Remember the old joke, “My wife and I have the secret to making a marriage last. Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, a little wine, good food…..She goes Tuesdays; I go Fridays!” Well, wedding anniversaries, valentine’s days and birthdays are special days deserving a more than ordinary celebration. Here are a few places in Chennai which can add zing to your special days –

1. Taj fisherman’s cove, Off ECR in Kovalam –

A short drive away from the city, this Taj property offers a great retreat from a busy city. Built on the ramparts of an old Dutch Fort, it is nestled on the Bay of Bengal and is a scenic treat. The tranquil ambience couples with a variety of culinary choices. My favourite is Bay view restaurant with a romantic setting of candle light tables facing the sea and lavish spread of sea food. Live music streaming in adds the silver lining to this beautiful experience with your loved one.

2. ITC Grand Chola, Guindy –

One of the largest hotels in Asia, this property in the heart of Chennai, leaves you mesmerized by its grandeur, palatial size, beautiful chandeliers and royal feel. This hotel is a tribute to the imperial Cholas and you can see it reflected in the architecture and experience. Grand Chola offers many restaurants to choose from, the popular ones being Pan Asian and Madras pavilion. Pan Asian is known for its Asian delicacies and Sunday brunches. Madras pavilion has interesting seating where you can opt for the love seat and enjoy a lavish buffet spread

3. M bessy, Adyar –

You can catch a few drinks in their bar with the DJ playing good international music. Then wind up your evening with a quiet dinner in their restaurant. They have a variety of innovative Mexican, Italian and continental dishes to choose from and each is prepared and presented in a non- routine manner. The ambience has an embassy like feel with a giant piano placed right at the entrance. They promise to make your day an “unforgettable one” with Chef coming to your table to recommend dishes for your special meal.

4. Park Hyatt, Guindy –

This is another fantastic hotel in the middle of the city offering a luxury dining experience. Their restaurant, Flying elephant, provides a multi-cuisine menu offering one of the largest variety of dishes in this city. They have a live DJ and the servers often break out into a spontaneous rhythmic dance along with the music. The restaurant has a family vibe. It is called the best vertical diner of India with five live stations spread across six floors.

5. The Raintree, Alwarpet –

Chap Chay is an amazing Asian dining experience in this hotel. The ambience, cutlery and music will transport you from Chennai to China. This place offers a unique experience whereby the Chef will make a visit to your table and concoct a customized stir fried bowl for you with the ingredients you want. Their Asian delicacies are par excellence.

6. Taj club house, Anna salai –

For another luxurious experience, you can consider this Taj hotel in the middle of the city. There are many restaurants to choose from but we picked Kefi for our anniversary dinner. It offers Mediterranean cuisine and is located on the rooftop by the pool. It is the ideal romantic setting to enjoy the soothing evening sea breeze. The ambience goes hand in hand with the cuisine and you get a fantastic view of the beautiful city from here. The outdoor area with candle light tables provides the perfect setting for a special evening with a special someone.

7. Bombay brassiere, Nungambakkam & Adyar –

This restaurant offers modern Indian cuisine in an ancient villa converted to a restaurant. Each table is contained in a separate room thereby giving you unparalleled privacy along with excellent food. It has vintage furniture with a Bombay feel. The dishes are inspired from all over India with delicious flavours to suit every palette. This restaurant takes you on a re-discovery of India with experimental dishes created with Indian ingredients and flavours.

8. Amethyst, Royapettah –

In case you decide to go for a café experience instead of a proper meal, Amethyst is the place. With outdoor tables along the sweeping veranda or amidst greenery, you will feel like sitting in your private garden. It’s a serene romantic place. It can be an ideal setting for spending quality time with each other, in the middle of a busy day in a busy city.

Pick one of these places and have a great celebration. Food is the symbol of love when words are inadequate. The setting and ambience of these places surely make for a special day, while the secret ingredient will still be love.

This article was first published on Momspresso (erstwhile mycity4kids).