Arzak confirms London project

The Halkin Hotel in London has announced a new partnership with Basque three-Michelin-starred restaurant Arzak.

After months of speculation, the hotel has announced it will open “Ametsa with Arzak Instruction” in February next year.

The collaboration will involve a five-strong team from the original San Sebastian restaurant, including Juan Mari Arzak and his chef daughter Elena, as well as Mikel Sorazu, Igor Zalakain and Xabier Gutierrez.

Under their instruction, the new restaurant will follow the original’s pioneering focus on using traditional Basque flavours and techniques with “modern, surprising twists”.

Explaining that Ametsa means “dream” in Basque, Elena Arzak summed up the collaboration as representing “The dream of a kitchen beyond our frontiers, in the middle of London, in the heart of the Halkin Hotel.”

“It is a very exciting development for us,” added Juan Mari Arzak of the venture, which will replace The Halkin’s former Thai restaurant, Nahm.