Rohit Ghai to bring luxury Indian restaurant to Knightsbridge

Chef Rohit Ghai and business partner Abhi Sangwan are to open a luxury Indian restaurant called Vatavaran in London’s Knightsbridge.

Located in 14-15 Beauchamp Place, formerly home to Arrow Hospitality’s Geode Mediterranean restaurant and bar, Ghai’s latest venture will start serving the public on Thursday 7 November.

Vatavaran, meaning ‘atmosphere’ in Sanskrit, draws its inspiration from Himalayan landscapes. Four levels within the venue will symbolise a different element of the Himalayas, providing a day to night experience.

The top level will house the Shikhar cocktail bar, named after the Sanskrit word for ‘mountain peak’. The bar will serve a cocktail menu created by Sangwan, inspired by the region’s tea estates and featuring herbs such as juniper and saffron.

Ghai and Sangwan already have a portfolio of London venues, including Kutir in Chelsea and Manthan in Mayfair.

The pair previously worked together at Jamavar, where Sangwan was director of operations.

Prior to that, they were both at JKS Restaurants, which operates the Michelin-starred Gymkhana and Trishna restaurants in London, where Sangwan was group operations manager and Ghai was executive head chef.