Talking Themes

Value for money doesn’t spell compromised quality, discovers Susan George as she checks out The Residency Towers, Chennai

Fluffy white clouds floating in blue skies, flowers lazily spilling over window sills, quaint wooden benches and shop windows announcing designer brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. In the heart of Chennai beats a novel European rhythm. Mainstreet, the all-hour restaurant at The Residency Towers, is all about transporting guests to Piccadilly Square or the Champs Elysee or an equally la-di-da European venue. With its perfectly painted zebra crossings, replicas of balconies overlooking the street and newspaper stands, you could well imagine that you’re at a sidewalk café after a day of exploring the charming streets of south London.

Launched less than a year ago, The Residency Towers is big on themes. And the hotel’s guests are simply lapping it up. Or should we say, guzzling it down? The hotel’s quintessential Irish pub, ‘Bike & Barrel’, often has guests competing for standing space, while swigging unusual drinks concocted at the bar. Wooden flooring, muted lighting, a pool table and music pumped out from the DJ station completes the rugged, wind-whipped-leather-jacket biker ambience. If you prefer a more sober setting, Southern Aromas, offers the perfect thali of choices. With its wooden pillars, red-tiled roofing, gas lamps and heavy furniture, you get the distinct feeling of stepping into a Chettinadu home. Guests are served on an ilai or leaf, with the master chef, in typical south Indian style hospitality, prodding guests to pile their plates high.

The thematic thread has been woven into the 120 rooms as well. Each floor of the towering hotel echoes themes like ‘Victorian’ and ‘Contemporary’. While sleek lines of granite, steel and wood lend the ‘Contemporary’ rooms an edgy, futuristic look, the ‘Victorian’ rooms are softer, with subtle colours, thick carpeting and comfortable quilts. From mini bars and tea/coffee makers to three parallel phone lines, amenities in each room are functional and on par with any five-star property.

While the hotel has perfected the art of talking themes in its restaurants and rooms, it is equally articulate when it comes to business facilities. Sink into comfortable black leather armchairs to execute corporate deals in either of the two boardrooms. With laptop connections provided at every seat, pull-down screens and cutting edge equipment, The Residency Towers is serious in its commitment to the business guest. The hotel has also become the hotspot for product launches, conferences and receptions, ever since operations kicked off. Special deals are lavishly doled out to lady guests, with a floor dedicated to the fairer sex. What’s more, a ‘Ladies’ Lounge’, with a small bar, indoor games, and snacks on the house, acts as an upscale cocoon for women guests. With its singularly attractive features, The Residency Towers has proved that a generous portion of creativity mixed with the pragmatic can be a surefire crowd-puller.

The Residency Towers

Sir Thyagaraya Road, Chennai - 600 017
tel: (91) (44) 28156363, fax:(91) (44)28156969,
e-mail: restowers@vsnl.net

Tariff for a standard double room is Rs 2,900 and a standard suite is Rs 3,500 double occupancy.