Signature Experiences at Taj Connemara, Chennai

The Taj Connemara Afternoon Tea Service is an elegant ode to the tradition of High Teas. Guests have a choice of three curated options featuring the classic combination of finger sandwiches, scones and an assortment of sweet and savoury pastries accompanied by clotted cream and a unique set of handcrafted chutneys. Served at the Lady Connemara Bar & Lounge in authentic crockery and specially designed charlies, the service will be introduced with a brief history of the tea.

An exclusive tour of old world Madras that takes you past many beautiful British-era buildings in Chennai. Madras was the very first city established by the British in India. The trail has many stories of grand ambitions, unexpected revolutions as well as some of the everyday life and struggles of that era. The trail introduces you to the people who lived their colourful lives in these grand structures.

Myriad influences and cultures have graced the city of Chennai, the Gateway to the South, and hence, the hotel. With a history of more than 200 years, the heritage walk traverses through time and traditions as its history, stories and anecdotes keep you in awe. Discover the heritage from the time when it was referred to as “the house on Choultry Plain” till the Taj Connemara of today.

In its early days and in one of its earlier avatars, the hotel’s transformation from a place of convenience to the city’s major hub of entertainment gave birth to Madras’ very first bar. Then known as The Cocktail Bar, it earned its reputation from its pioneering feat of serving ice cooled drinks, which city folk flocked to on sweltering evenings. This soon became the hip place for an evening out and gave rise to the phrase “Every Thursday night is Connemara Night”. Our signature cocktails, ‘Since 1891’ and ‘Madras No. 1’ pay tribute to this era.