Björn Frantzén (born 26 January 1977) is swedish chef,

restaurateur A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspe ...

and business man. As of 2025 Björn Frantzén is the only chef in the world in charge of three separate restaurants with three Michelin stars each.

Career

Frantzén was born in Solna,

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, Sweden. He played

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

for the Stockholm team AIK between 1992 and 1996 before starting his career as a chef. At first, Frantzén worked as a chef at Edsbacka krog before going on to work at other restaurants, such as Chez Nico's, Dining Lettonie, Pied a Terre, and L'Arpege. Frantzén opened Frantzén/Lindeberg in 2008. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 2009, and its second in 2010. Frantzén/Lindeberg continued to be rated two stars through 2016. Frantzén/Lindeberg was named number 12 of the 50 Best Restaurants Of The Year in ''The White Guide''. In addition, Frantzén started Catering Frantzén and Gaston. Gaston was one of a few wine bars in Stockholm. Frantzén was also the creator of the project "Exceptional Swedish Quality Food" that strives to lift Swedish raw products to a world-class standard. The project was done in partnership with Visit Sweden, LRF (Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund), Martin and Servera, Swedish Meat, and the Swedish Board of Agriculture. In 2016 his first international restaurant was opened — Frantzén’s Kitchen in Hong Kong. Summer 2018 he opened the Flying Elk in Hong Kong that was closed by the end of 2019 due to the economic recession. Late 2018, he opened Zén in Singapore which follows his novel "3-floors of eating experience" to be had at Frantzén. In 2021 Zén received its third Michelin star. Stockholm's The Flying Elk, Corner Club and Gaston were sold in summer 2019. Brasserie Astoria was opened in spring 2021. In may 2025 FZN was awarded three stars in Guide Michelin, which makes Frantzén the only chef in the world with three three-star restaurants. Björn Frantzén's restaurants around the world are operated through the holding company Frantzén Group, with Frantzén himself as the owner along with, among others, Swedish businesswoman and billionaire Antonia Ax:son Johnson and private equity company Altor founder Harald Mix.

Personal life

Frantzén married his long-term partner, Sara Sandberg, in July 2016. Together they have two daughters, Leiah and Stella, who live with them in Stockholm.

Media

In August 2012, Frantzén ran Sweden's Twitter account for a week. During his run he gave out cooking advice and deflected jokes comparing him to the

Swedish Chef The Swedish Chef is a Muppet character from the sketch comedy television series ''The Muppet Show,'' known for his eccentric culinary skills and communicating in mock Swedish gibberish. He was originally performed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz s ...

. In 2014 Frantzén starred in cooking reality-show "Frantzén styr upp" produced by

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...

. In the summer of 2014 he did a series of commercials for Mariestads, the export beer from Spendrups brewery. In 2015

Sveriges Television Sveriges Television AB ("Sweden's Television aktiebolag, Stock Company"), shortened to SVT (), is the Sweden, Swedish national public broadcasting, public television broadcaster, funded by a public service tax on personal income set by the Riksd ...

released documentary ''Hunger'' on Björn Frantzén and Daniel Lindeberg that was shot in 2012.

Bibliography

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Awards

Frantzén's restaurants have been given the following awards: * OAD: #1 Restaurant in Europe * 12th best restaurant in 2013: ''

Restaurant A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

'' magazine * Sweden's best restaurant: 2011, 2012, ''The White Guide'' * Sweden's best food in 2010, the White Guide * Chefs Pub 2013: ''Restaurant World'' * Chef of Chefs 2013: ''Restaurant World'' * Gulddraken Luxury 2013: DN * AA Gill's Guest Drake in 2013: DN Restaurants in Stockholm, Gulddraken , Stockholm Our WayStockholm Our Way

References

External links

Frantzén Official Page

Exceptional Swedish Quality Food official page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frantzen, Bjorn 1977 births Footballers from Stockholm Swedish chefs Swedish men's footballers Living people Men's association football players not categorized by position Head chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants