NEIGHBOURHOOD 05 / CHENNAI

Besant Nagar

பெசன்ட் நகர்

Beach walks & sea breeze

Start with a good bite. Stay for the beach and an unhurried evening.

The white Karl Schmidt Memorial on Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar

Karl Schmidt Memorial

13 places to explore

COFFEE, CONVERSATION & SOMETHING SWEET

Cafés

08

01 / 03

01

The sandwich plan

Panino

Besant Nagar

A sandwich specialist built around focaccia, ciabatta and house-made spreads, with build-your-own options.

GO FOR

Quack Quack duck sandwich · Custom sandwiches

02

Cold brew, all the way

Only Cold Brew

Besant Nagar

A cold-brew specialist in a beachside setting, with playful drinks beyond the usual iced coffee.

GO FOR

Coco Tonic · Butterscotch Brew Bliss

03

Make a day of it

Play Bae Café

Besant Nagar

Board games and ceramic painting turn your café visit into a plan for the whole group.

GO FOR

Board games · Ceramic painting · Café food

04

A proper café meal

Qua

Besant Nagar

A neighbourhood dining pick for a more substantial café meal, with Italian and Korean flavours.

GO FOR

Mushroom risotto · Korean crispy chicken

05

Upstairs & unhurried

Brews & Beyond

7th Avenue, Besant Nagar

An upstairs café with indoor seating for a relaxed catch-up or a change of work scenery.

GO FOR

A relaxed coffee break · Indoor café seating

06

Coffee break chapter

Writer’s Café

3rd Avenue, Besant Nagar

Pizzas, pasta and Italian café food at a familiar stop that suits a longer visit.

GO FOR

Pizza · Pasta · A work-friendly setting

07

A familiar brew

Third Wave Coffee

4th Main Road, Besant Nagar

A coffee-focused stop using Indian-grown beans across its menu, near the beach circuit.

GO FOR

Coffee made with Indian-grown beans

08

Coffee & sea air

Starbucks — Elliot’s Promenade

Elliot’s Beach, Besant Nagar

The promenade location is the draw: an easy coffee stop to combine with a walk by the beach.

GO FOR

Your usual Starbucks order · A beachside outing

WHEN A PROPER MEAL IS THE PLAN

Restaurants

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02

Continental comfort food

Jonah’s Bistro

2nd Avenue, Besant Nagar

A sit-down bistro for Continental and Asian plates after a wander around the neighbourhood.

GO FOR

Panko chicken · Veg stroganoff · Cajun fries

03

Wood-fired pizza

The Fat Boy

15/3, 4th Main Road, Besant Nagar

Wood-fired sourdough pizzas at the Besant Nagar branch, ideal for a shared meal before a beach walk.

GO FOR

Neapolitan-style pizza · A table to share

WALKS, CULTURE & TIME WELL SPENT

Places to hang out

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02

Movement & arts

SPACES / Mandapakalari

1, Elliot’s Beach Road, Besant Nagar

A beach-road venue associated with movement practice, classes and events. Check the current programme before visiting.

MAKE A PLAN FOR

A class · A scheduled event

Check the programme and any booking requirements.

Location photo: Karl Schmidt Memorial · Saptakatha / Wikimedia Commons

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