Women at the Helm: Samyukta Nair on Carving Her Own Path in Luxury Hospitality

Restaurateur Samyukta Nair comes from one of India’s most formidable hospitality lineages. Her grandfather, C.P. Krishnan Nair, founded The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Building on this legacy, Nair has carved her own path in the restaurant world, co-founding LSL Capital, a London-based hospitality group with her father, Dinesh Nair. Today, the venture draws decades of family practice in luxury hospitality and design-led dining concepts.  

Based in London, Nair has developed a portfolio filled with acclaimed restaurants, including Jamavar London, Bombay Bustle, and MiMi Mei Fair. Each of these spaces is conceived as an immersive dining experience bringing together craft, culinary, and storytelling, all under one roof. 

Jamavar, one of her first restaurants, quickly earned a Michelin star, further establishing her presence in London’s dining culture. Through LSL Capital, Nair continues to expand internationally, shaping a contemporary restaurant group rooted in Indian heritage. 

The Hotelier’s latest venture, Miko Mei Fair, marks her sixth restaurant in Mayfair and is set to open in April. Located at the Georgian townhouse that houses Mimi Mei Fair, the restaurant is conceived as a destination for Thai dining. The 50-cover space will focus on fire-led cooking under Chef Soonthorn Apaipat. 

During an exclusive conversation with Robb Report India for our Women’s Day campaign, Women at the Helm, we spoke to Samyukta Nair on what went behind carving her identity and perceptions shift around women leading high-value hospitality ventures.

Robb Report India: You come from a formidable hospitality lineage. What went behind you carving an identity that is distinctly your own? 

Samyukta Nair: The global rise of Jamavar has placed Indian cuisine firmly in the fine-dining conversation. My father, Dinesh Nair, who is also my business partner and co-founder of LSL Capital, saw something in me long before I did. He urged me to step into the world not as a successor, but as a creator with a POV. That faith gave me the confidence to take risks and build concepts that feel mine instinctively. 

I am incredibly proud that my family founded The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, but at LSL Capital, I’ve been driven to reinterpret hospitality in my own way, blending heritage, innovation and a global outlook with Indian soul. The journey has been about honouring where I come from while shaping something distinctly my own, guided by intention and a touch of serendipity. 

RR: Your restaurants are deeply personal, and story driven. Is there a story behind that? 

Samyukta Nair: I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with a front-row seat to hospitality at its very best. Watching my family build what I truly believe is one of the finest hospitality businesses in the world.  Hospitality wasn’t something I learnt from a textbook; it was instinctive, absorbed at the dinner table, on site visits, in the details that make guests feel seen. 

Storytelling has always been at the heart of how I was taught to cater to the world. For me, a restaurant is an expression of memory, culture, and emotion. Each concept carries a piece of my journey, shaped by where I’ve been, what I’ve loved, and the India I am constantly rediscovering. 

RR: As a woman, what does building LSL Capital allow you to do on your own terms? 

Samyukta Nair: In the West, legacy only carries you so far. It is the talent, work ethic, and determination that truly counts. LSL Capital gave me the freedom to prove myself through my work, not my surname, in markets that welcomed me openly and challenged me to stand alongside some of the best in the world. Collaborating with world-class talent has shaped how I lead and build my teams with a focus on merit, sharp problem-solving, and cultural relevance at the core. 

RR: As someone operating across international markets, have you seen perceptions shift around women leading high-value hospitality ventures? 

Samyukta Nair: I come from a South Indian matriarchal mindset, so I was raised to see strength in women as a given. Perhaps because of that, I’ve never approached the industry feeling there was a glass ceiling above me. If anything, I’ve believed it only exists if you choose to see it. That said, I am also aware that perspective comes from a place of privilege. I’ve been fortunate to operate in markets that value capability and results. What I have seen shift is confidence. There is far greater acceptance and expectation that women can lead high-value hospitality ventures with authority, creativity, and commercial sharpness. 

RR: What does leadership mean to you? 

Samyukta Nair: For me, leadership has never been about gender, age, or race. Rather, it’s about vision, resilience, and delivering excellence consistently. It’s about learning every day from everyone around you and recognising that leadership is never a solo act. The strength of what we build is always a reflection of the people behind it. Leadership is also about being humble enough to know you still have so much to learn, while having the confidence to trust your instinct and stand by your decisions.