East Coast Road, or ECR, is popularly called a state highway connecting Chennai with Mahabalipuram, Cuddalore, Pondicherry, etc. It is known for its scenic roads and long drives, which serve as a perfect getaway from the busy city life. Almost every other highway leads you to the shores of the beautiful Bay of Bengal, where you can spend a quiet and peaceful evening. ECR is a favorite spot for a fun weekend with many resorts, amusement parks, beaches, and, most importantly, amazing cafes/restaurants. It has so much to offer, from aromatic coffee to continental cuisine.
1.Brod Bakery
A small Scandinavian-inspired bakery/café located at Vettuvankinni ECR. A cute spot for a quick catch-up with friends over coffee, freshly made bread, and pastries. It’s a perfect place to have a laid breakfast or even a quick coffee stop during a long drive. Some of their signature dishes are Tosca cake, Chicken pesto sandwich, and Kladdkaka.
Locations: Get Direction
2.The Mayflower
Are you bored of the usual indoor setup of a restaurant? Are you looking for a new ambiance to enjoy your food? The Mayflower might be exactly where you should drop in. A beautiful outdoor seating space by the pool is a great choice to enjoy your meal with your group. They are known for their KhowSuey – a noodle soup dish in a coconut milk broth.
Locations: Get Direction
3.Hibiscus Café
Located right on the highway, a spacious and picturesque restaurant with lip-smacking food. They offer a wide range of continental and Pan Asian cuisine. The outlet also has an organic food store, kitchenware store, and event space. The portion of food served does justice to the price.
Locations: Get Direction
4.Asvah 24
Tucked away near the beach with a calm and serene setup that includes options of candlelight dinners under the stars, outdoor seating near the pool, or overlooking the beach, Asvah is an experience by itself. They also have musical nights happening now and then—a perfect place for celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.
Locations: Get Direction
5.Kipling Café
A garden seating themed restaurant with great atmosphere and known for its hospitality. The café is most recommended to visit during the evening as one can enjoy a great time with the cold sea breeze and fine dining experience. A nice secluded place to relax and catch up with friends and family. They also have an in-house bar that is always packed with local favorites.
Locations: Get Direction
6.Drizzle By The Beach
As the names suggest it’s a restaurant overlooking the beach. Another place with nicely done interiors and live music. Offers both indoor and outdoor rooftop seating options. A prior table reservation is encouraged as the site gets easily crowded, especially on the weekends. The cost of the two is around Rs.1000 ( without alcohol), and they serve Continental, North Indian, and Italian dishes.
Locations: Get Direction
7.Kokommo Tiki Shack
Located in InterContinental Chennai near Mahabalipuram, Kokommo Tiki Shack gives you classic Goa vibes as soon as you enter. Situated right on the beach, with pretty lighting, live old-school music, and the sound of waves, this place is a must-visit in the ECR. Offering a wide range of mocktails and cocktails, some delicious finger food and a stroll along the beach is a great way to spend your weekend.
Locations: Get Direction
8.Thoondil The Family Restaurant
A restaurant well known for its wide range of seafood. Thoondil is a great choice for dining for seafood lovers. What makes it special is that it is a live seafood restaurant where you can choose your fish or other available seafood, which will be freshly picked and cooked for you.
Locations: Get Direction
9.Meraki – Progessive Diner
Another garden-themed restaurant will transport you to the garden cafes of Auroville. Meraki is quite popular to dine in for brunch as it opens at 11 am. Their menu is constructed on the theme of fusion food. Meraki has so many to offer if you are on the lookout to try new types of fusion dishes.
Locations: Get Direction
10.Gossip Bristo Desset Bar
A place to sit down and gossip with friends over some amazing food. Gossip Bristo is another famous hangout spot in ECR. They are known to have a fusion twist to the food they serve. Being a dessert bar, the place has some great dessert options. The crowd’s favorite is their Tender Coconut mousse and Tres leches.
Locations: Get Direction
11.Coffee Crush
A bliss for Coffee lovers is what Coffee Crush is. Perfect for a quick coffee stop during your drive or catching up with friends over coffee. This place has both indoor and outdoor seating. A relatively new outlet in ECR but is catching up quickly with the people. They are open from 11 am to 11 pm.
Locations: Get Direction
12.Tryst Café
Another popular place in ECR, Tryst Café, is in Gatsby Village. A garden café that hits you with the smell of freshly baked goodies as soon as you enter. Read some books from their little library setup while you wait for your order, or visit their bakery for some pick-me-ups you can enjoy along the drive or back home. They have a strong European vibe with a delicious breakfast menu and desserts.
Locations: Get Direction
13.East Coast At Madras Square
A great dining destination with a good ambiance and delicious food. They are known as a place for having a nice romantic dinner with loved ones. They offer Italian, Continental, Asian, and North Indian cuisines. The restaurant has free wifi and a live sports screening facility. So for all sports enthusiasts, this is a great place to watch matches with friends over great food and drinks.
Locations: Get Direction
14.Virndhu
A budget-friendly restaurant offering dishes from South Indian, Chinese, and Continental cuisine. Their menu has buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant has a very South Indian setup. The food is served in traditional utensils to give the whole traditional South Indian dining experience—a nice place to spend quality time with family.
Locations: Get Direction
15.Mascarpone
A lovely outdoor restaurant along the East Coast road specializes in Italian and Thai dishes. The greenery and the lights at night amp up the atmosphere and make it a memorable experience accompanied by their tasty food, good music, fast service, and friendly staff. They also have live sports screening.
Locations: Get Direction
16.Sea Thru Diner
Another cozy restaurant along the bay, Sea Thru Diner, is inside the VGP Universal Kingdom. The restaurant is open only for dinner service with some lip-smacking food. They have indoor seating and provide private dining options on the beach with prior reservations made.
Locations: Get Direction
17.Bayroot
Surrounded by lush greenery, Bayroot is a multi-cuisine restaurant. Their menu includes vegan, Asian, Middle Eastern, and many more options to dine from. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available. The restaurant recommends making reservations, especially for the weekend, as the crowd is packed.
Locations: Get Direction
18.Surf Turf
Situated in the premises of a surf school in Covelong Point, it has a soothing ambiance overlooking the sea to enjoy food with the view of waves, kayaks, and people surfing. The restaurant also functions as a Bed and Breakfast unit with rooms to stay overnight. The place is well known for its English breakfast with vegan options.
Locations: Get Direction
19.Upper Deck
A beachside restaurant situated inside Taj Fisherman’s Cove. It is one of the best places to indulge in Italian cuisine. The restaurant is known for its friendly staff, fantastic delicacies, and minimal yet chic ambiance, making the whole dining experience unique. Request a beach side table to make the entire visit more memorable.
Locations: Get Direction
20.Bhangra
A small restaurant located in the food street in ECR has a menu mainly based on North Indian and Mughlai cuisine. They have a wide variety of vegetarian and nonvegetarian options. They are known for serving authentic Punjabi food. The staff is courteous, and the service is pretty quick.
Locations: Get Direction
