From dream to reality:
Restaurant Ikarus's guest chef concept

At Hangar-7, a project was started which no other restaurant in the world had ever dared to attempt: the guest chef concept. A different top chef each month. It doesn‘t matter which continent or country they come from, whether it‘s the USA, South Africa or Japan. Or whether they serve traditional, fusion or molecular cuisine. What matters most is the variety. And, of course, the high quality of the dishes.

When Restaurant Ikarus opened its doors in 2003, most people couldn‘t imagine that this ambitious plan would actually work in reality. But that was never an issue for the brains behind the concept. They never focused on the “whether”, only on the “how”.

It became clear after just a few months that the guest chef concept would be a resounding success. Firstly, because it fills a gap in the field of top cuisine, a gap which no one had ever dared to fill. And secondly, because Hangar-7 is the perfect environment in which to implement the guest chef concept.

Restaurant Ikarus was also awarded two out of a possible three stars by the Michelin Guide – a distinction not shared by many. Eckhart Witzigmann, who has been the owner of Restaurant Ikarus all along, plays a key role in the innovative concept. The Chef of the Century has been assisted since 2014 by Martin Klein who, as Executive Chef, is in charge of the restaurant.

For the chefs of Restaurant Ikarus, the guest chef concept means adapting to a new menu, a new top chef and a new philosophy each and every month. This demands a high degree of talent, versatility and team spirit.

Awards & Memberships

2 stars in Guide Michelin

5 toques and 19 points in Gault&Millau

100 points and 4 forks
at Falstaff

5 spoons in Schlemmer Atlas

Member of
Les Grandes Tables du Monde

Further Information

Previous guest chefs

Preview Guest Chefs 2025

Current menus

ServusTV: Culinary Heights at Ikarus on ServusTV

Each month at Salzburg’s two Michelin-starred Restaurant Ikarus, a different top international chef creates the menu. For this globally unique concept, Hangar-7 executive chef Martin Klein visits the cream of the crop, takes a look behind the scenes of haute cuisine, and is let in on some exciting culinary secrets. “Culinary Heights at Ikarus” offers a unique glimpse into the world of high-end cuisine and provides an interesting portrait of each guest chef, their culinary philosophy, and the food culture of their country.

Sat 11.01.17:40Culinary Heights at Ikarus - with Soenil Bahadoer