Gymkhana, the celebrated two Michelin-starred London restaurant born in Mayfair, has opened its first American outpost at ARIA Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The arrival marks a significant moment for the city: Gymkhana is the first Indian restaurant to take up residence on the Strip, the result of a partnership between JKS Restaurants co-founders Jyotin, Karam, and Sunaina Sethi and MGM Resorts International.
The Las Vegas location carries the full weight of the original’s reputation, a place that has long attracted celebrities and serious food lovers in equal measure, and transplants it into an interior designed by London-based studio North End. Conceived by Samuel Hosker, the 175-seat dining room draws on the historic Gymkhana members’ clubs of India and the grandeur of private Indian residences. Signature green doors open onto a bar and lounge appointed with Rajasthani cut-glass chandeliers, green Anaglypta wallpaper, and a cane bar with a deeply veined marble top. The main dining room continues in shades of jade green and dark polished timber, with five-finger parquet floors and green leather and velvet banquette seating running throughout.
Two more intimate spaces complete the room. The 42 Bar, tucked within the main dining room, offers a members-only atmosphere rendered in coral and blush pink marble and crocodile-skin burgundy leather. The Vault, seating 58 guests, delivers a moodier register altogether, with fluted dark timber paneling, deep red leather and velvet banquettes, and brass accents throughout.
The menu was created by JKS co-founder Karam Sethi and is overseen by Executive Chef Srikant Kumar. Its cooking is rooted in the flavors of North India, with influences from the South and West, and relies on spices sourced directly from India. London signatures appear alongside dishes developed exclusively for Las Vegas. The Tandoori Masala Lamb Chops and Lasooni Wild Tiger Prawns have made the transatlantic crossing, as has the Morel Mushrooms and Truffle Pilaf. New to the menu are beef dishes, a first for Gymkhana, including the Wagyu Keema Naan, a signature naan stuffed with spiced wagyu mince and served with cucumber and cumin raita, and the Beef Shortrib Pepper Fry, in which tender short rib is stir-fried with South Indian spices and coconut and plated alongside flaky Malabar paratha.
Desserts are equally considered. The Cardamom and Basmati Rice Kheer layers cardamom-infused rice pudding with figs, chikoo ice cream, rice tuile, pistachios, and almonds. The Mango Rasmalai brings together sweet milk dumplings, mango and cardamom milk, and mango foam scattered with rose petals.
At the bar, the cocktail program draws from the traditions of India’s historic member clubs. The Bagheera, a spicy green mezcal margarita, takes its inspiration from Chaprah, a bold Indian chutney made with ants from the jungles of India. The Punch Trolley Service presents large-format cocktails tableside for groups of up to eight. Non-alcoholic options include a Salted Lemon Nimbu Pani and an Alphonso Mango Lassi finished with pistachio. A 780-selection wine list, with 24 available by the glass, spans Burgundy, Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and Germany, with particular emphasis on Riesling, some vintages reaching back to 1971.
Gymkhana at ARIA is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Reservations are available through SevenRooms or by contacting ARIA Concierge at (702) 590-9520.
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