Ambassadors Clubhouse vs Gymkhana

It’s a grey London Friday in mid-winter, and I’m heading to lunch with my sister who works just around the corner. We’re making our way to Ambassadors Clubhouse, a new fine-dining spot in Mayfair from the JKS group (the same people behind Gymkhana and Trishna).

We recently ate at Gymkhana and haven’t stopped thinking about their fantastic and theatrical biryani since. Naturally, curiosity gets the better of us, and we want to know how Ambassadors Clubhouse compares. Is it as good as Gymkhana? Let’s find out together.

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Quick review of Ambassadors Clubhouse

Ambassadors Clubhouse is a Mayfair restaurant serving upscale Punjabi dishes with flair. We tried a range of plates, from smoky king prawns to a decadent lamb biryani, and left mostly impressed. Here’s what to know at a glance:

• Best dishes on the Ambassadors Clubhouse menu: The keema naan with bone marrow masala, masaleder lamb biryani (a must-order), and gulab jamun with saffron milk.
• Atmosphere: Low-lit, smart interiors. Elegant, not flashy.
• Standout drink: Two-hour brewed masala chai, topped with saffron and gold leaf.
• Halal-friendly: Chicken and lamb are Halal. Some game dishes and alcohol are also on the menu.
• Ideal for: Group dining. Best to come hungry and share widely.
• Skip this: Butter chicken chops – they’re ok, but outshined by everything else.
• Price point: High, but portions are large. Better experience in a group than for couples, who will get filled up without having the benefit of trying more of the menu.

Is Ambassadors Clubhouse as good as Gymkhana? The food’s excellent, but the overall experience differs. Scroll down for our full verdict.

First impressions of Ambassadors Clubhouse in Mayfair

We walk in from the cold into a calm, low-lit dining room with dark woods, plush leathers and intricate detailing. It’s very much styled as old, Colonial India.

Ambassadors Clubhouse is sparsely populated on a Friday lunchtime, but it’s still comfortable to be in. There’s a quiet hum of conversation and soft music in the background – some retro Bollywood, which is an absolute delight. It’s polished but not pretentious, a lovely setting for a long, unrushed lunch.

The Ambassadors Clubhouse menu leans into North Indian classics, with smoky grills, biryanis, and rich masalas, all presented with luxurious twists like bone marrow, saffron, and the occasional gold leaf flourish. It’s indulgent, yes, but not overwhelming. And it’s very much designed for sharing.

Keema naan and bone marrow to start our meal at Ambassadors Clubhouse

We begin with the mutton keema naan, served with a side of bone marrow masala. The naan is thick and golden, puffed in places, crisp in others, and generously filled with spiced meat. The bone marrow masala is glossy and deep, like a reduction that’s been cooked low and slow for hours.

It’s the sort of dish you scoop up greedily and then make a note of as something to reorder on the next visit.

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Enormous king prawns, as big as your hand

Next come the Ajwaini wild prawns, a standout before they even hit the table. They’re enormous, easily the length of my palm, and arrive slightly charred, still juicy and sweet inside.

The accompanying hari chutney is vivid and spicy, just sharp enough to cut through the richness of the prawn. We both nod approvingly. Now this is special cooking at Ambassadors Clubhouse.

The one dish we’d skip – BBQ butter chicken chops

The original BBQ butter chicken chops sound great on paper but land with a little less impact. The meat is nicely cooked, the sauce pleasant, but there’s no standout flavour to hook onto. In a lineup of bolder dishes, this one fades into the background.

If you’re pacing yourself, and with the portion sizes here, you’ll want to, this might be the one to skip.

A delicious Masaledar lamb biryani, but not as fun as the one at Gymkhana

We move on to the Masaledar lamb biryani, a rice dish layered with tender lamb, spices, and the unexpected bonus of marrow-filled bones. This biryani doesn’t come with a pastry top, which is a disappointment, since Gymkhana’s does, and the vegetarian biryani at Ambassadors Clubhouse does.

But we get over it quickly once we taste the rice. It’s fluffy, rich with saffron and caramelised onion, and swathed with nuts for texture. There’s more than enough for four to share, and we take our time with it.

Save room for gulab jamun, the best thing on the Ambassadors Clubhouse menu

We’re definitely full at this point, but we’ve heard too much about the gulab jamun with badami pista rabri to skip it.

It turns out to be the best thing we eat on the Ambassadors Clubhouse menu. The gulab jamun is soft and warm, soaking gently in a milk infused with nuts and floral spices. It’s comforting, nostalgic, and decadent all at once. Dessert like this always win me over.

Chai worth lingering over

We also order the masala chai, brewed over two hours with Afghani saffron and finished with a glint of gold leaf. It’s rich and round in flavour, just sweet enough, and pairs perfectly with the gulab jamun. I could linger here for another hour just sipping it, along with a pretty dish of petit fours.

So, how does Ambassadors Clubhouse compare to Gymkhana?

So, how does Ambassadors Clubhouse measure up against its more established sibling, Gymkhana?

In many ways, the food is equally delicious and flavour forward, generously spiced, and well-executed. But where Gymkhana offers a slightly more polished, measured experience, Ambassadors Clubhouse comes in bigger and bolder. Portions here are large, often too hefty for two to enjoy with variety, which makes it a better option for a larger group looking to share a spread.

At Gymkhana, two people can easily sample a range of smaller plates without tipping into over-full territory. That’s a little harder to do here.

There’s also more up-selling at Ambassadors Clubhouse, which gives the impression that the team is still finding their footing. Or perhaps trying to hit targets in a way that Gymkhana, with its established reputation, doesn’t need to.

Then there’s the issue of theatrics. While Gymkhana famously elevates its biryani with a buttery pastry crust, Ambassadors Clubhouse only offers that topping on the vegetarian biryani, not the meat ones. And let’s be honest – unless you’re vegetarian, it’s unlikely you’ll come for a vegetable biryani as your showstopper. It’s a missed opportunity in a setting that otherwise embraces grandeur.

Still, there’s plenty to love at both restaurants. But your ideal choice may depend on whether you’re planning a cosy meal for two or a feast with a group.

Is Ambassadors Clubhouse halal?

Yes, Ambassadors Clubhouse serves halal chicken and lamb, though note that game and alcohol are also on the menu. Still, for halal friendly fine dining in central London, this one’s a strong contender, with some memorable dishes.

Final thoughts on our lunch at Ambassadors Clubhouse

Would I come back? Absolutely. Especially with family or a small group of friends. The food is lush and comforting, the atmosphere intimate but not stuffy, and the dessert-and-chai finale alone is worth a repeat visit.

It might not topple Gymkhana in terms of finesse, but it makes a strong case in flavour and generosity. And if you order well (and skip the butter chicken chops), you’ll walk out planning your next meal here.

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Ambassadors Clubhouse
Address – 25 Heddon St, London W1B 4BH
Nearest Tube – Oxford Circus