Gymkhana takes its name from the private social and sporting clubs of India, an idea that has shaped the restaurant since it first opened in London. “The original Gymkhana was inspired by the private clubs of India, where people would come together to eat, drink, socialise and spend time with one another,” Karam says. “It was never about recreating those spaces literally, but capturing their atmosphere and sense of hospitality.”
That history runs through the Dubai restaurant, designed by Samuel Hosker of North End Design. Walking downstairs, deep red walls and gold detailing catch the eye under low lighting, while the mirrored ceiling helps to make the room glow. Beside Peacock Bar, recreated from the original London restaurant, an artwork of the first Gymkhana club depicts a black panther standing at the entrance. Upstairs, the space has beautifully carved wooden ceilings and leather booths, with another bar tucked into the room. The smell of spices drifting from the kitchen is a fitting introduction to what comes next.
Copyright Alex JeffriesCourtesy Gymkhana
This same sense of tradition, with a little flexibility to do things differently, carries through to the menu. “We follow roughly an 80/20 approach, with around 80 per cent of the menu carrying Gymkhana’s core London DNA, while the remaining 20 per cent gives us room to respond to the city we’re in,” Karam says. “The bold flavours, traditional techniques and hospitality that define Gymkhana never change.”
For Dubai, that means familiar signatures from London sit alongside dishes created specifically for the UAE opening. Kid goat methi keema and salli, tandoori masala lamb chops and chicken butter masala all make the journey from Mayfair, joined by new additions including jackfruit ghee roast with thatte idli, makhmali king crab and malai pyaaz, and wagyu beef sukka with bone marrow. “Dubai has allowed us to push the menu further than we have at any previous Gymkhana location,” Sethi says. “Alongside the signatures our guests know from London, we’ve created a selection of dishes exclusively for Dubai.”
Dining and Cooking