The Michelin Guide is a prestigious and influential restaurant and hotel rating system that awards Michelin Stars. It was first published by the French tyre company Michelin in 1900.
At that time, there were just over 3,000 cars in France. The Guide was given away free, to promote automobile travel and encourage the use of Michelin tires. After 1920, it was refreshed and reorganised, advertisements were removed, and it was sold, which increased its perceived value.
Today, the Michelin Guide is considered the authoritative resource for discerning diners and travellers seeking exceptional culinary experiences worldwide. Restaurants and chefs aspire to earn Michelin stars, which have become a symbol of culinary excellence and can have a significant impact on a restaurant’s reputation and business.
What are Michelin stars?
Stars are awarded to restaurants based on the quality of the cuisine, the service and the overall dining experience. One star indicates ‘a very good restaurant in its category; worth a stop’; two stars signify ‘excellent cooking; worth a detour’; and three stars, representing the highest level of recognition, mean ‘exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey’.
At the last count, 622 restaurants in France had at least one star. Of these, just 29 establishments had the full three stars, 71 had two and the remaining 522 had a single star.
Michelin employs anonymous, highly-trained inspectors who visit restaurants and hotels without revealing their identities. They evaluate each establishment based on a set of criteria and guidelines developed by Michelin.
One of the unique aspects of the Michelin Guide is its focus on consistency. Restaurants are re-evaluated regularly to ensure that high standards are maintained.
Other awards
As well as stars, the Michelin Guide includes other awards and distinctions.
The Bib Gourmand is an award named after Biberon, the widely recognised Michelin Man. This award recognises restaurants offering good value for money; currently 409 have been awarded in France.
Since 2018, the Michelin Plate symbol is given to restaurants judged to serve commendable, quality food.
Although it originated in France, the Michelin Guide has expanded. It now includes guides for numerous countries, each with its own team of inspectors.
The Michelin Guide also includes ratings and reviews for hotels, with a separate set of criteria for evaluating accommodations.
See the latest listings of Michelin-rated restaurants in France.
For more information on dining out in France, see these Francy That! articles:
