Cafes have always been the haunt of intellectuals and writers. Be it College Street’s Indian Coffee House or the CCDs and Starbucks on every other street, the noble tradition of writers working in coffee shops has a very romanticized idea behind it.

Home to one of the best songwriters, playwrights and The Lit For Life festival, Chennai is warm to writers (and ever otherwise). While Cafes with books is nothing new to the city, Higginbothams Writer’s Cafe is a refreshing change from the mundane. This creative retreat is a happy place for both writers and readers, and it is run completely women burn survivors.

While on a (very) short visit to Chennai, my local friends insisted I visit The Writer’s Cafe. The name sounded too good to resist. When I first entered the cafe, I was intoxicated by the smell of freshly-baked desserts, coffee and the smell of books. This might just be what you need to cure your writer’s block, and for those who don’t write, it might just spark your imagination. This brainchild of restaurateur M Mahadevan gives burn victims a second chance by sharing their profits with the International Foundation of Crime Foundation and Victim Care.

The furniture was a combination of wood, leather and black metal and the books by Higginbothams stand bright against it. The Cafe has an array of Stationary and an additional floor filled with board games that you can purchase on your way out. While it may not be as warm and cozy as I’d like it to be, there is a sense of urgency in the room like it was made for professional meetings and a quick bite for writers seeking a creative inspiration.

This all-day diner menu has a variety of options to experiment with but none too good. The Pesto Zucchini and Olive Flammkuchen (a rectangular thin crust pizza with stuffing) were highly recommended by our waiter and I would definitely recommend it too. The crunchy crust and the cheesy toppings had a mild but interesting flavor of Olives and Jalapenos. The dessert is the best part as it offers a variety freshly baked ones of a French loaf selection. I had my favorite Blueberry Crumble and it was worth canceling my cab to go for seconds. The shakes and drinks aren’t worth their price, but they serve water that has an orange or cucumber flavor on request (orange and cucumber slices are soaked in a jar of water).

Higginbothams Writers Cafe is at 98, Peters Lane, Royapettah, in Chennai. If you are planning to take the local train, the closest station is in Chepauk (5 Kms). They even have a small branch in Phoenix Market City, Chennai. It is student-friendly when it comes to both killing time or reading for hours. The menu is easy on the pocket, priced at an average of Rs. 700/- for two people.