There is something calming about rooftop restaurants. Maybe it’s the open space, the canopy of stars, or just being above the glimmering city lights and traffic snarls. For many, it’s an escape from the regular humdrum. In Chennai, summer may be a constant, but the evenings — post the scorching months of April, May and June — get pleasant enough to sit outdoors and enjoy a meal or two; luckily the breeze comes for free. While Aqua, The Crown, Azzuri Bay, Boardwalk, Hablife Novella, The Pinnacle, Up North, Kefi… might be the frequented ones, there are a few lesser-known ones that whip up a killer mocktail and a mean kebab or two.
Rajputana
Once you get past the bumper-to-bumper traffic that leads to Koyambedu, head up to Rajputana and let a glass of ambi panna soothe you. Located in JP Hotel, opposite the CMBT, it gives you a bird’s eye view of the terminus and the hundreds of ant-sized passengers who mill about with their red, blue, black luggage, eagerly setting out or returning from a journey. You can also see the Metro Rail line that connects Koyambedu to Alandur. Keep an eye out for the train, because it arrives and departs noiselessly, like it’s on stealth mode. “We wanted to utilise this roof space and thought of setting up a rooftop restaurant. We are the only ones with this setting in this area,” says one of the hotel staff. If not the decent view, the bhutte ki kebab and multani tikki will make sure you plan a return here. And don’t leave till you’ve tried a serving of their creamy kulfi.
(1131, Inner Ring Road, Koyambedu)
Puran Da Dhaba
Located on the ninth floor of the Pride Hotel, this Punjabi restaurant has a street-style set-up. There’s a chaat stall with tangy pani puri, dahi puri and some delicious aloo tikkis redolent with ghee. Movie posters, a large picture of a truck, pickle jars and bulbous lights add to the charm of the place. The restaurant gives you a sweeping view of the often-choked Poonamallee High Road and a section of the Metro Rail construction site. It’s where you can sit and have a conversation over helpings of masala chaas; that’s till the live band takes over. The singers sing a mix of Hindi songs from the 70s to the late 90s. Their high notes are often interrupted by the blaring horns from the cars below. If carrying on a conversation seems impossible, fret not; just bite into those crisp piping-hot jalebis... all else can wait.
(216, EV R Periyar Salai, Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk)
Skyline
This restaurant may well be resuscitating Hotel Sangam and giving it a new breath of life. It’s their attempt to be hip and happening. Zayn Malik appears on a big screen. He creases his brows and sings ‘Like I Would’. It’s 5 p.m. and a bunch of friends are lounging at Skyline with glasses of sweet lime juice and sizzling steaks. The sundowner concept seems to be working fine for them. The view, however, is not the most spectacular. But with a yellow, almost dilapidated building in front, it appears like a movie set of the 80s, where an actor and actress could just surface any moment and break into a song and dance around those tall light poles.
(18/43, Hotel Sangam, Mannar Street, Opposite Bus Terminus,T. Nagar)
Cloud 9
Despite its peaceful setting, this place, on the sixth floor of the GLM Meridian hotel, often gets overshadowed by its loud cousin on the first floor — US 101. Interestingly, this restaurant is open from 11 a.m. They serve breakfast too. But during the day, there are few who prefer sitting under the bright sun — not unless they want to be baked like a cookie. The evenings are much nicer. There’s a steady, gentle breeze that playfully dishevels your tresses. But that’s all right, because here you can walk in wearing shorts and sliders and no one will care. All the attention here is on the poster boys of the menu — the vegetarian and non-vegetarian platters. Here’s a tip: come hungry.
(GLM Meridian hotel, 80 A, South Boag Road, Near Nandanam Signal,T. Nagar)
400 Degree F Barbeque
That’s the temperature at which the kebab is grilled. And right from there, it lands on your porcelain plate, all smoky and juicy with that irresistible aroma. At 400 Degree F Barbeque, they take their grills very seriously. The specialty is mutton shikampuri with honey paratha, and like a popular track on loop, this dish is almost always on demand. Located on the rooftop of Hotel Thulashi Park, this place is quite a find. It’s got its regular patrons who queue up, waiting to be seated outdoors. Though the place is open for lunch as well, the evenings are when a majority of the diners pour in, all wanting an outdoor seating. After all, who doesn’t enjoy the blue skies, the swaying trees and listening to flocks of birds returning home for the day.
(21, Periyar Salai, T. Nagar)
