Gymkhana Restaurant Dubai Guide 2026: Menu Prices, Signature Dishes & Reservations
The smell of scorched cumin, sizzling ginger, and slow-braised venison is unmistakable the moment you walk through the lacquered doors of Gymkhana. For years, booking a booth at the Albemarle Street flagship in London required weeks of digital vigilance, rewarding patient diners with some of the most vibrant Indian cooking in Britain. Now, that same energy is setting down roots in Dubai, bringing its storied game specialties, punchy tandoor roasts, and moody club atmosphere to the city's fine-dining circuit.
I have spent evenings at the Mayfair venue dissecting how founder Karam Sethi manages to balance clubland nostalgia with razor-sharp North Indian cooking. The Dubai outpost marks a monumental addition to the local dining landscape, offering both seasoned fans and curious food lovers an uncompromising encounter with two-Michelin-starred excellence.
At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
Flagship accolades | 2 Michelin Stars (2024) |
Founder | Karam Sethi (JKS Restaurants) |
Tasting menu | AED 650 to AED 850 per person |
Location | Downtown Dubai district |
Expected debut | Late 2026 opening |
Booking window | 30 days in advance |
Karam Sethi and the Mayfair Dining Institution
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, founder Karam Sethi confirmed that the two-starred Mayfair institution is preparing its first permanent Middle Eastern home in Dubai. Since opening in 2013, the concept has earned universal praise for elevating Anglo-Indian club cuisine into fine art, drawing culinary inspiration from elite gymkhanas across Bombay and New Delhi.
The London flagship earned its second Michelin star in the 2024 Michelin Guide, establishing the brand among the finest Indian fine-dining destinations in Europe. Sethi explained that bringing the restaurant to Dubai requires zero compromises on sourcing, ensuring rare spices, game cuts, and signature clay-oven recipes transfer seamlessly across borders.
Hospitality group JKS Restaurants operates some of the United Kingdom's most decorated dining venues, including Trishna, Brigadiers, and Hoppers. Their arrival in the Emirates signals a major evolution for Dubai's subcontinental culinary scene, where modern gastropubs and street food kiosks have long dominated the high street.
Signature Dishes and the Dubai Menu Lineup
The Dubai kitchen centers on game meats, robust coastal curries, and tandoor dishes cooked over natural lump-wood charcoal. While the team plans to adapt specific ingredients to comply with local dietary guidelines and regional halal certifications, core flagship staples will remain completely true to their original recipes.
Game Specialties and Iconic Curries
The wild muntjac biryani served under a sealed pastry crust remains the undisputed centerpiece of the dining experience, perfumed with green cardamom and accompanied by a cooling pomegranate mint raita. The kid goat methi keema delivers deep savory warmth, pairing minced meat with fresh fenugreek, soft toasted pao buns, and chopped red onions. Seafood enthusiasts can expect lasooni wild tiger prawns charred over charcoal and dressed with spiced shellfish oil.
Breads, Sides and Tandoor Roasts
Side dishes receive the same meticulous attention as main courses, led by the legendary black dal maharani that simmers continuously for twenty-four hours to develop velvety richness. Warm duck egg bhurji served alongside flaky Malabar parotta offers rich buttery textures, while spiced tandoori broccoli florets marinated in crushed mustard and yogurt provide a vibrant vegetable counterpoint.
Order the kid goat methi keema with extra buttered pao; it is the single benchmark dish that defined modern London dining for a decade.
Estimated Menu Prices and Dining Options
Dining at Gymkhana is designed around flexible formats, ranging from express business lunches to elaborate multi-course evening tasting menus. Projected pricing in Dubai mirrors peer venues in the luxury dining bracket, positioning the concept alongside established two-star Michelin peers in the city.
A la carte dining provides flexibility for guests wanting to share small plates and grilled kebabs over cocktails, with average spend landing near AED 480 per person. Multi-course tasting flights offer the most comprehensive journey through Sethi's culinary catalog, complete with optional beverage pairings.
Menu | Dishes | Price AED |
|---|---|---|
Lunch Tasting | 4 classic courses | 395 |
Dinner Tasting | 6 signature courses | 695 |
Vegetarian Menu | 5 spiced courses | 550 |
A La Carte | Average spend | 480 |
Colonial Club Architecture and Atmosphere
Diners familiar with the original Gymkhana London location on Albemarle Street will recognize the deep brass accents and dark imperial woodwork. The interior design draws direct inspiration from high-society social and sports clubs of late nineteenth-century India, balancing residential warmth with opulent detailing.
Recent preview updates shared via Instagram show bespoke brass chandeliers and hunting-lodge artwork being commissioned for the dining room. Expect custom rattan banquettes, low polished brass lighting, and patterned marble floor tiles that create an intimate, amber-lit sanctuary shielded from the midday glare.
Dark stained oak booths with fluted leather seating
Framed vintage cricket memorabilia and polo trophy photographs
Low marble-topped dining tables with bespoke brass lamps
Cut-glass decanters and custom cocktail glassware at the bar
How to Secure Table Reservations
Securing a table at Gymkhana requires planning, particularly for prime weekend seatings between eight and ten in the evening. The restaurant operates an electronic reservation system that opens bookings on a rolling thirty-day calendar.
Visitors navigating prime dining quarters via Google Maps will find the central Dubai destination easily accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road. Valet parking attendants greet arrivals at the private porte-cochere, minimizing curbside congestion during peak service hours.
Monitor the official portal thirty days before your desired dining date at midnight
Select your preferred seating area between the main dining salon and the cocktail bar
Provide credit card guarantee details to hold the reservation against the cancellation window
Confirm guest dietary requirements forty-eight hours ahead of your sitting time
Book your table at midnight thirty days out if you want a prime Thursday or Friday eight o clock slot.
Dress Codes and Dining Etiquette
Gymkhana enforces a polished smart-casual dress code across both lunch and dinner sittings. The venue encourages guests to dress up for the occasion, reflecting the elegant heritage of traditional gentlemen clubs while maintaining modern hospitality warmth.
Children under ten years of age are generally restricted to weekend lunch seatings, preserving an adult evening ambiance across the dining room and cocktail lounge. Tables are allocated a two-hour dining window for parties of two, extending to two and a half hours for larger banquets.
Tailored trousers and collared shirts for gentlemen during evening seatings
Elevated evening wear or contemporary cocktail attire for ladies
Closed footwear required; athletic sneakers and beach sliders are prohibited
Traditional national dress is warmly welcomed across all service periods
FAQ
When is Gymkhana opening in Dubai?
Gymkhana is scheduled to open in late 2026 in central Dubai, following an extensive interior buildout and culinary training program overseen directly by founder Karam Sethi.
Does Gymkhana Dubai serve halal meat?
Yes, all poultry, lamb, and game meats served across the Dubai kitchen will be fully halal-certified, prepared to match the authentic spice profiles of the London originals.
How much does dinner cost per person at Gymkhana Dubai?
A la carte dining averages approximately AED 450 to AED 550 per guest, while multi-course evening tasting menus range between AED 695 and AED 850 before beverages and taxes.
Is there a private dining room available for group bookings?
The Dubai location includes private dining suites accommodating groups of up to sixteen guests, complete with dedicated waitstaff and custom family-style feasting menus.
Useful Links
Gulf News — Founder interview detailing Dubai launch
Michelin Guide — Two Michelin star rating verification
JKS Restaurants — Parent hospitality group portfolio details
Gymkhana London — Official flagship menus and background
Instagram — Visual updates and interior teasers
Google Maps — Location routing and venue navigation
Pair It With
— Angel Tyagi, Creator of Angel In Dubai
Prices, timings and availability may change — always check directly with the venue before visiting. Not sponsored.
Story lead: gulfnews.com. Reporting can be updated or withdrawn after publication — always check the original before relying on anything here.
Rates and figures are indicative and were correct as of 2 October 2026; they change often, so verify with the provider before acting. This is general information, not financial advice.
Photo by unsplash via unsplash, Photo by 10 Best Biryani Places in Dubai | Dubai OFW via web
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