Three-Michelin-starred Zen reopens on August 25 after an extensive refurbishment with a Singaporean team at the helm

Three-Michelin-starred restaurant, Zén reopens on August 25 after a three-month refurbishment, marking the contemporary Nordic restaurant’s most extensive makeover since it opened in 2018.

The redesigned interior of the three-storey Bukit Pasoh shophouse space brings a new look and a reshaped dining experience to the restaurant by acclaimed Swedish chef, Bjorn Frantzen, while also putting an all-Singaporean leadership team at the forefront. Head Chef Kelvin Ng, General Manager Rachel Ezekiel and Head of Beverage Warren Estrop helm Zén — a rare arrangement among top fine-dining establishments in Singapore.

The changes begin from the moment diners arrive at Zén. The restaurant’s first floor now features a 16-seat dark limestone stucco counter, where chefs serve a series of seven canapés, a prelude to the main courses, before diners move to the main dining room on the second storey for main courses.

The restaurant’s lobby sports a dark, sultry look, dominated by hues of dark brown and bronze. Anchoring the bar is a feature wall, cladded in glossy Kit Kat Japanese tiles and adorned with an eclectic range of paraphernalia including Japanese teapots and fermentation jars — a nod to Zén’s Japanese and Nordic influences. Previously, guests lounged around in colourful armchairs before adjourning to a chef’s counter that showcases ingredients.

Telling the story of Sweden

Zén’s refreshed menu features main courses, such as crudo of shima aji with artichoke bariguole, quince and nasturtium; chawanmushi with abalone, coriander, shiitake and beef broth; and Wagyu with oxtail pressé, morel and fermented Kampot pepper.

The restaurant uses seasonal ingredients sourced through trusted regional suppliers. Produce from Japan arrives four times a week, while the menu changes with the seasons, with full menu changes taking place three to four times a year.

The main dining room on the second floor sports a darker, woody look, framed by artwork selected by the Frantzén Group. Each table is equipped with a standing lamp that shines a spotlight on the food, which is presented and plated tableside.

Desserts, petit fours and digestifs are served on the restaurant’s cosy lounge on the third floor. The space features sleek Scandinavian-designed furniture.

Zén’s refurbishment was done in collaboration with Stockholm-based interior architecture studio Joyn, with the redesign focused on changing how guests and staff move through and interact with the space.

The refreshed interiors feature earthy brown tones, with lighter shades of biscuit and hazelnut contrasted with richer cinnamon and chocolate hues. Raffia wall coverings sit alongside fossilised matt stone while sheer cotton, linen and silk blinds soften the tropical daylight that stream into the shophouse.

Swedish design remains a prominent thread. Artwork selected by the Frantzén Group includes Scandinavian pieces and objects that reflect Swedish heritage, including the traditional Dala horse. In the main dining room, a chandelier made from Ann Wolff’s Snowball candle holders for Kosta Boda hangs above a copper shade and high-gloss ceiling, creating water-like reflections.

Singapore team steers the ship

Zén has also seen a change in leadership over the past year, after its two co-executive chefs, Toraik Chua and Martin Ofner left in mid-2025 and early 2026 respectively.

Ng, who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Singapore and has worked at two-starred The Modern in New York, steps up to the top culinary post at Zen’s after he rejoined as senior sous chef in 2024 and was promoted to chef de cuisine in September 2025. There will not be an executive chef appointment at Zén at this point in time.

Another Singaporean Rachel Ezekiel was promoted to general manager late last year after four years at Zén. Prior to that, she worked at The Westin and The Point in Brisbane. On the beverage front, Warren Estrop, who has worked at Meta and Saint Pierre, assumed the role of beverage director for Zén and Brasserie Astoria late last year.

The Frantzén Group, which also runs three-starred Frantzén in Stockholm and three-starred FZN in Dubai, is buzzing with openings. It will open Én by Björn Frantzén, a fine dining restaurant in Crown Sydney and Brasserie Astoria in Crown Towers Perth.

Both restaurants in Australia are slated to open in 2027. Brasserie Astoria will also open at the historic Malmö Västra railway station in the Swedish coastal city of Malmö next year. In August, the group also opened Beach Club Astoria in Marbella, Spain, which is an outdoor open-fire grill restaurant.