New Chapel Hill Indian Restaurant Ayra Shares Renderings as Remodeling Continues

A fine-dining Indian restaurant coming to Chapel Hill shared the latest updates on the vision for its space ahead of an opening later this year.

Remodeling and preparation for Ayra – a new concept from Chef Sujan Sarkar and owners Mayil Rajendran and Ravi Jeyaraman – is underway at 2110 Environ Way in the East 54 development. The venture was announced in January, aiming to bring an elevated dining atmosphere to the space left empty since the Asian fusion restaurant and wine bar Elements closed last summer. The business shared the latest renderings for Ayra’s dining areas and cocktail bar on Monday, showing off its design created by Finley Design in Durham and moody lighting.

Sarkar is a Michelin-starred chef whose projects are gaining national attention, and he is teaming up with two of the Triangle’s rising entrepreneurial stars. Rajendran and Jeyaraman are the team behind Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar, which has a Chapel Hill location in Meadowmont to go alongside locations in Durham, Raleigh and Apex. When the duo bought the space Elements was in and wanted to pivot toward a different concept, they looked toward Sarkar — whose Indienne in Chicago earned a Michelin star in 2023 and recently launched a location in New York City’s Hudson Yards. He is also the chef behind Chicago’s Nadu, which earned a 2026 James Beard semifinalist nomination for Best New Restaurant, and personally earned two James Beard nominations in 2024 and 2025 for Best Chef in the Great Lakes region. Ayra represents his first venture into North Carolina.

Sarkar’s vision for Ayra, according to a press release, is to offer three distinct experiences for patrons: an Indian-inspired cocktail bar, an intimate and private room for a tasting menu, and a dining room for guests ordering à la carte. The release and renderings described the interior of the restaurant as highlight different textures and materials alongside greenery to create “depth and sophistication in a welcoming atmosphere.”

A rendering for the entryway and lounge for Arya. (Photo via Finley Design/Ayra.)

The cocktail bar being planned for Ayra. (Photo via Finley Design/Ayra.)

“Ayra represents everything I believe Indian cuisine can be — elevated, boundary-pushing, and deeply rooted in tradition,” Sarkar said. “We’re excited about our first expansion into the South, and this opportunity to explore the rich agriculture and seasonality in North Carolina.”

“Ayra was designed around the belief that memorable experiences are created through the careful layering of light, texture, material, and atmosphere,” said Kerry Finley, the founder and principal architect of Finley Design. “We wanted every space to feel intimate and immersive, allowing guests to discover new details each time they visit. The result is a dining environment that supports the culinary experience while creating meaningful moments of connection and memory.”

While there is no current date publicly shared for its opening, Ayra is aiming to welcome its first customers before the end of the summer. Once open, the restaurant will become the second to start operations in East 54 this summer, after Géos Tavern & Oyster Bar opened earlier in June.

Featured photo via Finley Design/Ayra.

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New Chapel Hill Indian Restaurant Ayra Shares Renderings as Remodeling Continues

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