Björn Frantzén to open new venture in HK

In his first foray outside of Sweden, the footballer-turned-chef, Björn Frantzén will launch his bistro, Frantzén’s Kitchen in Sheung Wan this November.

Björn Frantzén with head chef, Jim Lofdahl

With influences from Nordic and Asian cuisines and a cool Scandi-chic vibe, Frantzén’s new Hong Kong venture is described by the chef himself “as a long held dream.

“Opening Frantzén’s Kitchen in Hong Kong is a natural step for us. I have long dreamt of opening a restaurant overseas and Asian cuisine is very close to my heart”, he said.

“Hong Kong is one of the world’s most interesting cities for food and it will be a challenge to create a Nordic food experience with local ingredients and influences there.”

The project is a collaboration with entrepreneurs and property developers, Arne and Helen Lindman, who have lived in Hong Kong for 10 years and own the site in Sheung Wan’s Upper Station Street which also houses Philippe Orrico’s Michelin starred Upper Modern Bistro.

“There has long been an absence of modern Nordic cuisine in Hong Kong and we are happy to be involved with opening Frantzen’s Kitchen. The restaurant will represent the best of Swedish gastronomy”, Arne and Helen Lindman were quoted as saying on Frantzén’s website.

The head chef of the original two-Michelin starred Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, Jim Löfdahl will also relocate to Hong Kong for the launch, which is scheduled for mid-November.

“After my time at Restaurant Frantzén it will be incredibly exciting to be involved in taking Bjorn’s gastronomic cuisine out into the world,” he said.

“Cooking Nordic food in such a far-off city as Hong Kong is a major step for us within the Frantzén Group.”

Frantzén played for Stockholm-based football team, AIK between 1992 and 1996 before starting his career as a chef where he now owns nine restaurants, wine and cocktail bars strewn across Sweden.