Estiatorio Milos Hires Bank to Find Minority Partner
The luxury restaurant group seeks external capital to accelerate global scaling across its 12 current locations.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Business Strategy
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Estiatorio Milos has hired investment bank Moelis & Company to explore the addition of a strategic minority partner. The luxury restaurant group, which operates 12 locations across seven countries, is seeking capital to fuel its ongoing global expansion.
Why it matters
Securing a minority partner allows established hospitality brands to accelerate scaling without relinquishing full operational control. The move signals a transition toward a more capital-intensive growth phase for a firm that has historically relied on a mix of licensing and partnerships.
Estiatorio Milos currently maintains 12 restaurant locations across seven countries. The firm is now seeking a minority partner to support growth beyond its existing portfolio, which includes units in New York, Las Vegas, and Miami, alongside hotel and yacht charter operations.
The players
Estiatorio Milos
A luxury restaurant brand with 12 global locations that utilizes a diverse model of owned sites, licensing, and management agreements.
Moelis & Company
A global investment bank hired to advise on finding a strategic minority partner for capital expansion.
Costas Spiliadis
The founder of Estiatorio Milos who established the company in 1979.
The details
The firm, founded by Costas Spiliadis, currently employs a diverse operating model that incorporates company-owned sites, licensing agreements, and management partnerships with hotel and real estate groups. By bringing in a strategic minority partner, the company can leverage external capital to standardize its expansion efforts across new markets. This shift supports the operational requirements for planned units, including a location in Los Cabos set to open next spring.
Timeline
1979: Estiatorio Milos was founded.
Week of October 19, 2026: The company hired Moelis & Company.
Spring 2027: A new location is scheduled to open in Los Cabos.
Market Landscape
The search for a minority partner follows a well-documented industry trend where high-end hospitality groups leverage private equity to fund international growth while maintaining existing brand governance. This approach mirrors the 2021 minority stake acquisition of Nobu Hospitality by HPS Investment Partners.
Operators looking to scale should observe how the brand balances its mix of licensing and company-owned units during this capital infusion. Founders should track the potential shift in operational autonomy that typically accompanies the onboarding of a strategic minority partner.
The takeaway
Bringing in a minority partner is a strategic lever for scaling brand presence without compromising the original operational vision. Founders should evaluate the cost of capital against the long-term dilution of control before pursuing similar institutional investment partnerships.
Further reading
For more on how operators manage growth and equity structures, visit Business Strategy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nation's Restaurant News.
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