Gymkhana Brings Two Michelin Stars to Las Vegas: Inside the Strip's Most Talked-About Indian Restaurant
The Mayfair institution that helped redefine Indian fine dining globally has opened its first US location at ARIA, making it the first Indian restaurant ever to open inside a Las Vegas Strip casino.
Key takeaways
- Gymkhana, the London Indian restaurant that earned its first Michelin star in 2014 and a second in 2024, opened its first US location at ARIA Resort and Casino in December 2025.
- The restaurant is the first Indian dining concept ever to open inside a casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
- The menu carries many of the London original's signature dishes alongside Las Vegas exclusives like the Wagyu Keema Naan and Beef Shortrib Pepper Fry.
- The arrival of Gymkhana is part of a broader transformation of Las Vegas into one of America's most sophisticated and diverse fine dining cities.
Sources: Modern Luxury, Vegas 411, Las Vegas Review-Journal, CDC Gaming. Gymkhana at ARIA facts and context.
A London Legend Lands on the Strip
When Karam Sethi opened Gymkhana in Mayfair in 2013, his ambition was to reimagine India's own fine-dining tradition through the lens of the private sporting and social clubs of colonial-era India, places where the country's elite gathered to eat, drink, and be seen. The concept resonated almost immediately. Gymkhana earned its first Michelin star in 2014 and spent the following decade building a reputation as one of the best Indian restaurants in the world, not merely the best in London. A second Michelin star arrived in 2024, cementing the restaurant's status as a two-star institution.
In December 2025, Gymkhana opened its first US location inside ARIA Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. An official opening party followed on January 16, 2026. The significance of that opening is hard to overstate. Gymkhana at ARIA is the first Indian restaurant in the history of Las Vegas to open inside a casino property, a milestone that speaks both to how far the city's culinary ambitions have traveled and to how seriously international restaurateurs now regard the Las Vegas market.
For longtime observers of fine dining in Las Vegas, Gymkhana's arrival is another data point in a remarkable narrative. The city that was once defined by its prime rib and buffets now has a two-Michelin-star Indian institution as one of its newest residents. Las Vegas is genuinely competing for the world's most celebrated culinary talents, and those talents are coming.
The Interior: Where India's Club Culture Meets Las Vegas
The design of Gymkhana Las Vegas draws directly from the private sporting and social clubs that inspired the original London location. Sethi's grandfather was a member of such clubs in India, and the nostalgic and aspirational associations of those spaces, the sense of a world where grace and formality coexisted with genuine pleasure, are encoded in every design decision. Green double doors open into a dimly lit bar and lounge. Coffered red ceilings rise above dining rooms appointed with paisley carpets and green leather banquettes.
The design palette, Gymkhana green, Kashmiri chili red, and Jaipur blue, ties the Las Vegas location to the London original while giving it a presence suited to its new setting. Reeded timber paneling, Murano lights, rattan and cane detailing all contribute to an atmosphere that is simultaneously old-world and vividly present. The room has been described by visitors as unlike anything else currently open on the Strip, which is itself a remarkable achievement in a city that has hosted some of the world's most extravagant interior design projects.
The atmosphere is of a piece with the food philosophy: Gymkhana is not a casual dining concept, and the Las Vegas location makes no concession to approachability at the expense of conviction. The restaurant is for guests who want to be transported rather than merely fed, which is also precisely what the best fine dining has always offered.
The Menu: London Signatures and Las Vegas Originals
The menu at Gymkhana Las Vegas centers on the tandoor-grilled specialties, classic curries, biryanis, and chaat-style sharing plates that have defined the London original's identity. Guests who have eaten at the Mayfair location will find familiar dishes and recognize the cooking philosophy that earned the restaurant its reputation. The kitchen's commitment to technique is evident in preparations that honor the depth and complexity of Indian culinary tradition rather than simplifying it for an assumed Western palate.
Alongside the London signatures, the Las Vegas menu introduces dishes developed specifically for this location. The Beef Shortrib Pepper Fry and the Wagyu Keema Naan represent the kitchen's engagement with exceptional local and domestic ingredients, applying Gymkhana's techniques to materials that the Las Vegas market makes available. These additions give the Las Vegas Gymkhana its own identity within the broader brand while ensuring that its culinary ambitions remain fully intact.
The wine and cocktail program at Gymkhana Las Vegas has been developed to complement the intensity and complexity of the food, with an emphasis on selections that work across the range of spice profiles the menu presents. For guests navigating the pairing question for the first time with serious Indian fine dining, the team at Gymkhana can be an invaluable guide.
What This Means for Fine Dining in Las Vegas
The significance of Gymkhana at ARIA extends beyond the restaurant itself. The arrival of a two-Michelin-star Indian institution makes Las Vegas the only city in North America where visitors can experience this level of Indian fine dining, which is genuinely a first for the continent. It signals that Las Vegas is no longer simply borrowing from established food cities, it is generating its own culinary moments that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
For guests who love fine dining and visit Las Vegas with a sense of culinary purpose, 2026 is presenting a remarkable sequence of choices. Alongside the Gymkhana opening, the spring of 2026 brought Cantina Contramar, Maroon, and Carbone Riviera, each representing a distinct culinary tradition at a serious level. The diversity of what is now available within a short distance on the Strip is extraordinary by any measure.
At Pamplemousse Le Restaurant, we have been part of this city's dining life since 1972, and we have watched Las Vegas evolve from a city where fine dining was a novelty to a city where it is a destination. Gymkhana's arrival is a reminder of why that evolution matters, and why a reservation at a well-established Las Vegas restaurant, whether it is ours or one of the exceptional newcomers, is always worth making. We would love to welcome you to the table.
5 Things That Make Gymkhana at ARIA Worth a Reservation
For fine dining guests planning a Las Vegas visit, here is what distinguishes Gymkhana from anything else currently open on the Strip.
- The only two-Michelin-star Indian restaurant in the United States: No other Indian restaurant in North America currently holds two Michelin stars. The Las Vegas location brings that distinction to the Strip, making it the only place on the continent where this level of Indian fine dining is available.
- A menu that honors the full depth of Indian culinary tradition: Gymkhana's cooking philosophy is rooted in the traditions of India's private club culture: technically precise, ingredient-focused, and deeply flavored without compromising subtlety. The menu spans tandoor-grilled meats, classic curries, biryanis, and sharing plates.
- Las Vegas exclusive dishes developed for ARIA: The kitchen developed dishes including the Wagyu Keema Naan and Beef Shortrib Pepper Fry specifically for the Las Vegas location, giving local guests experiences unavailable anywhere else in the Gymkhana network.
- An interior unlike anything else on the Strip: The design draws from colonial-era Indian private clubs, rendered through coffered red ceilings, green leather banquettes, Murano lights, rattan detailing, and a palette of Gymkhana green, Kashmiri chili red, and Jaipur blue. The result is transportive in a city full of extraordinary interiors.
- The first Indian fine dining concept inside a Las Vegas casino: Gymkhana at ARIA is a landmark opening by this measure alone. No other Indian restaurant has held this position on the Strip, which underscores both the restaurant's ambition and the extraordinary state of Las Vegas fine dining in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Gymkhana open in Las Vegas?
Gymkhana at ARIA Resort and Casino opened in December 2025, with an official opening party held January 16, 2026. It is the restaurant's first location outside of London and the first Indian fine dining concept to open inside a Las Vegas Strip casino.
How many Michelin stars does Gymkhana hold?
Gymkhana currently holds two Michelin stars. The restaurant earned its first star in 2014, the year after it opened in Mayfair, London, and received its second star in 2024 as recognition of its sustained excellence and evolution.
Is Gymkhana appropriate for guests who are new to Indian fine dining?
Yes. While the cooking is sophisticated, the team at Gymkhana is experienced in guiding guests through the menu and helping with wine and cocktail pairings. The atmosphere is convivial rather than intimidating, and the staff are accustomed to welcoming diners at every level of familiarity with the cuisine.
Where can we enjoy classic French fine dining in Las Vegas?
Pamplemousse Le Restaurant has been serving French-inspired fine dining in Las Vegas since 1972 and remains one of the city's most beloved dining rooms. We invite you to reserve a table and experience what five decades of dedication to the table looks and tastes like.
Sources
- Two Michelin-Starred Gymkhana Opens First U.S. Location at ARIA Las Vegas — Vegas 411
- Gymkhana restaurant throws opening party on Las Vegas Strip — Las Vegas Review-Journal
- Michelin-starred Indian restaurant opening at Aria Las Vegas reveals menu — CDC Gaming