The establishment of the MICHELIN Guide in New Zealand is a significant milestone for our culinary scene, a signal that our gastronomy is worthy of a special journey.
Announced on 30 June, 2026, at an event held at the International Convention Centre, the inaugural MICHELIN Guide New Zealand saw 1 restaurant earn two stars and 14 restaurants earn one star, with 110 restaurants recognised overall.
Our inaugural MICHELIN Guide starred restaurants are:
- Two stars for Essence in Queenstown led by Executive Chef Paul Froggatt
- One star for 14 restaurants in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown:
From Auckland:
Tantalus Estate: Located within a vineyard estate, Tantalus Estate combines French techniques with New Zealand produce. Classic dishes sit alongside local specialties, offering a balanced and polished dining experience.
Tala: Tala offers a multi-course experience inspired by Samoan cuisine and culture. Traditional flavors are reinterpreted in creative ways, delivering a deeply personal and immersive dining journey.
Paris Butter: Set in an understated space with an elegant interior, Paris Butter presents a season-driven tasting menu featuring peak New Zealand produce. European techniques are combined with subtle Asian influences for a refined and modern dining experience.
Mudbrick: Housed in a converted barn within a vineyard, Mudbrick offers sweeping views and a cuisine that blends European, Japanese and Indian influences. Dishes are layered and expressive, with wine pairings enhancing the overall experience.
Ahi.: Ahi means ‘fire’ in Māori and the food revolves around the wood-fired hearth. Traditional New Zealand flavors are reinterpreted with modern techniques, emphasizing cultural heritage and traceable ingredients. Seasonal menus highlight a strong farm-to-table ethos.
From Wellington:
Jano Bistro: Set in a historic cottage, Jano Bistro offers French cuisine crafted with local ingredients, including herbs and edible flowers from its garden. Menus evolve regularly with the seasons.
Logan Brown: Located in a grand former bank building, Logan Brown delivers contemporary dishes with layered flavors and precise execution in a striking architectural setting.
Ortega: With a nautical ambiance, Ortega focuses on seafood prepared in diverse styles. The menu draws from global influences to highlight the natural qualities of fresh ingredients.
From Christchurch
Inati: Designed as a shared dining experience, Inati reimagines European classics using high-quality New Zealand produce, creating bold and flavorful dishes.
Tussock Hill: Set within a boutique vineyard, Tussock Hill offers a lunch-only menu of seasonal sharing plates designed to complement its wines, reflecting a strong connection between food and terroir.
From Queenstown:
Amisfield: Set beside its own vineyard, Amisfield offers bold and creative dishes using seasonal ingredients from Central Otago, paired with wines from its estate.
Kika: A modern New Zealand restaurant with global influences, Kika focuses on bold flavors and premium local produce in a sharing-style format.
Rātā: Named after a native tree, Rātā showcases modern New Zealand cuisine using ingredients sourced locally from Central Otago, reflecting a strong connection to the land.
Sherwood: Overlooking Lake Wakatipu, Sherwood follows a “garden-to-table” philosophy, with most ingredients sourced from its own garden or foraged locally, resulting in a hyper-seasonal and expressive menu.
This is recognition that Aotearoa’s food story, our talented chefs, dedicated hospitality professionals and exceptional local produce have earned a place among the world’s leading dining destinations.
MICHELIN’s presence is not just about stars – it celebrates diversity, creativity, sustainability, and innovation across all types of dining experiences. It represents an opportunity for chefs to showcase their craft, for restaurants to benchmark against global standards. Its impact extends far beyond those awarded, creating opportunities to attract high-value culinary visitors, showcase New Zealand’s unique food culture and continue lifting standards across the wider hospitality industry.
What makes the arrival of the Guide so significant is the spotlight it shines on hospitality as a whole. Whether you operate a neighbourhood café, family restaurant, regional eatery, wine bar or fine dining destination, the same principles underpin memorable guest experiences.
The Restaurant Association is here to support, educate and champion New Zealand’s hospitality industry as we take our place on the global stage.
Understanding the MICHELIN Guide selections
MICHELIN Star (1 to three stars may be awarded)
Awarded for exceptional cooking. Inspectors assess the quality of the ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavours, the personality of the chef expressed through the cuisine, and consistency. While the overall dining experience is important, the Star itself recognises excellence in the cooking.
Bib Gourmand
Recognises restaurants offering high-quality food at good value.
MICHELIN Selected
Highlights restaurants recognised by inspectors for the quality of their food and dining experience.
View MICHELIN Guide FAQ’s here.
What does MICHELIN Guide mean for New Zealand hospitality?
The inaugural MICHELIN Guide restaurant selection for New Zealand was announced on June 30, with the initial selection spotlighting four of our country’s culinary destinations: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. But the arrival of the MICHELIN Guide is about much more than awards. Around the world, MICHELIN Guides help shape travel decisions, attract international visitors and shine a spotlight on local food cultures. Culinary travellers are among the world’s highest-spending visitors, often choosing destinations based on the quality and uniqueness of their dining experiences.
For New Zealand, the Guide provides an opportunity to:
- Continue building New Zealand’s reputation as a world-class food destination
- Raise New Zealand’s international food profile
- Attract high-value visitors
- Showcase our regions and local producers
- Celebrate the diversity of our hospitality industry
- Create opportunities for businesses of all sizes – check out Tourism New Zealand’s Invitation to Dinner campaign
Helping you elevate your business – resources and training
The Restaurant Association has resources to support, educate and champion New Zealand’s hospitality industry as we take our place on the global stage.
Building Great Teams
Great hospitality starts with great people. Find practical advice on recruitment, leadership, workplace culture and training.
Service Excellence
World class dining experiences are not just about the food that is served. Deliver memorable experiences that keep customers coming back.
Mental Health
Healthy teams create the best hospitality. Explore practical wellbeing resources for owners, managers and staff.
You can also check out our 8-part Elevate Hospitality Service Series. Each short and practical video is available on-demand, showing simple ways to connect with guests, build confidence, and create great experiences.
MICHELIN Guide News
Official announcements
Read more about what we think this means for New Zealand here, or read some of the official announcements using the links below:
- NZ restaurants serve MICHELIN Guide success (Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Hon Louise Upston’s press release)
- New Zealand’s first MICHELIN Guide serves up major moment for our food and beverage story (Tourism New Zealand news)
- Celebrating New Zealand’s First MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Selection (Restaurant Association article)
- The Inaugural Michelin Guide New Zealand Reveals 1 Two Michelin Stars, 14 One Michelin Star And 35 Bib Gourmands (MICHELIN Guide press release)
- MICHELIN New Zealand to Unveil Its First Restaurant Selection on June 30 (Michelin Guide announcement)
- Restaurant Association welcomes arrival of MICHELIN Guide to New Zealand (Restaurant Association of New Zealand press release)
- The MICHELIN Guide Expands Its Global Footprint With Its Arrival in Aotearoa New Zealand (Michelin Guide press release)
- The MICHELIN Guide is coming to Aotearoa New Zealand (Tourism New Zealand press release)
- Michelin adds New Zealand to the menu (Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Hon Louise Upston’s press release)
Invitation to Dinner Marketing toolkit
Invitation to Dinner is the foundation of Tourism New Zealand’s Food & Beverage strategy. They are taking the attention that MICHELIN has provided into a nationwide rally moment, open to food and beverage operators of every kind. Whether you produce, grow, craft or host – wherever you are in
the country – there’s an opportunity for you to be involved.
The concept goes beyond the table; it aims to capture the warmth of our people, the vibrancy and pure flavour of our ingredients, and deep care for land and sea.
Use this toolkit, packed with ready-to-use templates and content guidelines, to showcase what makes your experience unique, and be part of this historical moment for New Zealand’s tourism and hospitality industry.
To access the toolkit, you’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one, but it’s free and easy to do – click the button below to get started!