Archive · 12 Aug 2025
Ciclo Café Founder Reflects on Chennai's Dining Transformation
Ashish Thadani, founder of Ciclo Café, talks about how Chennai's food scene has changed.
He remembers a time when dining out was limited.
He opened a French bistro, L'amandier, which did well.
Then he opened Ciclo Café, popular in Chennai and Pondicherry.
He's adapted to social media trends like Instagram.
His business now includes multiple locations and central kitchens.
He's also preserving the French heritage of his buildings.
Ashish Thadani discusses the evolution of Chennai's dining scene.
He opened L'amandier, a French bistro, in 2013 which became successful.
Ciclo Café, which he founded, became a benchmark in Chennai and Pondicherry.
He acknowledges the importance of social media and influencer marketing.
His operations now include multiple locations with central kitchens.
- Who
- Ashish Thadani, founder of Ciclo Café.
- What
- Discussion of the evolution of the dining scene in Chennai and Ashish Thadani's ventures.
- When
- Thadani moved to Chennai in 1999; significant changes began about a decade ago.
- Where
- Chennai and Pondicherry.
- Why
- To share insights on the growth of Chennai's food culture and his business approach.
Traditional Restaurant Approach
Modern Influencer Approach
Marketing Strategies
Traditional Restaurant Approach
Focus on food quality and operational efficiency.
Modern Influencer Approach
Prioritizes creating Instagrammable spaces and leveraging influencer marketing.
- Company
- Ciclo Café
- Founder
- Ashish Thadani
- First French Bistro
- L'amandier (2013)
- Locations
- Multiple, including Chennai and Pondicherry
- Liquor License
- Obtained in 2016