Gymkhana has been the toughest table to book in Dubai since it opened, and now there's a workaround that doesn't involve waiting three weeks for a Saturday slot. The DIFC restaurant, the sister site of London's two-Michelin-starred original, has launched a business lunch at Dhs145 for four courses — a striking price point for a kitchen with this much buzz behind it.
The menu follows the format you'd expect from a high-end Indian dining room, but the cooking leans on the London flagship's greatest hits. It opens with a pappadum selection and club chutneys, then a choice of starters: aloo chaat with masala yoghurt, beetroot chops with peanut ghatti masala, or king crab ghee roast with thatte idli.
There's one upgrade worth planning for. The tandoori masala lamb chop with walnut chutney — a signature dish from the London restaurant — can be added for an extra Dhs125. It's not cheap as a supplement, but it's the dish the brand built its reputation on, and skipping it on your first visit would be a false economy for most food-focused travellers.
Mains continue the theme with four options: Goan prawn curry served with Malabar parotta, kid goat methi keema with salli and pao, chicken butter masala with naan, or a vegetarian channa masala with methi mooli bhatura. Dessert is a simple plate of petit fours rather than a full pudding course — a sensible trade at this price.
For context on what a deal this actually is: dinner at Gymkhana-style restaurants of this calibre in Dubai routinely runs well past Dhs400 per head before drinks. Getting four courses at Dhs145 puts it in range of a casual lunch, and weekday dining in DIFC also means you sidestep the weekend crowd fighting over evening reservations.
The setting helps too. Gate Village is DIFC's low-rise dining quarter, an easy walk from the Dubai Metro's financial centre area and surrounded by galleries and other big-name restaurants if you want to build an afternoon around it. Business lunch deals like this are one of Dubai's best-value dining habits — many of the city's top tables offer them — and Gymkhana joining the club is arguably the biggest name to do so in a while.
Bookings are open now via the Gymkhana Dubai website, or by phone on (04) 575 4974. If you're visiting Dubai on a food-focused trip, this is an efficient way to tick off one of the city's most talked-about openings at lunch money prices — just book ahead, because a deal like this at a restaurant this hyped won't stay quiet for long.
