Celebrity Chef José Andrés Launches His First Hotel- The Bazaar House

I remember attending the opening of José Andrés' The Bazaar at the SLS in Beverly Hills sixteen years ago. It was a dining concept that broke the mold of the traditional restaurant and created more of a sexy-cool experience where theatrics were woven into the presentation of the cocktails and the cuisine. Since that ground-breaking event, the Michelin-starred chef has expanded The Bazaar by José Andrés to Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, and his hometown of Washington D.C. in addition to growing his José Andrés Group to include 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges, twenty brands, and now a luxury hotel and membership club called The Bazaar House by José Andrés.

When making the decision where to launch his new hospitality concept, this Spanish culinary entrepreneur didn't have to think twice. "Thirty years ago when I came to Washington DC as a young chef, I knew that this city was a perfect place to bring people together over food. It's one of the beating hearts of our country, a place where I knew I could meet anyone and do anything, starting with a great meal. Well, today I'm so happy to start a new chapter with The Bazaar House in Georgetown, an amazing opportunity to welcome people to my city in an entirely new way," shared Andrés.

Opening our first hotel in Georgetown holds a special place for us as a DC-born company where we have grown now for three decades and will now start an exciting new chapter with the launch of our first-ever hotel and membership club,"

Sam Bakhshandehpour, Global CEO, José Andrés Group.

This announcement comes shortly after José Andrés Group brought on successful veteran hotelier and restauranteur Sam Bakhshandehpour, who has worked with Andres since his days at SLS, as Global CEO. "Like restaurants, hotels have a remarkable ability to transport us, provide a welcome retreat and become a unifying anchor in our community," said Bakhshandehpour.

Scheduled to open in 2027, The Bazaar House will be a six-story 67-room luxury hotel and membership club designed by architectural firm Winstanley, and will be a joint partnership between José Andrés Group and Thor Equities, a development company with a $20 billion dollar mixed-use global portfolio. "We are thrilled to be involved in a project that honors Georgetown's rich history and also establishes an exciting new destination for the local community and visitors from around the world," said Chairman and CEO of Thor Equities Group, Joe Sitt. "With strong roots in D.C., José Andrés Group is the perfect operator for this venture, and we look forward to collaborating."

The property was previously home to the Latham Hotel, located at 3000 M Street, which closed back in 2012. Thor Equities purchased the land in 2016 and worked with the local municipality for over seven years to receive final approvals to go forward with the project.

The Bazaar House will feature an exclusive penthouse private membership club called The Bazaar Club which will have special benefits for its members including a signature restaurant, lounge, and the best views of Georgetown. "The private membership club aspect is particularly compelling, as it is designed to connect thought leaders and foster a sense of community curated by José Andrés Group, where local and global guests will be able enjoy exclusive experiences, entertainment venues, and more," Joe Sitt explains.

As a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and television personality - twice named one of Time's "100 Most Influential People," and awarded "Outstanding Chef" and "Humanitarian of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation - José Andrés will soon be able to add 'hotelier' to his long list of accomplishments. I look forward to seeing how the hotel take shape in the coming years, but I am already certain it will have the best room service menu in town!