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Culinary end: Björn Swanson closes his Faelt after 5 years!

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Björn Swanson is closing his restaurant Faelt in Berlin after five years. The gastronomic scene is changing.

Björn Swanson schließt sein Restaurant Faelt in Berlin nach fünf Jahren. Die gastronomische Szene verändert sich.
Björn Swanson is closing his restaurant Faelt in Berlin after five years. The gastronomic scene is changing.

Top chef Björn Swanson has announced that he will close his restaurant Faelt in Berlin-Schöneberg on November 30, 2025. After five years of challenges and changes, Swanson sees Faelt not only as a restaurant, but also as his “anchor” and “lifeboat” in turbulent times. The opening took place just four weeks before the first lockdown, which complicated the restaurant's development from the start. Swanson announced the closure via Instagram, emphasizing that working in fine dining had become uninteresting to him personally. Although Faelt won a Michelin star in 2021 due to its culinary achievements, Swanson had to give it up again this year. This could have been an indication of the company's tense economic situation.

Swanson describes his time in the Faelt as a kind of “tightrope act” that brought both opportunities and challenges. His experience has been “from crisis to crisis,” and he notes that Berlin itself has also changed, which made the decision to close it easier. Despite these difficulties, Swanson was grateful for the positive experiences and conversations with his guests. He invited people to visit the restaurant before it closed and highlighted the outstanding performance of Patryk Döring, who took over as head chef at Faelt this year.

Economic challenges in fine dining

Faelt's closure is part of a larger trend rocking Berlin's dining scene. According to a report by Euronews The fifth Michelin-starred restaurant, Ernst, has recently closed its doors. Other high-profile closures include the restaurants Kin Dee, Cordo and NoName. Market conditions have worsened dramatically since the pandemic, and many customers are now less willing to spend money on dining experiences.

A study shows that one in ten restaurants in Germany will have to close by 2023. Experts warn of further bankruptcies, particularly due to rising operating costs and inflation. Gerrit Buchhorn from DEHOGA warns that rising rents and costs as well as the decline in tourism are endangering fine dining in Berlin. However, Swanson is optimistic about the closure and plans to remain active in the restaurant industry after a short break.

The restaurant's awards

The Faelt was honored with numerous awards during its run, including:

  • Michelin-Stern 2021
  • Top 100 bei Rolling Pin
  • 3F im Feinschmecker
  • 16 Punkte im Gault Millau
  • 7+ Pfannen im Gusto

As his time at Faelt comes to an end, Swanson continues to run the Bistrot Swan&Son in Charlottenburg, which he opened in 2024 and which has been successful so far.

The closure of Faelt not only marks the end of a successful chapter for Björn Swanson, but also reflects the challenges facing the catering industry in Berlin. The high number of closed Michelin star restaurants raises questions about the future of the capital's fine dining scene.

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