On a gourmet cocktail trail in Chennai
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A decade ago in Chennai, bars were the exclusive prerogative of five-star hotels as they needed to sell rooms to serve liquor. Gradually, stand-alone cafés, restaurants and bars opened around town.
Tamil Nadu’s rise in tourism, the hectic IPL season and a new-found love for dining out have brought international flavour and competitive fervour. The best premium cocktail experiences are still in five-stars alongside a handful of stand-alone bars and restobars. Some have visionary concepts, others have mindfully curated drinks around gourmet menus and a few captivate with a world-class cocktail experience.
Cutting-edge drink at KOOX—Rooftop Asian Grill & Bar
It’s a sophisticated rooftop space with an alfresco area by the pool and cocktails that pay homage to the Japanese-forward menu. Mixologist Kalayarasan Baskar has crafted special oriental drinks for the fifth anniversary celebration in September with options such as Red Fire Margarita with Thai red chilli, Senpai with sous vide gin and fresh cucumbers, among others. Some favourites from their regular menu include Mango Bite (Tequila, Sake, mango yogurt, cardamom tincture, alphonso mango Sorbet), Yuzu Picante (Tequila, Cointreau, cilantro, jalapeno and yuzu) and Truffle Scented Old Fashioned (Truffle infused whiskey, washed maple, aromatic bitter with oleo saccharum).
Most say it’s difficult to find better cocktails in the city. Price for two starts at ₹4000 Cocktails under palm trees at Sunset Grill
The atmospheric rooftop bar with palms on the terrace by the pool is reminescent of Dubai. Their reinvented cocktail menu, that launched in July, is conceptualised by mixologist Subham Chakraborty.
