The MICHELIN Guide inspectors select restaurants only on the basis of the quality of the cuisine served by a restaurant at a given time. They do not take into account the service, the tableware or the atmosphere at a restaurant; these aspects are documented but are not part of the decision to award a restaurant a Star.
MICHELIN distinctions are awarded annually, based on the anonymous and independent dining experiences of our inspection teams, and they are re-evaluated each year.
Five criteria are applied in an identical manner around the world when assessing a restaurant:
the quality of the ingredients used
the mastery of cooking and culinary techniques
the harmony of flavors
the personality of the cuisine as expressed through the dishes
and consistency, both across the entire menu and between visits.
The MICHELIN Stars
MICHELIN Stars are the highest accolade awarded by the inspectors to restaurants in the Guide. Stars identify restaurants that offer the best culinary experiences. Contrary to popular belief, they reward only the quality of the cooking itself.
The MICHELIN Star - there was only one to begin with - was created in 1926. Then, between 1931 and 1933, the system was extended, and three levels of Stars were introduced. They stand for:
One MICHELIN Star: High-quality cooking - Worth a stop.
Two MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking - Worth a detour.
Three MICHELIN Stars: Exceptional cuisine - Worth a special journey.
The MICHELIN Bib Gourmand
Contrary to popular belief, the restaurants recommended within the MICHELIN Guide aren’t all about expensive ‘fine dining’. From luxurious restaurants to village pubs, and trendy bistros to street food stands, the MICHELIN Guide offers something for everyone, for every occasion and in every price bracket.
Since 1997, our best value for money restaurants – offering a three course meal at a reasonable price – have been pointed out using a special award: the Bib Gourmand. The price limit for Bib Gourmand consideration varies from country to country, depending on the cost of living, but the inspectors are searching for the same high quality, wherever they happen to be in the world.
The Bib Gourmand award highlights restaurants that our inspectors consider to be the best value for money within our selection. At these establishments, restaurant-goers can enjoy very good food at a moderate price. Bib Gourmand restaurants fall within the € and €€ price range, namely the categories "On a budget" and "A moderate spend".
Click here to know more about the Bib Gourmand.
The MICHELIN Green Star
The MICHELIN Green Star can be awarded to any type of establishment recommended by the MICHELIN Guide, whether or not it has a distinction for its food (a Bib Gourmand or MICHELIN Star). It takes into consideration concrete sustainable initiatives and highlights industry-leaders when it comes to a restaurant's commitment to eco-friendly gastronomy.
These initiatives can take on a wide variety of forms, depending on the issues and resources specific to each restaurant, but range from the sourcing of ingredients and respecting seasonality to reducing waste and raising customer awareness.
As such, there are no fixed criteria; the MICHELIN Guide simply aims to recognize the most remarkable commitments and encourage the creativity shown by restaurateurs in devising new courses of daily action.
To find out more, read our article.