai. Madras Pavilion stands out for its perfect mix of international favourites, healthy options and the best of the South Indian section. There are also very few luxury hotels in Chennai that serve filter coffee and idlis.
Location: ITC Grand Chola, Mount Road
6. Ciclo Cafe:
If you are heading to Mamallapuram or Pondicherry from the beach (on East Coast Road) early in the morning, then Ciclo Cafe is a great choice for you. From hash browns to sausages and waffles to French toast, the menu has a variety of international options and if you are looking for a wholesome breakfast to start your day, then you can also enjoy parathas.
Location: PVR Heritage RSL, East Coast Road, Uthandi
Photo Credit: Ciclo Cafe
7. Millet Magic:
Tamil Nadu loves its millets. Many restaurants like Prem’s Gram Bhojanam and Millet Magic offer healthier millet alternatives to popular dishes. From millet karuvappellai (curry leaf) idlis to millet parathas and millet dosas, Millet Magic (with the extra ‘a’ in Magic) is one of the healthiest breakfast spots in the city.
Location: First Cross Road, TTK Road, Alwarpet
8. Mari Hotel:
Though it is not easy to find and is located in the busy area of Saidapet where parking is almost impossible, this simple restaurant serves one of the most famous breakfasts of Chennai – vada curry (a mixture of lentils in a tasty gravy), which goes very well with dosa. You can also stop at Mamalla Motel on ECR near Mamallapuram for vada curry.
Location: VS Mudali Street, Saidapet
9. Murugan Idly Shop:
This restaurant chain may have its roots in Madurai, but it has become one of the most popular restaurant brands in the city. Most regular customers will tell you to try their soft, almost sticky idlis, which are served with a variety of accompaniments. We would also recommend their sakkarai (sweet) pongal and onion uttapam.
Where: Several outlets
10. Chamiers Cafe Chennai:
It has one of the most developed cafe cultures in the country. Chamiers Cafe near the swish Boat Club area is one example. The charming interiors can transport you to an English tea room in colonial Madras. There are options like the ‘Full Fry Up’ English breakfast with bacon and sausages and all-day breakfast options that include waffles, a vegetarian Spanish breakfast and an antioxidant power breakfast to energise you.
Where: Chamiers Road
11. Hotel Safari:
While you might associate Chennai breakfast with vegetarian dishes, the city also has a number of old-fashioned restaurants that serve the city’s favourite non-vegetarian dishes. Safari Hotel in the Royapettah area serves popular dishes like egg appam, idiyappam (string hoppers) with attukal paya (trotters) and delicious chicken curry.
Location: Royapettah High Road.
12. Coffee Trotter:
Chennai’s unconditional love for filter coffee is well known. Coffee lovers in the city have also embraced global coffee, which new cafes like Coffee Trotters are capitalising on. Their second, larger outlet in Kotturpuram has the same compact menu with homemade favourites like Trotters Coffee and French toast.
Location: Link Road, Kottur Garden
Photo credit: Coffee Trotter
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