Popular Bangalore Pub Watson's Is Now In Chennai And We Checked It Out

One of Bangalore’s favourite watering holes is now in Chennai, and apart from the beer and alcohol, they have some really good bar bites and enough space to kick back and relax.

Now full disclosure, I’ve never been to the Watson’s in Bangalore. I’ve heard great things about it and was told that the Chennai version is very similar to the original. So I’d encourage you to think of this as a standalone recommendation on the Chennai Watson’s.

Stepping in to Watson’s is like stepping in to a different city. The racy psychedelic paintings, the funky movie posters and the hipster décor instantly stand out from the usual monotony of our otherwise drab local pubs and bars. The pub itself is quite massive and features three separate bar counters, a smoking area with a pool table and lots of space to walk around, so you definitely won’t feel cramped when it gets packed.  The high ceilings and overall brown/beige colours make the place look classy, a much needed impression after the dingy, still-under-construction entrance you’re required to walk through.

The food and drink are the stars of the show here. They specialise in bar bites with a little bit of fusion added to make things interesting. Pub Grub like the Crispy Chilli Corn, Bruschetta, Paneer Vepudu and the Chilli Honey Sesame Pork went down surprisingly well with a drink in hand. Speaking of drinks, they have the usual beers, rums, vodkas on offer, all at the usual rates you’ve come to expect at most pubs. However we’d recommend you try their cocktails and shots, especially their filter coffee margarita which is hands down the best margarita I’ve had, and their rasam based shooter, oh man! Those two drinks were the highlight of my evening. Upon asking them how they came up with it, I was pleased to know that every time Watson’s opens up in a new city they aim to embrace the city’ culture by adding local flavours to their menu and that’s how these quirky combinations were born. The best part about that, is that the new concoctions and dishes are later made available in all Watson’s across cities. So you can get the same rasam shooter in their Goa branch, while we’re free to enjoy their Goan Style Chilli Chicken.

While the pub grub and signature drinks are boss, their more mainstream food items like the pull apart bread with cheese weren’t too spectacular.

Watson’s is one of the best things to have happened to Chennai’s otherwise club and disco-based nightlife. Their pub grub and specialty drinks make for the perfect place to hang here and let loose. They’ve even got a cozy book corner for you to read in!