Petr Krajča, originally from the Czech Republic, has been on quite a global journey since he decided to undertake a professional career in hospitality.
Commencing his professional journey in London back in 2013, he kick-started his career at the prestigious French restaurant Coq D’argent. This was followed by a brief but impactful stint at Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin in 2017, which fueled his love for fine dining.
Returning to London, his European odyssey continued, during which he honed his skills at various hotels and restaurants before joining Jason Atherton and The Social Company in 2019. Impressing with his dedication and keen eye for detail, Krajča moved up the ranks, becoming a vital member of the service team and helping train and upskill other staff members.
In February 2024, seeking new horizons,
Krajča moved to Dubai with Afterton’s encouragement. Here, he joined the team at Row on 45 at Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, and has been a vital part of the restaurant’s continued success, including the accolade of four Gault&Millau toques and last year being named Restaurant of the Year.
Calm and knowledgeable, he is an assured manager and works as the bridge between the front and back of house, pouring wine, delivering plates, sharing and explaining the narratives behind certain dishes, and serving as the consummate host, welcoming and bidding farewell to guests. His presence is felt - by staff and guests alike - as he works to ensure a smooth operation and to provide reassurance during busy service.
This award recognises more than merely knowledge and calm under pressure. A restaurant manager operating at this level is part of the business’s fabric, an invaluable cog in the turning wheel of a restaurant’s success, where service plays an equally important role in the overall guest experience, just as much as the food and wine, if not more so - and their input and skillset cannot be undervalued.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Krajča finds solace and energy in fitness and martial arts, embodying his commitment to staying fit and balanced. Collecting the award for Restaurant Manager of the Year, Krajča is the benchmark for service.
WOW…. What. A. Night ✨ 🙏 🥂
I am incredibly honoured to be named Restaurant Manager of the Year 2026 by Gault&Millau. A moment that truly reminds me that years of hard work, passion, and dedication to our craft do not go unnoticed…. This one feels special 🙏
That said, this award is never about one person.It represents years of being pushed, challenged, trusted, and supported by extraordinary people who believed in me and in the journey day by day.
Endless Thank You to Jason Atherton & Irha Atherton for the constant pursuit of progress and perfection, for the wisdom, the standards, and for never settling, Thank you Grosvenor House Hotel-especially to Ms Pam Wilby, Anthony, Ravi, Bronson and many more for the unwavering daily support ❤️
And to my family at Row on 45, because this is ours.
Daniel Birk and Rahul Babu (congrats, mate!) 👨🍳 Lorenzo & Andrei 🍷 🥂 for the daily motivation and relentless pursuit of excellence & To ENTIRE ROW ON 45 TEAM ( more & more of us) you are the reason this award exists and I am proud to stand with you 🎩 🎩 🎩 🎩 and Thank you to all the others that supported me on the journey from the early days.
Deeply grateful to city of Dubai 🇦🇪 all of our guests, and to the entire team at Gault&Millau, Ali Akawi and David Constable for this incredible recognition 🙏🤩🥳🍾
Humbled by the journey.
Proud of the team.
And more motivated than ever for what’s next. 🚀🥂 @_jasonatherton@irhaatherton@rowon45dubai@dan.birk@chefbabzz@ali.akawi@davidjconstable@gaultmillauuae
Still thinking about last night’s dinner at our sister restaurant Row on 5…honestly, one of the most unforgettable dining experiences I’ve ever had. Every detail, every dish, every pour of wine… just wow 😍😮💨
Massive thanks to @_jasonatherton@irhaatherton@spencermetzger the amazing team who made it all feel so effortless and special. You’ve truly set the bar 🌍@ella.davisxo@fi_fochler 🙌🍷✨⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✨
It was a dream last year to go straight to two stars 🌟 in @michelinguide 🙏Dubai and to retain it shows the work as a team and to our suppliers and guests and to @grosvenorhouse for the support and our team @rowon45dubai it's been an amazing year discovering more incredible products and creating new dishes . We look forward to creating more memories together in this amazing city of @visit.dubai
Wow! Unbelievable @rowon45dubai to have been recognized as the best restaurant in the UAE 🇦🇪 by @gaultmillauuae earning four hats is simply mind-blowing!
A huge thank you to the guide @ali.akawi@davidjconstable and to everyone in the UAE for your support, Thank you to Pam @grosvenorhouse for believing in us and to the entire Grosvenor House team.
A special shoutout to our incredible team @dan.birk ( congratulations 🥳 Chef of the year ) @chefbabzz@petrkrajca , and everyone who works so hard to make this dream a reality. Also, to our team in London, including @spencermetzger , who continues the work in London @rowon5london
Our Dubai dream started over 25 years ago, and here we are today at the very top—we simply cannot believe it.
I want to thank my beautiful wife @irhaatherton , my best friend, and my life partner, who allows this crazy dream to continue, as well as my wonderful family keziah, Jemimah and Athena , without whom I am nothing.
And, of course, thank you to the people of Dubai—we love you! 🥰 and above all to our Almighty God 🙏.
