The Peninsula Bangkok Welcomes Award-Winning Chef Stefan Leitner As The Hotel’s New Executive Chef

The Peninsula Bangkok is pleased to welcome Chef Stefan Leitner as the hotel’s new Executive Chef. Born in Austria, Chef Leitner brings a wealth of experience in delighting diners at luxury hotels in Russia, the US, Mainland China and Hong Kong. He has also worked at renowned restaurants in Europe under the guidance of Michelin-starred celebrity chefs, including Reinhard Gerer, Leonard Cernko and Heinz Reitbauer. In 2017, Chef Leitner won the prestigious Golden Cloche Award, which is considered the highest culinary accolade for Austrian chefs who work overseas.

Chef Leitner joins The Peninsula Bangkok after spending five years at The Hong Kong Club, a legendary Hong Kong institution that is managed by The Peninsula Hotels. As Executive Chef, he helmed eight dining outlets and the banquet operations for the company. During his tenure, he also restructured the kitchen to maximise its operating potential, successfully reopened Red Room Restaurant to deliver Michelin-starred quality dining, and designed and managed several innovative new menus.

Born in Fohnsdorf, a small village in Austria, Chef Leitner completed a four-year chef’s apprenticeship under the tutelage of Restaurateur Koeck, his mentor and inspiration. He then gained high-level culinary experience at some of Austria’s finest restaurants, including one-Michelin-starred Restaurant Kloster Und, Krems; and two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Steirereck, Vienna.

At the relatively young age of 25, Chef Leitner decided to gain international experience by taking up an opportunity to work alongside three-Michelin-starred, German Chef Heinz Winkler as Sous Chef, Fine Dining, at The Ritz-Carlton Moscow. During his time in Moscow, the restaurant gained the number one dining ranking in the Russian capital for two consecutive years. 

Furthering his global culinary journey, Chef Leitner relocated from Russia to the sunshine state of Florida to take up the position of Banquet Chef at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. After two years in the US, his next culinary adventure took him to China’s tropical destination of Hainan Island, where he assumed the role of Chef de Cuisine at The Ritz-Carlton Sanya’s Sands restaurant, before being promoted to Executive Sous Chef. After two successful years in Sanya, Chef Leitner joined The Hong Kong Club, where he spent 18 months as Executive Sous Chef before being promoted to Executive Chef.

Chef Leitner became Executive Chef at The Peninsula Bangkok in October 2018.

“Joining The Peninsula Bangkok is both a great challenge and an immense thrill for me. Thailand has long been one of my favourite travel destinations, and during each visit to the country I have been fascinated by Thailand’s unique culture, beautiful landscapes and the warmth of its hospitality. Of course, Thai cuisine is a defining feature for both local people and visitors, and I look forward to incorporating some of the finest and freshest ingredients from across Thailand to create inspirational dining experiences for guests,” says Chef Stefan Leitner, Executive Chef at The Peninsula Bangkok.