Reservations now open for Björn Frantzén’s first Middle East fine dining restaurant at Atlantis, The Palm

On Friday 8^th November, Atlantis, The Palm will welcome guests to FZN by Björn Frantzén, sibling to three-Michelin-starred Frantzén in Stockholm and Zén in Singapore. Committed to introducing culinary excellence to the region, Dubai’s most iconic resort is building on its legacy by joining forces with one of the world’s most renowned chefs to launch an intimate, 27-seat fine dining experience. With bookings now open for the month of November, ahead of the official opening, guests can look forward to a modern European tasting menu with Japanese influences.

Björn is renowned for being the first chef to create truly immersive dining experiences, and FZN will be no exception. From the moment guests arrive at the restaurant, the journey will begin with a ring of the doorbell, followed by entry into a chic, gold-accented hallway adorned in rich maroon tones. An elevator ride will then transport diners to a corridor filled with beautiful greenery, leading to a living room styled like a luxurious apartment, where vibrant colours, playful prints, and striking art pieces set the mood. Here, guests will indulge in canapés, before being presented the day’s ingredients. Throughout the experience, diners will be able to enjoy FZN’s distinctive atmosphere, enhanced by a playlist of 300 songs personally curated by Björn himself. This eclectic mix will feature international music, ranging from The Smiths to Guns N’ Roses to create the perfect upbeat energy Björn’s restaurants are known and celebrated for.

Guests will then embark on a guided house tour, before entering the dining room that accommodates just 27 people. This space includes 13 seats around the open kitchen, offering a front-row view of the culinary craftsmanship, as well as four tables for up to 14 guests. During this time, the service team will guide diners through nine courses featuring dishes such as duck “bbq” with yuzu, Kampot pepper and foie gras, chawanmushi with smoked beef broth and “Frantzén selection” caviar as well as turbot with Cecina de wagyu, barigoule and pine shoot. Crafted using a blend of Frantzén’s innovative techniques and the finest seasonal ingredients from across the world, guests can also anticipate an exploration of Nordic flavours, with ingredients such as Norwegian king crab and langoustine reimagined in the distinctive Frantzén style.

To elevate the tasting menu, dishes will be paired with a selection of over 1,200 wines including smaller producers to internationally established labels. FZN will also feature a non-alcoholic pairing, developed by The Frantzén Group over the past decade. Guests can choose between a wine pairing, a non-alcoholic pairing, a combination of both or wines from the FZN cellar.

After the dining room experience, guests will return to the living room to enjoy an assortment of petit fours, tea, and coffee. For those looking to extend their experience, the 18-seat terrace, offering views of the Dubai skyline, will provide the perfect spot to unwind.

FZN has enlisted a diverse team representing 20 nationalities, led by General Manager Karin Ågren. Karin, who has been with The Frantzén Group for seven years, was also part of the management team at Frantzén in Stockholm. Executive Chef Torsten Vildgaard, whose impressive background includes opening his own Michelin-starred restaurant and over a decade at the world-renowned three-Michelin-starred Noma in Denmark, will oversee the kitchen. FZN will be one of two new restaurants opening at Atlantis, The Palm, with the social dining concept Studio Frantzén also set to debut this fall.

Björn instantly shook up the culinary scene in Scandinavia with the opening of his restaurant Frantzén in 2008. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star just one year later and has gone from strength to strength ever since. It currently holds three Michelin stars and is listed as No.35 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. He made his first debut in Asia with the opening of Zén, also earning three stars. In a true testament to Björn’s trailblazing gastronomy, he is currently ranked No. 41 in The Best Chef top 100 list. The prestigious La Liste also recently announced its Top 1000 Restaurants of 2024, where Frantzén and Zén were featured.

Bookings for FZN by Björn Frantzén are now available for the month of November. Seats for the upcoming months will be released on the first day of each month at 10am. FZN will launch on Friday 8^th November and will open every Tuesday to Saturday from 7:00pm, with the last seating at 8:15pm. Guests aged 13 and above are welcome. The tasting menu is AED 2,000, with an additional wine pairing option available from AED 1,400, mixed pairing for AED 1,100 and a non-alcoholic pairing for AED 750. To make a reservation visit here or email receptionfzn@restaurantfzn.com.