Southern Spice

Southern Spice at the Taj Coromandel hotel on Mahatma Gandhi Road is a landmark of fine dining in Chennai with an unbroken culinary legacy stretching back to 1974, making it one of India’s longest-standing restaurant institutions. The restaurant serves as a living tribute to the culinary heritage of India’s four southern states, with a menu that reflects the breadth and depth of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka traditions. The setting is breathtaking, designed to evoke the grandeur of a royal ballroom, with heavy temple columns, original murals, gilded accents, and a soaring carved ceiling under which a central cupola serves as a stage for live musicians who perform traditional melodies throughout service. The kitchen team, led by executive chef Sujan Mukherjee, works to preserve time-honoured recipes sourced through extensive research into traditional cookbooks and community kitchens across the south. The seafood thalis, Chettinad preparations, Malabar dishes, and the organic, slow-cooked vegetarian offerings each tell a distinct regional story. Silver palm-shaped platters, wood-carved pillars, and candlelit tables all contribute to an atmosphere of understated splendour. Southern Spice was named Best Hotel Restaurant in India for 2024 by the World Culinary Awards’ predecessor recognition, and it continues to be regarded as a mandatory stop for discerning food lovers visiting Chennai.