Cafe Coffee Day

Gate-side caffeine in T4 before immigration

This Cafe Coffee Day sits in Chennai’s T4 international area, handy if you’re early for an Air India or IndiGo departure and want something familiar before boarding. It’s one of the few recognizable chains in this part of MAA, so expect a steady line during evening bank departures between 9 pm and midnight.

Menu is standard CCD: cappuccinos, lattes, and cold coffees plus basic pastries and pre-made sandwiches. A regular cappuccino usually lands in the ₹180–₹220 range, with cold coffee and frappé-style drinks running closer to ₹250–₹280. Food is mostly reheated, so treat it as fuel, not a meal.

Service pace varies with the international rush around T4, especially when multiple flights to Singapore, Dubai, and Colombo leave within the same 2–3 hour window. If you see a long queue of trolley bags, factor in 10–15 minutes from ordering to getting your drink. Staff work off a small prep area, so anything blended or toasted takes longer than a straight espresso.

Seating is limited and spills into the general T4 gate area, which already fills up around gates used by Air India and SriLankan. Expect to hover for a seat during late-night departures; many passengers end up carrying drinks back toward their specific gate. Power outlets near the café are scarce, and you’ll usually find just one or two usable sockets along the wall.

Payment is straightforward: they typically accept cards, UPI, and cash in rupees, so have a local payment option handy if you’ve just arrived from an international sector into T4 and still have INR. Prices are higher than street-side CCD outlets in Chennai city, but that’s standard airport markup territory.

Practical tip: if your T4 boarding pass shows a late-night departure, grab your coffee here at least 30 minutes before scheduled boarding; queues spike sharply in the 20 minutes after a big check-in wave hits security.