Gymkhana
Indian restaurant · Mayfair
42 Albemarle St, London W1S 4JH, United Kingdom
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8809103/Eater_day1_Gymkhana_0096.jpg "Gymkhana by Ola Smit/Eater London")
Highlights
Tandoor roasts, charcoal grills & seasonal curries in Raj-era theme
Tandoor roasts, charcoal grills & seasonal curries in Raj-era theme
"Verdict: Gymkhana is one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. The upscale Mayfair spot specialises in impressive dishes that live long in the mind but less so in our takeaway boxes. We give it until the bus journey home for you to have polished off the last of a wild muntjac biryani. Reservations are released two months in advance, so set your alarm for 6am that day. Your best bet is planning the best London day off known to lamb chop-lovers and opt for one of the weekday lunchtime bookings. If you’re really struggling, sister spots—Bibi, Brigadiers, and Ambassadors Clubhouse—usually have more availability." - jake missing, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak, heidi lauth beasley
"The Verdict: A London lamb chop landmark that everyone should try at least once. A meal at Gymkhana probably ranks highly on Martin Lewis’ list of greatest fears. This legendary Mayfair spot is wildly expensive—a single lamb chop is around £22—but if you can look past the inevitable economics-related heavy breathing and its Baccarat Rouge-scented reputation, you’ll find some of the best Indian food in the city. Trying to get a booking will probably make you want to cry. We encourage patience and perseverance. It’s worth it. Reservations are released two months in advance, so set your alarm for 6am that day. Your best bet is planning the best London day off known to lamb chop-lovers and opt for one of the weekday lunchtime bookings. If you’re really struggling, sister spots—Bibi, Brigadiers, and Ambassadors Clubhouse—usually have more availability." - sinead cranna, rianne shlebak, jake missing, heidi lauth beasley
"Whether you're a Beckham or a bemused tourist, Gymkhana is a certified London landmark. It’s a Mayfair restaurant dressed up in jade green glad rags, but look past the marble and hunting trophies, and you’ll find some of the city's very best Indian food. The deliriously creamy, Hermès orange-hued prawn curry results in Kashmiri chilli tingles, the tandoori lamb chops sizzle in all of their garam masala splendour, and the obscenely fragrant wild muntjac biryani arrives on its own tableside throne. Gymkhana is still one of London’s toughest reservations to secure, but it’s worth setting an alarm for and honestly, there’s something wonderful about counting down the days to your meet cute with those chops’ fragrant masala coating. Reservations are released two months in advance, so set your alarm for 6am that day. Your best bet is planning the best London day off known to lamb chop-lovers and opt for one of the weekday lunchtime bookings. If you’re really struggling, sister spots—Bibi, Brigadiers, and Ambassadors Clubhouse—usually have more availability." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley
"Gymkhana is an incredibly glamorous restaurant that’s perfect for doing incredibly glamorous things. It’s a moody, sophisticated space complete with intimate booths, exceptional service, and a wild muntjac biryani that is the single best use of pastry since the hallowed invention of the cheese straw. A meal at this Mayfair spot won’t come cheap but it’s worth it for classics that will stay with you long after your final bite of the tandoori masala lamb chops. Reservations are released two months in advance, so set your alarm for 6am that day. Your best bet is planning the best London day off known to lamb chop-lovers and opt for one of the weekday lunchtime bookings. If you’re really struggling, sister spots—Bibi, Brigadiers, and Ambassadors Clubhouse—usually have more availability." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, heidi lauth beasley, daisy meager, sinead cranna
"Red and carpeted or gold with wood panelling, it doesn’t matter where you get seated in Gymkhana, the whole place screams, money honey. The Mayfair restaurant’s Indian classics will stay with you long after your final bite. Standouts like the soft shell crab with crunchy bhel or the wild muntjac biryani are impressive. This is an expensive, upscale experience, with some of the best Indian food in the city. Reservations are released two months in advance, so set your alarm for 6am that day. Your best bet is planning the best London day off known to lamb chop-lovers and opt for one of the weekday lunchtime bookings. If you’re really struggling, sister spots—Bibi, Brigadiers, and Ambassadors Clubhouse—usually have more availability." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak
