Old Madras Baking Company (Adayar)

slow mornings in adyar have their own pace, and 1st cross street in kasturba nagar isn't the kind of place you pass through in a hurry. if you've got a few hours and nothing urgent pulling you back, old madras baking company earns the detour. it sits in a part of chennai that locals actually use, not a tourist corridor, which means the crowd here tends to be people who chose it deliberately. the baking side of things gives you something to eat alongside your coffee, which matters more than it sounds when you're settling in for the long stretch. well regarded in the neighbourhood, and for good reason. make it a weekday morning, find a seat, and order before the lunch crowd finds you.