Gymkhana, the acclaimed two-Michelin-starred London restaurant, made its stateside debut Wednesday at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, instantly becoming one of the most high-profile Indian dining rooms in the country—and the first ever Indian fine dining restaurant on the Strip. 

Born in 2013 in London’s swish Mayfair neighborhood, Gymkhana built its reputation on unapologetically flavorful Indian cooking served inside an intimate townhouse inspired by India’s historic members’ clubs. Now, for the first time, that experience is available without crossing the Atlantic.

“Our aspiration is to bring great Indian food all over this country—not just to New York, Miami, or Los Angeles, but to put it alongside any of the great ethnic cuisines you get in America, and what better city to do that in than Las Vegas?” Pavan Pardasani, global chief executive officer of JKS Restaurants, told Travel + Leisure.

The project has been years in the making. Before the pandemic, Ari Kastrati, chief content, hospitality, and development officer for MGM Resorts, dined at the London original and immediately saw its potential for the Strip. “He was adamant that this is exactly what Las Vegas needed,” Pardasani recalled. “I really have to tip my hat to MGM Resorts, Aria, and Ari for seeing that opportunity and bringing it to life with us.”

Translating a 90-seat, two-story Mayfair townhouse into a Las Vegas restaurant required reinvention, said Pardasani, but not compromise. The new Gymkhana nearly doubles in size to 175 seats, with multiple bars and distinct dining spaces, yet the priority was to preserve the restaurant’s essence. “We lose that multi-level townhouse feel—it’s very difficult to replicate that in a casino environment—but we were determined not to lose what makes us authentically Gymkhana,” Pardasani told T+L. “We had to work with a different footprint and a different size, but from the design to the menu, it really is a transportive experience.”

The interiors, envisioned by UK studio North End, channel the warmth and polish of a grand Indian private residence. Guests enter through Gymkhana’s signature green doors into a bar and lounge done in rich greens and decorative cut-glass chandeliers. The main dining room is splashed in saturated colors, with red ceilings and plush green banquettes, while patterned carpets and mirrored floral details nod to Northern India.

Within the main dining room, the 42 Bar—named for the London restaurant’s Albemarle Street address—is outfitted with pink-toned marble and low lighting. Deeper in, the Vault offers more secluded seating in dark wood paneling and deep red banquettes, designed to evoke the private clubs that inspired the original Mayfair space.

In the kitchen, JKS co-founder Karam Sethi and executive chef Srikant Kumar keep the menu firmly rooted in the London original while adding dishes tailored to an American audience. Much of the cooking blends Indian street-food sensibilities with fine dining, infused with what Pardasani noted is known as ghar ka khana, or the food of the house. “For those of us who come from this culture, it’s very nostalgic,” he added.

Beyond the London signatures on offer—such as Tamarind-and-Yogurt Chaat; Tandoori Masala Lamb Chops, and Wild Tiger Prawns with Garlic—a few menu items were created specifically for Las Vegas, including, in a first for Gymkhana, beef dishes. Wagyu Keema Naan, and the Beef Shortrib Pepper Fry with coconut and South Indian spices are both new additions. “It wasn’t about swapping dishes out,” Pardasani explained. “It was about introducing new dishes that still speak to what makes Gymkhana so special.”

The bar program brings over several London favorites and adds a few Vegas-only flourishes, like the Punch Trolley Service that rolls through the room delivering large-format cocktails meant for up to eight guests. Also on the drink menu—thoughtful nonalcoholic options draw on classic Indian sips like an Alphonso Mango Lassi and a Salted Lemon Nimbu Pani, a tart-salty, Indian-style lemonade.

The significance of opening the first Indian restaurant inside a Strip casino resort isn’t lost on the team. “Right now, there’s a rising tide around Indian food,” Pardasani said. “For me, having been raised here, it’s incredibly meaningful to make our cuisine more accessible and bring guests into our world so they can understand the beauty of our culture, our food—the sophistication, the thoughtfulness, the level of taste. I’m excited to help put us on the world stage alongside any of the great cultures that Americans already perceive [as part of the fine-dining landscape].”

And for first-time Gymkhana guests, Pardasani shares advice to get the most festive experience.

“Grab a seat at the 42 Bar and have your dinner service there,” he said. “People naturally assume the best food in a fine-dining restaurant is at a table, but if you want to really feel the energy of the room and what makes this place unique, that’s the sneaky insider tip: sit at the bar and order up.”