The Zara Tapas Bar - the one thing I can say about this place is.. Its so refreshingly different from other places in Chennai!.. Being a hard core Mumbaite, wanted to try out something different so i went to this place with a few friends from chennai. They had heard about this place but had never tried it, so all the more a reason to try it!..Its a place which to some extent matches up with some of the well known bars of Mumbai- like the Rain, Zouk, Tres Boutas, Quilla etc.. But nothing to beat our own Olives and Indigos in mumbai!

Having a Spanish bar/ pub in chennai itself is a bold venture which Sebastian has taken up- but he did come and speak to me as to how surprisingly well they are doing. The place is just around one and half years old. The ambience is good. I will not rate it as Great.. just good! The benches/ tables are nice, but when its crowded, they seem too close to each other.

The live band there tends to be loud and hence if you are planning to make a decent conversation with your friends there- just forget it..! Go else where for that!. But the music was really good..very foot tapping, sadly there is no dance floor!..

I did suggest Sebastian ( the cheif Bar-tender and the brain behind this bar) and Mathew ( The Manager) about having some special Salsa theme nights but it seems they dont have a ’’culture’’ of theme nights in chennai!...Well buddy- then you should start the trend rather than be a follower. Anyways, thats upto them to decide.

The cocktails are innovative and Sebastian uses a lot of home brewed / modified liquors- for ex- pepper / cinnamon vodka, fruity vodkas/bacardis. He also uses a lot of natural ingredients in his cocktails and i really liked the few cocktails he specially prepared for me. My all time favourite ’’Cosmopoliton’’ was superbly made. He also has a variation to this- called as the ’’Metropolitian’’ which was also nice. But sadly i did not like the Sangria prepared. The very own Spanish drink!!..There were such huge chunks of fruits which is very unlikely to see in a nice sangria!!

The snacks or the Tapas were nice. Food is good and well priced and good quantity. The snacks are enough to serve as dinner, but if you are looking for an elaborate dinner, this is not the place. Its best to book a table and then go or else you might have to wait for a long time. The place really gets crowded even on a weekday. Looks like chennaites are enjoying this deviation from their routine type of places..

The staff here are extremely helpful and friendly. But i fail to understand why the waiters are dressed in black!! They could have designed a better ’’spanish’’ outfit or more lively colour outfits for them!. Sebastian was very friendly and came and talked to us and explained me the differences in the various cocktails and the very concept of the different cocktails. Nice PR exercise!.. Keep it up!

Over all a nice place to go in chennai, especially if you are looking out for something different and something not so traditional!... Go for it!

Entry Charges:	Decided depending on the crowd
Type of Music:	Dance Music
Couple Entry:	No