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veronicago…

Best way to pay at Chennai bars in 2026?

fmd_goodHoooli · #bars #chennai
I'm visiting Chennai next month and plan to spend a few evenings around Hoooli and similar spots. Do bars there mostly take cards, or should I rely on UPI, and can a foreign visitor even set that up w… I'm visiting Chennai next month and plan to spend a few evenings around Hoooli and similar spots. Do bars there mostly take cards, or should I rely on UPI, and can a foreign visitor even set that up without a local bank account? Also curious what ATM fees look like if I just pull cash instead.
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Image kavitad ·

upi one-time setup needs an aadhaar, no way around it

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Image birgamerke… ·

tbh even with aadhaar the otp goes to an Indian number, so a tourist sim is the other wall u hit.

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Image kristiane ·

only with an aadhaar linked to an Indian phone

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Image fraukekett… ·

Passport works for the tourist sim though

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Image milli ·

Cards work at most sit-down bars but smaller places near Hoooli will push UPI. As a visitor you can't easily get UPI without an Indian bank account, so plan on cash from ATMs (usually around 20 to 25 rupees per withdrawal fee).

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Image annika ·

Some places only take cash after 11pm.

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Image reginesteg… ·

Makes sense, last orders kick in around then and the till guy switches to cash only so he can close out faster.

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Image silvana ·

yeah the ATM fee is small but your own bank back home will likely slap a foreign transaction charge on top, so check that first. Also many ATMs in Chennai run out of cash on weekends, so pull during the week if u can.

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Image svetlana ·

good point on the withdrawal fee but the bigger hit is the DCC prompt at the machine, always decline the conversion and let ur home bank do it. also keep small notes handy since bars rarely have change for a 2000

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Image edith ·

Carry a card too, many bars add a 3% surcharge on it.

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karola

Best biryani in Chennai 2026 for newcomers?

fmd_goodAmbur Star Briyani 1890 · #club #biryani #chennai
I'm moving to Chennai in a few months and Ambur Star Briyani 1890 keeps coming up as a must try. Beyond eating out, what's a good recurring way to actually meet people there, like a weekly club, class… I'm moving to Chennai in a few months and Ambur Star Briyani 1890 keeps coming up as a must try. Beyond eating out, what's a good recurring way to actually meet people there, like a weekly club, class, or pickup game that welcomes someone from abroad? I'd rather build a routine than rely on one-off events.
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Image rohanj ·

check out madras weekender club or the chennai trekking group, they do recurring sunday hikes & you'll actually talk to people instead of just running past them

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Image aryanm ·

Chennai has solid weekend pickup football and cricket at Elliot's Beach and Nehru Park; check local Facebook groups for weekly games.

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Image rohanj ·

the besant nagar to mahabalipuram cycling crew rolls saturday 5am from broken bridge, way friendlier than the pickup games tbh

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Image susannaber… ·

those games usually start around 6:30am before the heat hits, and the marina crowd is more casual than besant nagar

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Image janette ·

yep but the turf at st bedes books out fast on sundays

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Image susannaber… ·

navy grounds near the port trust also has regular sunday cricket, just walk over and ask to join a side

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Image janette ·

good to know, do they split into sides by skill or just whoever shows up? asking as someone who hasnt held a bat since school

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Image christel ·

second this, the group admins usually post the weekly slot

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Image susannaberg ·

look up madras boat club or the tamil classes at dakshina chitra, both run weekly and pull a mixed local/expat crowd. tambaram area has pickup volleyball most evenings too if u want something casual

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Image kavitad ·

dakshina chitra classes fill up quick so call ahead, and boat club needs a member to propose u

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