On my recent trip to Chennai, my friend Sridhar introduced me to a coffee shop that I can only equate to being an oasis in a desert. After spending an entire morning outside in the Chennai sun (whose heat you actually have to experience to believe it) I was at my snappy best, when Sridhar suggested that we visit the Amethyst Café.
This Café is built-in an old building (was earlier a mill) and situated right in the middle of a bustling section of the city. However when I walked in into the Cafe, it felt like having time travelled into an another era altogether. This café has been beautifully designed as a colonial style building in the center – with round tables & wicker chairs, and a huge garden all around it. The gardens are beautifully designed with numerous trees, smaller zen gardens, fountains, numerous birds and even has an in-house cat. Though the café is right in the city center with traffic all around, somehow this café seems insulated to all the noise, chaos and general city sounds.
We reached here around 3pm (afternoon) which I believe is the best time to visit. We entered the Café and chose to sit outside in the gardens amidst the trees instead of the covered corridor. Even though there is no aircon here, the temperature here was definitely much lower than outside as we sat comfortably for quite a few hours and did not miss the aircon or a fan. We ordered a couple of rounds of coffee and brownies and they were both really nice. However the best part was that we just sat here for 4 – 5 hours and didn’t even realize the time. Also, this seemed like an ideal place to even spend hours by yourself just people gazing or reading a book or working.
Numerous people tell me that their earlier building was in a colonial building which was better. But I loved this one too. Apart from the café, they also have a flower shop, an antiques store and a boutique for fashion clothes and accessories. However I didn’t shop here as I felt it was quite expensive.
My verdict on the cafe is –
Things that I really liked about the Café –
- Beautifully designed and created ambience right in the city center.
- You can sit here as long as you like and no one will disturb you or drop hints to leave.
- The service is pretty quick.
The not so nice things about the Café –
- It’s definitely an expensive place.
- The menu is pretty limited and I felt needs more variety.
In case you plan to be in Chennai anytime soon and are looking for some respite from the city views, then do visit the Amethyst Café at Entrance, Next to Corporation Bank, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai-600 014. 🙂
Based on a Chennai resident’s suggestion, we went to the Amethyst Cafe in Chennai. Loved the place, although, yes, I must agree that I found it to be expensive.
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It definitely is expensive 🙂 Did you try any food here?
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Yes, we did! I remember that everything that we tried tasted good :). Unfortunately, I do not remember what “everything” was.
(This was about a couple of years ago…)
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🙂
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I’ve started to think differently about limited menus since Giles Coren (Times of London food critic) held it up as something he always looks for to try and assess whether a place will serve good quality food. Apparently short menus are correlated with specialisation and high standards? In his experience around England at least! Anyway, I thought it was an interesting take and it gave me food for thought.
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Thats an interesting point and I had never thought of limited menus with that logic. But I don’t think that is the case here.
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I have been to Chennai many moons ago, when it was still Madras…loved it, but didn’t have much free time due to business commitments. Would love to go back to India, as well as Goa on the west coast…thanks for sharing this lovely spot!
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Thanks. And both these places are beautiful in their own ways. Also, if you have time do try and visit Kerala and Rajasthan too 🙂
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I would’ve loved to known about this cafe when I was in chennai. I will have to agree with you and the heat in Chennai though!
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Lol 🙂
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Once again honoured to be mentioned here! 🙂
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As i said you shall be mentioned in all Chennai posts 🙂
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I am really looking forward to visiting this cafe in October. I have visited their sister store in Pondicherry called Caravelle. Thank you for this great post.
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Hey, thanks. I haven’t been to Caravelle but heard that amazing too 🙂
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You would love it…visit it when you are next in Pondicherry 🙂
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Sue. Thanks 🙂
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Enjoyed article on the Amethyst Cafe. Are there any other places you’d suggest to eat in Chennai, in Tamil Nadu or Neelangarai?
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Hey, i’ll check on this and let you know 🙂
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Being in Chennai, I’m yet to visit the place 😦 Will sure visit this weekend.
Beautiful pictures 🙂
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Hey, let me know your thoughts on it then 🙂
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I like the idea of blogging about vegetarian restaurants while you travel! I think I’ll add that to things I post about.
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Thanks and it helps other vegetarians on their travels too 🙂
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What a great find. I have not traveled to this city but you never know where life will take you. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Thanks for the kind words 🙂
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