Hood Food: The Chennai Guide – 4 Great Hotels in Guindy To Visit This Weekend

Besides being close to the airport and being an integral part of the city of Chennai, Guindy is home to some local landmarks as well – the most famous amongst them is the Guindy National Park — the only National Park in the country within city limits. During the British Raj, Guindy was a spacious and elegant country home on the outskirts of Madras (as the city was known then) and nearby were a golf course, riding stables and the Guindy Horse Racing Track.

Other iconic landmarks of the area are the Guindy Race Course, Raj Bhavan, Anna University, IIT Madras and Cancer Institute. It is also home to many international hotels as well, making it a hub of activity and excitement.

The hotels in the area are not easy on your wallet, but their service and their restaurants make it worth your while. From fine dining to rooftop bars and a poolside view of the city of Chennai, these hotels in Guindy are a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Choose to eat healthier or indulge in delicious foods from the North of India, but whatever it is you’re eating you are in for an absolutely treat every single time.

ITC Grand Chola

ITC Grand Chola is a luxury hotel and also one of the largest stand-alone hotels in the country. It’s also one of the few hotels in the country with nine restaurants and bars under one roof. Cafe Mercara Express is their all day coffee shop serving you regular food as well as coffee and tea time snacks. Madras Pavilion is a fine dining restaurant that has a variety of cuisines to choose from. While Peshwari is their North Indian and Mughlai restaurant and Pan Asian is their Pan-Asian restaurant which covers Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines. Royal Vega is their pure vegetarian North Indian restaurant and Ottimo Cucina Italiana is their Italian restaurant. They also have two bars – The Cheroot Malt & Cigar Lounge and Tranquebar – and a bakery called Nutmeg. Everything you could want, is right here under one roof.

Park Hyatt

Like other Hyatt’s around the world, the Park Hyatt is a luxury hotel set in a fantastic location with restaurants that are completely different from what you’re used to. Their main restaurant The Flying Elephant is a multi-storied restaurant within the hotel that serves multiple cuisines. The first of its kind in the country, it offers diners the flexibility of experience and cuisine from a selection of global gastronomies that originate from the kitchens of gourmands & gourmets of countries across the world. And they have The Dining Room, which is their all-day dining restaurant, focusing on familiar and local cuisines, using ethnicity, culture and passion with set menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Hilton Chennai

At the Hilton Chennai, you can experience different kinds of cuisine. From Pan-Indian cuisine at Ayna, showcasing flavours from all over the country which includes great wine recommendations to go with the food you’re eating. Or Est, their 24-hour diner which includes of a bakery section with handmade chocolates, snacks and pastries to choose from with your coffee or tea. Stop by Q Bar, their rooftop bar in the evenings to enjoy your drinks and live music under the starry night sky. They also have a wine and cheese bar, Vintage Bank, where you can choose from a large selection of wines and cheese from around the world. And finally Vasco’s, their all day restaurant is perfect for the family and also a delicious Sunday brunch.

Hablis

Hablis Hotel is a new kind of luxury experience with a great collection of restaurants to choose from, including an Irish-themed bar The Moon & Sixpence which is one of a kind in the city of Chennai. They have alcohol from around the world, live music and a pool table, and the entire pub is set up to look like a pub from Ireland. There’s also Hablife Spice, their restaurant that serves Indian cuisine with signature blends of spices and flavours. They have Novella Cuisine which is a healthier way of life – “that of transforming the human community to a healthier state through a culinary experience that ‘educates and elevates’” – blending healthy cooking with delicious food. And finally their boulangerie and confectionary, Hearth, featuring baked goods made from locally sourced ingredients.