Gymkhana

There was plenty of buzz around Gymkhana’s arrival in Las Vegas. And rightly so. The upscale Indian restaurant was opening inside ARIA, having already earned two Michelin stars in London. With expectations high, the question became, could it live up to its award-winning reputation? The answer is a resounding yes.  

The vibe: With a green facade and dark woods, Gymkhana has the look and feel of a steakhouse or Irish pub. However, designers say the space is more reminiscent of a sophisticated private club meant to match its upscale menu. Deep, dark green booths ring the exterior of the room, with centralized tables, and mirrored red walls and animal-print artwork. A small bar is the perfect spot to pop in quickly for a cocktail and a snack.     

The food: Gymkhana specialties include mince quail kebabs, biryanis, and tikkas such as Goan salmon or chicken roasted over charcoal in a tandoor clay oven. But aside from favorites like tandoori masala lamb chops or soft-scrambled duck eggs mingling with lobster, the Vegas outlet has a few firsts—beef dishes like a naan filled with spiced wagyu mince and short rib stir-fried with South Indian spices and coconut. 

The drink: By adding spices to spirits, bartenders here serve Indian-inspired cocktails that are modern twists on classics. Think lychee martinis and pina col-lassi’s—a clear pina colada mimicking the tropical flavor of a coconut lassi. They also serve a vodka-rum, coconut milk drink called the Delhi Dalgona, topped with whipped espresso foam and sprinkled with 24k salt, and giant punches for eight people ($240).  

Time Out tip: Save room for dessert. Two standouts are the cardamom-infused rice pudding with figs and chikoo ice cream, and a Mango Rasmalai—sweet milk dumplings with mango and cardamom milk and mango foam topped with rose petals.