A stunning new restaurant to be run by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson is to open on May 27, the Fairmont Hamilton Princess said yesterday.

The new restaurant — Marcus’ — takes up the space once occupied by the Gazebo ballroom and features a bar, inside and terrace space and a private dining room.

And Hamilton Princess director of sales and marketing, Scott Evans, said the new-look lobby bar, scheduled to open on May 15, will be called the Crown & Anchor in tribute to the popular Cup Match gambling game.

Mr Evans said: “The relationship the hotel has with the Marcus Samuelsson Group is spectacular.”

He added the hotel had been given free rein to create a restaurant that reflected Mr Samuelsson’s “sense of style”, which includes atmosphere, music and entertainment as well as fine dining.

Mr Evans said: “Marcus’ comes complete with a terrace that rings the entire restaurant, two kitchens and the private dining room.”

He added: “The fun thing about this place is the bar. It is a place you can come to, enjoy a drink and have a couple of starters. Marcus wants people to enjoy themselves.

“On the other hand, you can come with ten of your friends, have a great time and enjoy everything on the menu. I think they have a good formula here.”

Marcus’ will initially be opening for dinner dining only before expanding to lunch and dinner from June 11.

Mr Evans was speaking after a media tour of the iconic hotel to update on progress on the $90 million revamp launched after the hotel was bought by the Bermuda Green family.

The new restaurant features a white tiled bar with mustard and green geometric patterns, a polished concrete banquette and is expected to seat up to 80 people in the main restaurant, around 60 outside and at least 20 in the private dining room.

Mr Evans said: “Part of the new Hamilton Princess is to make people want to come here.”

The Crown & Anchor, with bar, restaurant and terrace, features more modern furniture and lighter colours than its predecessor — and a row of pillars has been taken out to open the space up even more.

Outside, the fish pond and a flight of stairs have gone, with the new-look area sitting several feet lower than it was previously.

Mr Evans said: “Before, when you were here, you were able to look out the windows and couldn’t really see anything. Now you can see the Great Sound and have the ability to sit outside and watch the Great Sound and enjoy cocktails and dinner.”

The new-look Flagpole Terrace will feature modern sculptures, like the already-installed pumpkin by a Japanese artist and a new gazebo, while a moongate is strategically placed with the harbour in the background for photographs.

The new marina will also feature a range of watersports, including jet skis, kayaks and sailboards with scuba diving and snorkelling also on offer, while a bus shuttle will transport guests to the new beach club on the South Shore.

Mr Evans added that beach club day tickets for non-hotel guests will also be available, with some restrictions depending on the hotel’s occupancy rates.

Hotel management also previewed some of the revamped rooms in the hotel’s Gazebo wing.

A one bedroom Signature suite — available for between $895 and $995 in summer and in “the low $600s” in the off-season — features a spacious living room and bathroom in creams and tans, as well as original artwork, like a map of Bermuda and a longtail bird made out of Bermuda postage stamps.