Dating spots in Chennai are awesome indeed!
Chennai is widely perceived as a ‘conservative’ city and dating is still a new concept in Chennai. However, things are changing rapidly!
Young men and women in Chennai are trying their luck through dating apps and there are plenty of apps to choose from.
People relocating to Chennai from other cities as well as expats working for the many multinational companies may find things difficult when it comes to even choosing the right place to go on a date.
Fear not, Chennai is packed with awesome places to go on a date.
Here is why dating spots in Chennai are awesome!
- Chennai is blessed with a coastline with acres of beaches!
- Chennai’s warm weather makes it an ideal outdoor place.
- Chennai has a long list of amusem*nt parks and resorts that dot its coastline.
- There is no dearth of restaurants and hangout spots no matter what your budget is.
- There are truly unique towns and trendy places to check out in and around Chennai.
We have picked the 19 best dating spots in Chennai for a perfect date! Here is the list.
1. Theosophical Society
This is a great place if you are a nature lover. Lots of greenery and trees to “get lost” from the prying crowds! The drawback is that it is open only for limited hours during the day. Entry is free and you need to park somewhere outside. This place is by far the best among all the dating spots in Chennai if you can stay on top of when they keep the park open!
2. Beaches
Marina is the oldest and a well-known spot for cosying up with your love interest. The only disadvantage is that you can never get away from the hawkers selling “sundal” (steamed legumes with Indian spices and coconut). Be wary of the cultural police or sometimes cops out to enforce Indian traditions.
Elliot beach is supposed to be less crowded compared to Marina beach, this location has also caught up in terms of the number of visitors. A slightly upmarket crowd compared to Marina beach. Watch out for elderly couples and men looking out to enforce Indian traditions and culture.
3. Besant Nagar
Besant Nagar is a residential place adjoining Elliot’s beach. There are plenty of restaurants catering to every budget. In addition, there are coffee shops and ice cream places if you would like to keep it simple on a first date. The advantage of Besant Nagar is that you can combine a visit to Elliot’s beach with a dinner date or just stroll along the tree-lined avenues. Some streets are more crowded than others. The funny thing is even in secluded streets, you will find security guards sitting outside the gates of the palatial homes they are supposed to be guarding!
4. Dakshina Chitra
Dakshina Chitra is also located on the East Coast road adjoining the sea. This is a mini Disneyland for South Indian culture and lifestyle. You have replicas of different styles of homes from south India, art and even artists selling their wares. A great place to discover culture in a serene and calm surrounding! Dakshin Chitra will give you both plenty of opportunity to bond in the midst of exquisite art and architecture.
5. Amethyst Cafe
Chennai has its share of chic and trendy cafes that provide a great setting for a date. The Amethyst Cafe in the heart of the city is an oasis of greenery that not only serves food but also sells cool stuff from leading fashion designers in India. They even have a flower shop! This is an ideal place to take your date and spend a few hours forgetting the fact that you are in Chennai!
6. Cholamandal Artists Village
As the name suggests, this is an artist village also located not far from Dakshin Chitra. You will find plenty of artwork here and the entry fee is also practically free. There is free parking to boot. However, this place is heaven only for the art lover. If both of you are not into art, you will be in and out in a jiffy. A great place to show off your artistic knowledge.
7. Muttukadu
How about some boating to get some alone time? Actually, you may not be all that alone as there will be other boats around you. But if you are adventurous, you can hire the aqua scooters and zip around the lake that is connected to the Bay of Bengal. A couple of hours at Muttukadu can get you hungry before you head out for lunch or dinner. Remember to avoid boating during the hot summer.
8. Pulicat Lake
This is the second largest brackish water lake in India and has a bird sanctuary. Get yourself a pair of binoculars if you would like to watch birds! Make sure you pack some food and water as there aren’t any restaurants in this area. You can hire a boat from the local fishermen and enjoy the sunset while enjoying the boat ride.
9. Surfing Lessons in Covelong
There is no better way to break the ice and know your date intimately by taking up a challenging task together. There are a couple of surf schools in Covelong (a short drive from Chennai) that offer short courses for beginners as well as advanced multi-day courses. They are not cheap (upwards of Rs.1000) but is well worth the time! Check out their websites – here and here.
10. Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is a short drive from Chennai on the way to Pondicherry. Here is a great description of what you will find here.
It has a group of sanctuaries, which was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries: rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air rock reliefs such as the famous Descent of the Ganges, and the Shore Temple, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
11. Taj Fisherman’s Cove
The legendary Fisherman’s Cove is not for the budget-minded couple! If you have deep pockets, then look no further than the Fisherman’s Cove. There are world-class restaurants that serve you amazing food on the beach and to top it all, there are live shows. Because this is a private resort, you will have acres of clean beach all for yourself.
12. Sport Fishing
Sport fishing is a great option for an exciting and adventurous date! There are a couple of companies that offer sport fishing trips. They have modern boats and all the accessories you will need and they will also arrange light snacks for you on the high seas if you book in advance. You can book 2-hour or even 8-hour trips depending on how serious you are with fishing. A 2-hour boat ride and fishing should be good enough for a date though. Beware of sea sickness! If you are both adventurous, sport fishing in Chennai is a must! Among the best dating spots in Chennai if you enjoy the adrenaline rush.
13. St. Thomas Mount
This is a great place for a date if the two of you have tucked in a heavy meal at a restaurant and you want to continue the date and at the same time burn some calories! Located close to the airport, St Thomas Mount has a church on top. You can take the stairs for a nice workout and once you get up the hill soak in the views of Chennai or enjoy the beautiful sunset! You should count St. Thomas Mount among the best dating spots in Chennai if all you want is a heart to heart conversation.
14. Egmore Museum
The Egmore Museum is at the heart of the city and is a great place to get away from the crowds! During the weekday, you will have plenty of privacy to admire art and also get to know your date. The entry fee is next to nothing. Avoid going there on hot days as the air conditioning at the museum is not up to the job! The Egmore museum will count among the best dating spots in Chennai as it is close to a huge selection of restaurants at a walkable distance in case you have to take a break.
15. Anna Zoological Park
This is closer to Tambaram, a suburb along the Grand Trunk Road which is a National Highway that takes you to South Tamil Nadu. You will have plenty of space to walk around the zoo or even hire rickety bicycles to check out the vast zoo. If you ignore the rather poor facilities (read clean toilets and lack of proper restaurants), it’s a great place to talk and get to know someone. The entry fee is affordable (Rs.30 per person) and you will be asked to pay Rs.25 if you are carrying a camera or a mobile phone that has a camera.
16. Amusem*nt Parks
There are plenty of amusem*nt parks in Chennai along the coast as well as along the Chennai – Bangalore highway. They are not comparable to the Disney Worlds or Universal Kingdoms of the world. However, they provide a convenient place to just chill out, spend some quality time together, and if you are done talking, enjoy some of the rides. Queens Land, VGP Universal Kingdom, MGM Dizzee World, and Kishkinta are some of the popular amusem*nt parks. The entry fee could range from upwards of Rs.200 per person.
17. Malls and Multiplexes
Interestingly, Chennai was once the retail capital of India and still continues to be a leading centre for retail businesses. The mall culture came to Chennai way back in the 1990s with the Spencer Plaza opening its door. While Spencer Plaza now resembles an abandoned relic, the mall culture in Chennai has gained a lot of traction with mega malls like Express Avenue and Phoenix Market City.
These malls boast international restaurant chains and world class multiplexes and are by far the most pleasant dating spots in Chennai with air-conditioned comfort! Not a bad idea if you have a date during the weekday.
18. Luz Avenue, Mylapore
Luz Avenue in Mylapore is an underrated place and won’t find a place in any of the lists that mention places to go on a date. Here is why we think Luz Avenue should be on this list.
Smack in the middle of Luz Avenue is Nageshwar Rao Park. It’s a public park and entry is free. Surprisingly, it’s fairly well maintained and is a little oasis of green right in the heart of the city. It has a 0.5 kilometres walking track meandering around trees and plants with plenty of places for lovers to hang out.
Luz Avenue also intersects both TTK Road and CP Ramaswamy Road. There are plenty of fine dining, chic cafes, and stalls that serve a wide variety of cuisines dotting this area. So finding a place to grab something to eat is a breeze.
Of course, there is the historic Church of Our Lady of Light and the Kabaleeshwar Temple if you two are the spiritual type!
19. Private places in Chennai that you can visit with your girlfriend or boyfriend
While all of the above locations are already popular among dating couples who want to hang out, here are some exclusive, “secret” places in Chennai that you might not have heard of!
Consider renting a cosy homestay through Airbnb! Interestingly, you will find hidden gems located in good neighbourhoods with gracious hosts on Airbnb. With no one to bother you and your sweetheart, you can spend all the time you want in a relaxed setting. Click here to start a search.
Stroll through the Boat Club road. The Boat Club road is located at the intersection of Cenotaph Road and TTK Road and is one of the toniest neighbourhoods of Chennai. It has plenty of tree-lined avenues and most importantly, is free from the hustle and bustle of traffic and crowds. It’s a great place to have a heart to heart conversations as you walk past multi-million Dollar homes!
Enjoy the solitude inside IIT Madras! Hidden inside the sprawling campus of IIT Madras is a 60-hectare wilderness zone. It is home to rare species of flora and fauna. Don’t be surprised if you are ambushed by a herd of deer as you walk through the lush green forest! This is a great place for a couple to spend some lonely time. However, getting in requires registration at the gate in advance.
Go to the main entrance of the IIT Madras campus and ask for a walking pass. Complete the formalities online and then you are all set. Complete the formalities ahead of time.
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