About Gymkhana
Gymkhana is inspired by Indian gymkhana clubs, where members of high society socialise, dine, drink and play sport.
Gymkhana was awarded a Michelin star in 2014.
SIGNATURE COCKTAIL
Quinine Sour
The quinine sour is our take on a White Lady, in celebration of the gin and tonic, which was the drink of choice in India in the days of the Crown rule and drunk in the gymkhana clubs. With the quinine sour, we top the drink with a curry leaf for a subtle pungent note, and ginger, which adds a barely-perceptible heat.
The rooms
Restaurant Images
The Restaurant
Gymkhana serves classic and contemporary Michelin starred Indian cuisine, with a strong focus on chatpatta and boldly spiced sharing dishes.
The interior design of Gymkhana references the clubs of India with ceiling fans that hang from a dark-lacquered slatted oak ceiling, cut glass wall lamps from Jaipur and Grandmother Sethi’s barometer.
Bar Images
The Bar
The lower ground floor of Gymkhana is a modern day interpretation of a 17th Century East India punch house, with a grand aged brass bar at its heart. The room features slatted oak wall panelling, silk carpets and buttoned Chesterfield leather love booths and banquettes.
The Gymkhana bar specialises in classic Indian punches, cocktails that fuse spices with Indian spirits, a specialised gin and tonic list as well as a large selection of Whiskey, absinthe, arrack, lagers and Indian pale ales.
The bar is open until 1am.
Private events & group dining
Private Vaults
Gymkhana offers two private dining vaults secluded on either side of the lower ground floor. Guests are offered a range of set menus or are able to create their own bespoke menu and wine pairing.
With banquette seating in each vault, guests can dine in groups of up to 9 or up to 12.
Gymkhana is also available for exclusive hire on each level, seating 50 guests on the ground floor and 50 guests on the lower ground floor.
Take a 360 tour and explore our space, or click below to book private dining for large groups.
For events or offsite catering enquiries, please submit an enquiry below or call 020 3011 5900 to speak to our events team.
Private Vaults
Initiatives
#LoveOverHate
Our #LoveOverHate initiative is a collaboration with Kind Hearted Lankans, to help those impacted by the Easter Sunday attacks. To raise awareness of the cause, we will be adding a discretionary £1 donation on every bill throughout June.
News and events
Reopening February 2020
We are excited to announce Gymkhana will reopen its doors in February 2020 following a period of closure for refurbishment.
Inspired by the elite clubs of India where members of high society eat, drink and socialise, the restaurant will continue to serve classic and contemporary, boldly spiced chatpatta dishes. The refreshed interiors of Gymkhana have been spearheaded by our newly appointed JKS Design Director, Samuel Hosker.
Ground Floor & Bar
The ground floor will retain original design details championing elements of traditional architecture and styling from elite gymkhana clubs as well as residential mansions of India. The floor remains split between dining-room style and booth seating leading to the bar which will take inspiration from an Edwardian drawing room cabinet.
Ground floor restaurant capacity: 47 covers
Ground floor bar capacity: 4 covers
Basement & Bar
The basement has been re-modelled allowing for a convivial club feel with a Kashmiri Chilli colour palette, bold carpeting and collection of Indian art. The re-positioned lower-ground bar will offer an ornate jewel-box shaped area with campaign furniture and detailing. Furniture takes inspiration from Pierre Jeanerette’s work in Chandigarh.
Basement restaurant capacity: 23 covers
Basement bar capacity: 4 covers
Private Dining Vaults
Both Private Dining Vaults have been retained and will be refurbished in keeping with the lower-ground floor’s vibrant design identity.
Private Dining Vaults capacity: 12 covers each
The kitchens will continue to serve the Michelin-starred cuisine Gymkhana is famed for, focusing on club-style chatpatta, snacks, nashta, curries, biryanis and tandoori items.
Follow @gymkhanalondon and sign up to our newsletter be updated on opening date and reservation details.
Gymkhana x Death & Co
We’d like to introduce you to the brand new Gymkhana Tastemakers series, where we will be collaborating with some of the world’s most beloved drinks brands and cocktail bars, to create exclusive, one-off events.
First up is Death & Co, the globally-renowned New York drinking den which has been named Best American Cocktail Bar, Most Influential Bar in New York and even bagged an award for World’s Best Cocktail Menu. This is the first time the team have ever crossed the pond and we would like to invite you down to Gymkhana, to experience an exclusive hosted evening.
This event will start at 7:30pm on Thursday 6th June, with tickets priced at £90, including a drinks reception followed by a feast, where each dish is paired with a Death & Co cocktail.
A Cocktail For Chelsea Flower Show
We’re raising a toast to Chelsea Flower Show (Tuesday 21st to Saturday 25th May) with our refined Champagne Blossom our cocktail, created in partnership with Penhaligon’s. It’s a floral concoction, served straight from the Champagne bottle, with tastes and aromas evoking the Maharaja’s flower garden in the palace of Jodhpur through notes of lychee, rose, honey and Indian Magnolia.
The Attar of India
Experience our newly launched, sense evoking cocktail collection, inspired by the remembrance of moments in time across India.
In partnership with British perfume house Penhaligon’s,
The Attar of India Cocktail Collection has been carefully created to bring to life the scents of India through aroma, flavour & aura.
Champagne Blossom
Tanqueray N°TEN, Belsazar Rose, Lychee, Almond Blossom (£16)
Inspired by the fragrant scents of a walk through the Maharaja’s Indian garden, paired with Penhaligon’s Vaara with notes of Indian magnolia, sandalwood and quince.
Rum & Raison
Ron Zacapa 23, Pomegranate, Cascara Berry, Rain (£16)
The traditional curing of Malabar coffee with monsoon rains is mixed with Petrichor essence, (the captured smell created after rains have fallen) to create this cocktail, paired with Penhaligon’s Agarbathi with notes of pink peppercorn and sandalwood.
A Passage to India
Johnnie Walker Gold, Cocchi Americano, Pineapple, Citra Hops, Oyster Leaf (£15)
This cocktail follows the fragrant smells of the perilous journey that Indian Pale ales take from England to India, A Passage to India mixes marine scents with the sweet smells of ambergris found alongside grapefruit and wenge wood in Penhaligon’s Lothair.
City of Joy
Amrut Single Malt Whisky, Kentish Apples, Masala Chai, Vanilla, Clarified Milk (£15)
Inspired by the milky and spiced taste and scents of the much-loved clarified milk hot drink which can be bought from traditional ‘chai wallahs’ on the streets of Kolkata, paired with Penhaligon’s Paithani with notes of black pepper, nutmeg and Indian cedar.
Easter Special
We will be opening our doors for an Easter Feast on Sunday 21st April, where you can enjoy your favourites from our A la carte menu, which will also include our Easter special:
Sikandari Baby Raan, Tandoori Aloo & Ramson Bubble ‘n’ Squeak, Ajwaini Asparagus, Olive & Onion Khameera Naan (£42 for two)
Our Easter special is our twist on the traditional Sunday Roast and will be available throughout the Easter weekend from Friday 19th until Monday 22nd April.
The Arrival of Spring
This season join us as we celebrate the arrival of Spring with a special Mother’s Day celebration, new seasonal food highlights, an Easter feast & Basant Kite Festival inspired installation.
The Basant Kite Festival is a historic Punjabi kite flying event, signifying the start of Spring.
The festival has been long associated with food and drink and is time when families and friends come together to eat, drink & celebrate together.
From 25th March until the end of May, we will be adorning the front of Gymkhana with an installation to symbolise the changing of the season.
Mothering Sunday
Breaking with tradition, we are opening our doors on Sunday 31st March for Mothering Sunday.
Dine from our A La Carte or our exclusive Mother’s Day special:
Phagwara Tandoori Kukkad served with Lasooni Nettle Saag, Heritage Carrot & Roscoff Onion Pickle, Masala Roti (£38 for two)
Additionally, treat your Mum to a Sparkling Lychee Martini (Ketel One, Belsazar Rose’ Lychee, Fino, Almond Blossom).
To mark the occasion we have also partnered with British luxury perfume house Penhaligon’s, who will be kindly gifting all Mothers on the day with a complimentary Vaara fragrance and candle on the day.
Valentine’s Day
This year, celebrate Valentine’s Day with Gymkhana and enjoy the bold flavours of India with our 6 course ‘Made for Lovers’ tasting menu for £95 per person, including a serving of Champagne Billecart Salmon, Brut Rose, France NV.
Enjoy never before seen dishes; Tandoor Roasted Kentish Lamb Loin and Madras Lobster Chukka together with redefined classics including Methi Kid Goat Keema, Duck Egg Lobster Truffle Bhurji.
Finishing the evening off with Rasogulla, Hibiscus Raspberry Jelly, Star-Anise Rhubarb Murabba
A WARM WELCOME
Jitin Joshi has been appointed Executive Chef of Gymkhana London following an impressive international career that has seen him work with notable chefs around the world, including London and Dubai. Originally from India, Joshi trained at the prestigious Oberoi School in Delhi, before beginning his culinary career in Jaipur. In 2001 he moved to London under Eric Chavot at the Capital Hotel, which at that time held two Michelin stars.
By 2005, he was Head Pastry Chef at Gordon Ramsay’s new restaurant, Maze, which went on to win its first Michelin star within a year. Following this, he spent several years working at Benares, combining his knowledge and experience of Indian food with his French cooking skills. After two year’s working at Vatika, Hampshire, in 2011 Joshi relocated to Dubai to take up the role of Head Chef at the Amal restaurant within the Armani Hotel, where he celebrated Time Out’s Best Indian Restaurant Award two years in a row. Promotions in Dubai saw him take on Executive Chef position at Atmosphere, the world’s tallest restaurant located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, before embarking on the huge task of becoming Executive Chef for the Taj Hotel, overseeing all 10 F&B operations.
His role at JKS Restaurants, the London restaurant group founded by Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi, will see him oversee all menus at Gymkhana, in Mayfair, which currently holds one Michelin star with long standing duo Sid Ahuja and Vipin Gairola – And will furthermore be working with the founders to facilitate plans for new projects and expansion.
Elephant Family
To mark the 10-year milestone of JKS Restaurants, Gymkhana will be supporting a pioneering charity close to our hearts; Elephant Family, committed to protecting Asian elephants and their natural habitat.
For the month of November, we invite you to spot the elephant at Gymkhana from Tuesday 30th October, along with its multi-coloured counterparts ‘grazing’ at Trishna and Brigadiers, both with equally striking intricate Indian designs.
For those dining at Gymkhana in November, we will be offering a Keralan three course vegetarian lunch menu priced at £35, incorporating traditional dishes from Kerala, an area where Elephant Family are currently concentrating conservation efforts, paired with an Elephant Negroni. Furthermore a discretionary £1 will be added to every bill as a donation to Elephant Family throughout November and December.
Bonhams Lates
In collaboration with Tanqueray, we invite our guests to an evening of cocktails, music and a private view of the Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art Sale at private auctioneers Bonhams in Bond Street.
The viewing will include highlights from The Indian Islamic Sale.
101, New Bond Street,
London,
W1S 1SR
Monday 22 October 2018, 6 to 8PM.
Auctions will take place on Tuesday 23 October 2018 (Islamic & Indian Art Sale) and
Wednesday 24 October 2018
(Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art Sale).
RSVP
Sarah Gubbins
[email protected]
Gymkhana x Royal Academy
From Saturday 29th September until Monday 10th December, Gymkhana has partnered with the Royal Academy of Arts to celebrate it’s 250th anniversary with the Oceania Exhibition.
The UK’s first major survey of art and culture from a region rich in history, ritual and ceremony, Oceania features over 200 exceptional works – many of which are on display for the first time – and spans over 500 years with some of the earliest representations of art from the region, including the 14th century Kaitaia carving.
Marking 250 years since Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific, Oceania will be a celebration of the dazzling and diverse art of the region, from the historic to the contemporary. Oceania has been organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Paris, with the participation of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge.
Photo© Justine Trickett
Enjoy a 4 course set lunch menu, served with a glass of wine and a ticket to the exhibition for £45 per person.
Please book Online via Email or Call +44 (0)20 3011 5900 (ref ‘Oceania’).
Sake & Spice
Valentin Radosav, Head Sommelier at Gymkhana talks of his experience in finding the perfect Sake pairing for Indian food.
It can be a learning experience to match a Sake with Indian food, especially with the strong flavours of spice and the creaminess of curry dishes.
When I joined Gymkhana I was looking to match a Sake with our signature dishes. After much trial and error, and tastings of over 30 different types of Sake,
I learnt that a classic Sake has a strong Umami flavor brings more bitterness to the overall sensory experience.
Then began my quest to find something lighter and I came across KomeKome. This is a speciality Sake that is different to many other Sake. It’s lighter in body, with a delicate sweet and savory aftertaste. It pairs perfectly with our fish dishes such as Salmon Tikka and complements a variety of spices, allowing the dish to express the flavors and then brings a most welcome silky cool texture (it’s served cold) and delicate sweetness to balance the spiciness.
KomeKome which means ‘Happy Bride’ is produced by Kamoizumi in Hiroshima Prefecture.
GQ Food & Drink Awards
JKS Restaurants scoop the award for London’s Best Restaurateur at GQ’s annual food & drink awards.
With the support of Veuve Clicquot and Belvedere Vodka, the night of 23 April celebrated the very best of the British food and beverage industry.
Winners included:
Best Restaurant: Core by Clare Smyth
Best Chef: Paul Ainsworth at No6
Best Front Of House: Sandia Chang at Bubbledogs
Best Pub: The Fuzzy Duck
Belvedere Best Bar: Swift
The Gulabi Rani Collection
Gymkhana’s new cocktail menu,
The Gulabi Rani Collection is a theatrical and immersive cocktail menu featuring reinvented traditional Indian ingredients.
Highlights include the ‘Tea Break Fizz’, inspired by Shantha Rangaswamy, who captained the Women’s Indian Cricket Team in 1976.
A reinvention of the ‘Peach Blow Fizz’, bringing to life aromas of breezy lawns with Coriander Seed Tanqueray Gin, Strawberry Brandy & Indian Tea.
Other storytelling cocktails include Bombay Talkies (Devika Rani), Allahambad Flying Club (Prem Mathur) & Himalayan Gimlet (Bachendri Pal).
Join us at Gymkhana to experience the journey of these four women who pioneered, inspired & fought for their causes in India.
Royal Academy of Arts
From Wednesday 13th June until Monday 20th August, Gymkhana has partnered with the Royal Academy of Arts to celebrate it’s 250th anniversary.
Expect to find a panorama of art in all media, from painting, printmaking, film and photography to sculpture, architectural works and performance art.
Available Monday to Saturday, enjoy a 4 course set lunch menu, served with a glass of wine and a ticket to the Summer exhibition for
£40 per person.
Please book Online via Email or Call +44 (0)20 3011 5900 (ref ‘RA Summer Exhibition’).
Battle of the Raan
The legendary Lamb Raan traces its roots back to Alexander The Great. After a bloody battle between Indian King Paurava of Takshila and Alexander The Great, the barbecued whole leg of lamb was the centerpiece of the banquet laid on for the lucky generals to celebrate the end of the skirmish.
Gymkhana’s exclusive Lamb Raan recipe is also featured in the April edition of Red Magazine, to recreate at home.
Berry Bros. & Rudd Dinner
On Tuesday 10th April to kick off our collaboration with Berry Bros. & Rudd, Gymkhana’s Head Sommelier Valentin Radosav together with Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Master of Wines, Demetri Walters will host a one-off evening where they will lead guests through each selection, explaining their choices on each of the wine matches from the curation.
Reservations will be taken across Gymkhana’s usual dinner service hours within the lower ground floor.
Tickets cost £120 and include a 6 course Taste of Gymkhana menu with Berry Bros. & Rudd wine pairings. An additional £30 supplement will apply for the Prestige wine pairing, should you wish to explore the partnership further on the evening.
To book for the Gymkhana x Berry Bros. & Rudd launch dinner on Tuesday 10th April please book Online via Email or Call +44 (0)20 3011 5900.
Berry Bros. & Rudd Wines
Gymkhana, in partnership with Britain’s oldest wine & spirit merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd is pleased to announce an exclusive showcase of exceptional wines, with two wine pairing selections to explore.
Join us from Tuesday 10th April – Saturday 12th May to experience a carefully curated selection of wine pairings, that has been tried, tested and handpicked by Gymkhana’s Head Sommelier Valentin Radosav together with Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Master of Wines, Demetri Walters MW. Matched with our Tasting and Hunter’s menus, wine highlights from Berry Bros. & Rudd will include ‘Vall Por, Sangenís I Vaqué, Priorat, Catalunya, Spain 2006’ and ‘Hambledon Vineyards, Premiere Cuvée, Hampshire, England NV’. A Berry Bros. & Rudd Gin aperitif will also be on menus throughout the collaboration, priced at £10.
Guests who purchase the Prestige wine pairing option throughout the collaboration will also be offered the opportunity to book a private tour to visit Berry Bros. & Rudd’s historical premises on St James’s Street for a guided tour of the cellars hidden beneath Britain’s oldest wine merchant – T&C’s apply, please speak to the sommelier team for further details on how to book.
Gymkhana Business Lunch
The Gymkhana Business Lunch has been designed to offer an all inclusive 3 course menu, that caters perfectly to the corporate affair, within the hour.
Served with a refreshing welcome Mango or Masala Lassi, enjoy Cassava Lentil Papads to start, followed by Dum Chicken Biriyani with Pomegranate & Mint Raita. Finish with a Mango Shrinkhard Yoghurt Sorbet and go back to the office feeling complete.
Available 12.00-14.30 (Mon-Tues)
£20 per person
To book a business lunch at Gymkhana please book Online via Email or Call +44 (0)20 3011 5900.
Sommelier’s Choice
Our wine menu has been created with the principle of ensuring quality, uniqueness, variety and balance. Gymkhana’s winelist showcases a diverse range of high quality wines, including older and special vintages. Paired together, we hope to provide for our guests memorable flavours and exceptional food and wine experience.
New for the festive season our award winning Head Sommelier, Valentin Radosav, and his team have introduced the Prestige Wine Pairing, for which they have selected some exclusive bottles from iconic estates, such as Lynch Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France 2005 to be paired on the tasting menus and will also be available by the glass.
New Year’s Eve 2017
We are now taking bookings for New Year’s Eve at Gymkhana with a bespoke 6 course tasting menu, and two wine paring options to choose from to welcome in 2018. Whatever your plans might be for the big night, you can either enjoy an early supper or stay the whole night, eat, drink and play while seeing in the new year with us.
Early Seating £90
(bookable from 17:30 -18:30)
Welcome cocktail
6 courses
—
Late Seating £110
(bookable from 19:45 until late)
Welcome cocktail
6 courses
Glass of Champagne
Gymkhana gift bag
—
Wine Pairing £65
Prestige Wine Pairing £95
Christmas at Gymkhana
It’s that time of year again, the festive joy is almost here and Christmas at Gymkhana is all wrapped up and waiting for you to enjoy!
Gymkhana’s Christmas menus will be launching from Tuesday 28th November, where you can choose from either our A La Carte, feasting menus or ravage in the ultimate Gymkhana experience with our tasting menus either in the main dining room or within the private dining vaults.
Dish highlights this Christmas will include, Venison Shank Korma, Mallard Cafreal Kall Dosa, and Gymkhana’s festive Mulled Christmas Fruit Falooda.
Michelin Guide 2018
On Monday 2nd October Michelin revealed its 2018 star announcements for Great Britain and Ireland at a live announcement in London. We are delighted to announce that Gymkhana and Trishna both retained their stars and our sister restaurant Hoppers Soho, also retained its Michelin Bib Gourmand.
London gained a total of eight new starred restaurants – New starred restaurants included A. Wong, Andrew Wong’s modern Chinese restaurant in Victoria, gained one star and Claude Bosi’s Bibendum, situated in “Michelin House,” went straight into the guide with two stars.
We look forward to sharing new dish creations for you all to enjoy!
Diwali 2017
Celebrate Diwali with us at Gymkhana from Thursday 19th – Saturday 21st October, with our Diwali feasting menus, surprise treats, world-class cocktails and Gymkhana Late Nights.
As is traditional during the festivities for Diwali, come together over our large, family-style feast and 7 course tasting menus, with vegetarian alternatives available. Our Diwali feast menu at £90 per person will be available for a minimum of 6 people, with dish highlights to include ‘Goat Raan, Masala Tandoori Potato, Onion & Chilli Kulchas’.
Then from 11pm – 2am for these 3 nights join us for our extended late night sessions, try your hand at a game of flush, while exploring our bespoke late night drinks offering of large serve punch bowls, Old Fashioneds from our drinks trolley and exclusive Johnnie Walker whisky cocktails.
Johnnie Walker Dinner
Game is very much at the heart of Gymkhana’s menus and we love a chance to show off – To celebrate the beginning of the autumnal season, join us on Monday 9th October, where for a one-off dinner we have partnered with Scottish whisky giants, Johnnie Walker.
Taking inspiration from the thrill of the hunt, we will be showcasing exceptional whiskies alongside perfectly matched Indian game dishes, with a bespoke 4 course Hunters menu paired with drinks provided from four of the world’s best bars.
PDT (NYC), Little Red Door (Paris), Baxters Inn (Sydney) and Scout (London) will take inspiration from the hunt experience to mix the perfect ‘Hip Flask drink’. Four individual cocktails will be paired beautifully to a four course menu that includes mouth-watering dishes such as ‘Cafreal Grouse with Tempered Curd Wild Rice’, ‘Partridge Pepper Fry’, and ‘Dum Ka Pheasant with Lacha Paratha’.
Tickets are £95 per person, which includes 4 x course Hunters menu, 4 x whisky cocktails.
Lunch Chat
Gymkhana has launched a summer Chat menu, perfect for a light and quick lunch enjoyed in groups of 5 or more, in either the main dining room or private vaults for £30 per person.
The Gymkhana lunch Chat menu includes a welcome summer cocktail – Gymkhana Mangola (N03 Gin, Bergamot, Lime & Alfonso Mangola Soda) and dish highlights such as the Soft Shell Crab, Wild Rice Bhel or Dosa, Chettinad Duck.
Available Monday to Friday until 31st August.
RA Summer Exhibition
From Tuesday 13th June until Saturday 19th August, Gymkhana has partnered with the Royal Academy of Arts for their hugely popular, annual Summer Exhibition.
Expect to find a panorama of art in all media, from painting, printmaking, film and photography to sculpture, architectural works and performance art.
Available Monday to Saturday, enjoy a 3 course set lunch menu, served with a glass of wine and a ticket to the exhibition for £40 per person.
Best UK Sommelier 2017
Head Sommelier, Valentin Radosav has won the Best UK Sommelier Villa Sandi Award at this year’s Bellavita Expo. Valentin was chosen from sommeliers and wine professionals from all over the country.
The live finals were held within the Wine Academy at the Bellavita Expo that took place on the first day of the Expo. After a round of heats judged by expert panels, the final stage of the competition saw the competitors put to the test with written, oral, and food and wine pairing challenges. This year’s judging panel for the final stage of the competition included Master of Wine David Bird and Master of Wine Peter McCombie.
Careers
If you’d like to come and work with us, here at Gymkhana, please do send your CV to [email protected].