New Zealand’s Inaugural Michelin Guide Has Just Dropped, Here’s Who Received A Star

It has been talked about for months—the excitement, the speculation, the amount we paid to secure it. But whatever your thoughts are on the Michelin Guide, as of tonight it has officially arrived in New Zealand, and we have the full list of who nabbed a star and a bib gourmand. Beyond this, more than 100 restaurants across the country were recognised in the guide as a whole. 

Established in 1900 in France by tyre manufacturers as a way to encourage French motorists to travel more (and, as a result, spend more on tyres), the guide quickly grew into a highly respected source for restaurants of a particular quality in France. The version of the guide we are most familiar with today—that is, the one, two, and three stars—was launched in 1931. Since then, the Michelin Guide has spread into more than 30 countries around the world, becoming an internationally standardised measure of culinary quality, and a trusted source for travellers when visiting new places. 

It has also become synonymous with a certain style of dining, not always correctly. While, yes, Michelin starred restaurants often fit within a fine dining, or fine dining-adjacent, sphere, that isn’t always the case. When the guide launched in Thailand in 2017, street food vendor Jay Fai received a star for her now-iconic crab omelette. Famously, the Michelin Guide claims to exclusively reward cooking—supposedly not taking into account decor, rigidity or service, although there is certainly a standard of all of those that Michelin stars usually represent. 

So, what do the awards mean? In a fitting nod to the guide’s origins, the language around the awards still feels anchored in the idea that the reader is on a journey of sorts. One Michelin star refers to high quality cooking, somewhere that’s worth a stop. Two stars is somewhere with excellent cooking that’s worth a detour. While three stars, the ultimate award, is a restaurant with exceptional cuisine that’s worth a journey of its own. Bib Gourmands, meanwhile, award affordable restaurants serving great food at reasonable prices—which, in Michelin terms, means a three course meal for less than $40USD. Then there are the restaurants who are listed in the guide but haven’t received an award—these are the places Michelin recognises for hitting certain quality benchmarks, but that might not fit the star or Bib Gourmand requirements. 

There has been a lot of conversation around how the Michelin awards might be adapted to fit New Zealand’s style of dining. Would there be a recognition of our more casual approach to eating out and, if so, would we see some of our more informal restaurants receive stars in the way the guide was slightly altered to fit Thailand’s incredible street food vendors? Will anywhere be deemed good enough to receive more than one star? Well, we finally have the answers. Here, we’ve got the scoop on all the restaurants that have received awards in New Zealand’s inaugural Michelin guide.

Read on for the full list of restaurants to be awarded in New Zealand’s first Michelin Guide. 

One Michelin Star 

Tala, Auckland

Inati, Christchurch

Ahi, Auckland

Ortega Fish Shack, Wellington

Tantalus Estate Restaurant, Waiheke

Rātā, Queenstown

Logan Brown, Wellington

Jano Bistro, Wellington

Tussock Hill, Christchurch

Sherwood, Queenstown

Kika, Wanaka

Paris Butter, Auckland

Mudbrick, Waiheke

Amisfield, Queenstown

Two Michelin Stars

Essence, Queenstown

Three Michelin Stars

No one yet. There's always next year!

Bib Gourmand 

1154 Pastaria, Wellington

A'mano, Christchurch

Aosta, Arrowtown

Apero Food & Wine, Auckland

Atelier, Auckland

Bianca, Auckland

Bistro Saine, Auckland

Boda, Auckland

Bombay Palace, Wanaka

Cazador, Auckland

Cicio Cacio, Wellington

Fire and Slice, Christchurch

Francesca, Wanaka

Gatherings, Christchurch

Gemmayze Street, Auckland

Goat, Auckland

Hummingbird, Wellington

Indian Alley, Wellington

Londo, Christchurch

Milenta, Auckland

Muttonbird, Wanaka

Odeon, Christchurch

Osteria Uno, Auckland

Paloma Taqueria, Auckland

Parro, Auckland

Pasta & Cuore, Auckland

Roca, Christchurch

Soul Quarter, Christchurch

Sundays, Queenstown

Tempero, Auckland

The Athens Yacht Club, Christchurch

The Cow, Queenstown

The Monday Room, Christchurch

Treehouse, Wanaka

Special Awards

Young Chef Award: Robert Fairs from Londo, Christchurch 

Service Award: Stina Persen from Graze, Wellington

Sommelier Award: Matthew Aitchison from The French Cafe, Auckland

Main image credit: TALA | Instagram