Harden's says
Opened in late 2022, another culinary coup for Harrods, who signed up superstar chef Björn Frantzén to open a restaurant in store. His eponymous restaurant in Stockholm has three Michelin stars.
Harden's survey result
Summary
A headline act in Harrods’ pitch to be a gastronomic destination – this Nordic two-year-old is overseen from afar by a three-Michelin-star chef from Stockholm and occupies a striking, purpose-built, double-height space on the fifth floor. All reports agree its wide-ranging menu provides a “terrific blend of Scandinavian and Asian food” and the extensive array of wine-coolers at the edge of the room showcase a heavyweight wine selection. One or two reporters find the lower dining space “a bit moribund”, but you can always head upstairs to the “lovely rooftop, with terrace” (which is covered and heated even in the winter months).
Summary
“A beautiful space with a Michelin three-star chef overseeing the kitchen” – Harrods continues to reinvent itself as a gastronomic hub with this blockbusting 2022 debut from an acclaimed Nordic chef. It occupies a newly constructed site on the top floor of the world famous department store. “Surprisingly spacious with a very high ceiling”: inside you can get a “nice view of the sparkling clean kitchen”; and outside there’s a glam roof terrace overlooking the Knightsbridge rooftops. The cooking combines Asian and Scandi influences and most reports are rapturous. Top marks are only missed due to the odd more nuanced account – “I had palpable excitement to try this Swede’s food, but was let down by ridiculous pricing and the mixture of some exquisite and some dud options”. Top Menu Tip – “they are justifiably proud of their milk bread: a crisp crust similar to croissant and a fluffy centre like the Japanese variety, served with miso butter and borage honey” (“the best bread I have – dare I say – ever had!”). The ‘Sweden vs Japan’ menu option “allows you to compare meats prepared in the style of each cuisine. Both are good but there is a significant contrast in textures”.
Summary
Harrods enticed Swedish superstar Björn Frantzén to open his first London outlet as the trump card in their beefed-up in-store hospitality offering, with a scheduled late-2022 launch date. His self-named Stockholm flagship is a regular on ‘World’s Best’ lists and his Singapore offshoot Zén is not far behind, which indicates he’s not bad at running multiple sites globally. We look forward to feedback.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Studio Frantzén?
Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, London, SW1X 7XL
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £60.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £9.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, London, SW1X 7XL
Opening hours
| Monday | 10 am‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 10 am‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 10 am‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 10 am‑9 pm |
| Friday | 10 am‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 11:30 am‑6 pm |
Best Scandinavian restaurants nearby
Scandinavian restaurant in Fitzrovia
Scandinavian restaurant in Westminster
Sandwiches, cakes, etc restaurant in Covent Garden
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Traditional restaurant in Knightsbridge
French restaurant in Knightsbridge
Chinese restaurant in Mayfair
