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Chennai has some fine pubs & lounge bars. Here is a list and some we recommend but not necessarily in that order.  ( = we recommend) 
CHIPSTEAD   the new bar at Taj Coramandel, Nungambakkam.  Great range of cocktails, reasonably priced, great service. But the side eats menu is very limited, the music too loud and boring.  
         
OPM at the Accord Metropolitan, GN Chetty road, T.Nagar. (NEW)
         
10 DOWNING ST , North Boag Rd, T.Nagar. 
If you are looking for a pub with action, it is definitely 10 Downing St ..in T.Nagar.  It is a large place with English pub style interiors. There is also a separate seating area for groups & couples (only in Chennai) with comfortable couches. The pub also has karaoke nights on Thursday, The pub opens for buffet lunch around noon and closes sharp around 11 pm. 
       
RHAPSODY, Lounge at the Marriott 
    
HAVANA at the Rain Tree
  
PROVOGUE @ Park Sheraton. The lounge has been made out in the same place where the old Gatsby 2000 used to be. Gone are the shabby & dull interiors, the new look lounge is minimalist in design, with nice soft lighting.   The twin level lounge has a big bar on the ground floor stocked with fine spirits, it also has  small bar on the upper level. The bar has fireman's pole running down from the upper level, this is often used by the bar tenders as the fastest way down.  The music is good,  the crowd is minimal, there's lots of space but the drinks especially the cocktail mixes are lousy. Its a great place if u like to lounge around, hangout with a snob crowd. 
         
DISTIL The new 'high energy' bar at the Taj Connemara.  The place is crowded, the ambience is ok, the music is not bad. The quiet area reserved for business guests sucks!. Short eats are expensive and minimal portions are served. 
         
ZARA  The Spanish Tapas pub -  The tapas pub is the first of its kind in Chennai. The pub serves a wide variety of tapas ( short eats) which are popular servings in Spanish pubs and to wash all that down, there is wide variety of cocktails. Cocktails are the preferred drink of customers at Zara's. The ambience is just right for those long session of drinks with your friends, Interiors have been done to good taste with a touch of Spanish inspiration. Zara's can easily seat more than 100 people at a time. The tapas served were quite good but a tad expensive  considering the portion. We must say this pub is a welcome change to the usual English styled pubs. If you are wondering about the cost of liquor at the Spanish pub its definitely more reasonable than the so called Irish pub in the city.  
         
BIKE & BARREL - The watering hole at the new Residency hotel is styled after pubs in England. The pub is laid out in 2 tiers with a large seating capacity.  If you are a stag (single males) you are politely asked to move to the upper section,  highly discriminatory and happens only in Chennai.  

 The interior is completely wooden to give that warm feeling but the seats could have been a little more comfortable. The walls of the pubs are decorated with souvenirs from English pubs. There is a genuine 1950 English motorcycle on display suspended from the ceiling. For sports buffs there are 2 large plasma TV screens to catch their favorite games but am sure you will find more interesting things to watch.     

 On weekend nights this place is rocking. So If u want be part of the fun, get there early.  Don't be surprised if you find people dancing in the aisles. Over all the experience is reasonable, service is ok and liquor prices bearable.  The best part about the place....the music is really good and loud! 
           
LEATHER BAR - Great place to chill out on Friday nights & week nights too. On the downside the bar is definitely more expensive than the others that means you pay a hell of a lot for good old ' Golden Eagle' or  'Sand Piper'.    

 The place attracts the city's social elite. Here you run into COO's of IT companys, film personalities and other important people. If you wanna network while relaxing then this is the right place to be. After a few drinks if you feel like shaking a leg just walk over to Pasha night club. 
               
THE LOUNGE @ Savera  is a low profile bar, Its got a live band playing in the evenings.The best seats would be outside, lovely breeze, calm & no cigarette smoke. They also some serve some amazing pizza's but you got to wait 20-25 minutes for one. The service is poor.  
       
SPARKS -  a big pub, well laid out & spacious, doubles as a discotheque on Saturday nights, beverage prices are reasonable too.. 
 
 ZODIAC bar at the Accord Metropolitan hotel on GN Chetty road, T.Nagar 
   
SPEED - At the Madras International ( closed for renovation)
     
GEOFFREY'S at the Radha Park Inn Hotel, on the koyammbedu ring road. The pub is targeted as a place to meet and party for young adults. In addition to serving draught beer and other kinds of liquor, Geoffrey's is also bringing to Chennai its signature recipes. This includes murg banno kabab, prawn wheels, crispy mushroom Hong Kong style and vegetable wantons. The service is good, the prices are reasonable for the place and the music is good too. 
  
The other watering holes, not much action but decent places you could go for a drink...
ANCHOR BAR - Taj Fishermen Cove 
  
DOME - Le Royal Meridien, GST Rd, St.Thomas Mount.
BAMBOO BAR - Savera, Radhakrishnan Salai.
  
DURRANTS - Chola sheraton, Cathedral Rd.
 
ARCOT - The Trident, GST Rd
   
FORT St.GEORGE - Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam High Rd.
 
MARITIME TALES - GRT Temple Bay Mahabalipuram.
    
WESTMINSTER - Park Sheraton Hotel, T.T.K. Road