Are you planning a trip to France and looking for a special and truly unique experience? Why not check out one of the 3-star Michelin restaurants? After all, where, if not in France, is it worth trying exquisite and refined cuisine?
In Pursuit of Stars
We all know that a Michelin star is every restaurant’s coveted dream, as earning even one sends them straight to the culinary Olympus. For diners, a Michelin-starred restaurant guarantees quality, impeccable service, and exquisite cuisine. Having one is like securing a spot on the must-visit list!
The history of Michelin stars takes us back to the distant year of 1900 when André Michelin, one of the founders of the French Michelin tire company, decided to publish a brochure listing places that could be useful to tourists traveling by car. The list included various establishments, from hotels and roadside cafes to workshops and car washes.
This was the first Michelin Red Guide (“Michelin, Le Guide Rouge”), which laid the foundation for the modern guide and the internationally renowned Michelin star rating. Initially, the guide only provided information, such as addresses and prices. However, in 1909, ratings were added to the descriptions.
Restaurants are judged on 5 criteria:
- quality of products,
- mastery of skills,
- personality of the chef,
- consistency of the menu
- and harmony of flavors.
Today, the rating system is represented by three prestigious stars.
- One star* – A cuisine of great finesse – Worth a stopover..
- Two stars** – An exceptional cuisine – Worth a detour.
- Three stars*** – Unique cuisine – Worth the journey.
29 Michelin 3-star Restaurants In France And 130 Worldwide
In 2023, only 29 restaurants across France were honored with the prestigious 3 Michelin stars, a slight decrease from the 31 in 2022. Notably, Guy Savoy and Christophe Coutanceau lost their coveted accolade, while the restaurant La Marine in Noirmoutier achieved the culinary Holy Grail.
This exceptional recognition, established in the early 1930s, remains truly exclusive, with approximately 130 establishments worldwide receiving it each year.
Which French Regions Have the Most Michelin Starred Restaurants?
Île-de-France stands out as the premier destination, boasting the highest number of 3-star ratings (9). This surpasses all other regions, making it a top choice for travelers seeking the best quality experiences. This region also leads with the highest total star ratings of 135, indicating a wide array of high-rated attractions or accommodations.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region ranks second in 3-star ratings with 8, offering another high-quality travel experience. It offers a strong mix of quality experiences as evidenced by its robust total star rating count of 97.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, despite having a decent total rating count of 78, only offers 6 experiences or accommodations with a 3-star rating. However, its mix of 1-star and 2-star ratings suggest it still presents a broad range of experiences for travelers.
| Région | 3 étoiles | 2 étoiles | 1 étoile | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Île-de-France | 9 | 15 | 111 | 135 |
| Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8 | 16 | 73 | 97 |
| Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | 6 | 6 | 66 | 78 |
| Grand Est | 1 | 9 | 41 | 51 |
| Occitanie | 1 | 8 | 40 | 49 |
| Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 1 | 7 | 49 | 57 |
| Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | 1 | 6 | 28 | 35 |
| Pays de la Loire | 1 | 1 | 21 | 23 |
| Bretagne | 0 | 2 | 35 | 37 |
| Hauts-de-France | 0 | 2 | 15 | 17 |
| Centre-Val de Loire | 0 | 1 | 20 | 21 |
| Corse | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Normandie | 0 | 0 | 20 | 20 |
The Complete List Of 29 Michelin 3-star Restaurants in France (Version 2023)
| Restaurant | City | Region | Addresse | Phone for reservations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Vague d’Or – Cheval Blanc St-Tropez | Saint-Tropez, France | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | Plage de la Bouillabaisse, 83990 Saint-Tropez | +33 4 94 55 91 00 |
| René et Maxime Meilleur “La Bouitte” | Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Hameau de Saint-Marcel, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, 73440, France | +33 4 79 08 96 77 |
| Kei | Paris, France | Île-de-France | 5 rue du Coq-Héron, Paris, 75001, France | +33 1 42 33 14 74 |
| Auberge du Vieux Puits | Fontjoncouse, France | Occitanie | 5 avenue Saint-Victor, Fontjoncouse, 11360, France | +33 4 68 44 07 37 |
| Restaurant Marcon | Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Larsiallas, Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, 43290, France | +33 4 71 59 93 72 |
| Assiette Champenoise | Reims, France | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | Plage de la Bouillabaisse, Saint-Tropez, 83990, France | +33 3 26 84 64 64 |
| Troisgros – Le Bois sans Feuilles | Ouches, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 728 route de Villerest, Ouches, 42155, France | +33 4 77 71 66 97 |
| Le Clos des Sens | Annecy, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 13 rue Jean-Mermoz – à Annecy-le-Vieux, Annecy, 74940, France | +33 4 50 23 07 90 |
| La Marine | L’Herbaudière, France | Pays de la Loire | 3 rue Marie-Lemonnier, L’Herbaudière, 85330, France | +33 2 51 39 23 09 |
| La Villa Madie | Cassis, France | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | Avenue de Revestel, Cassis, 13260, France | +33 4 96 18 00 00 |
| Les Prés d’Eugénie – Michel Guérard | Eugénie-les-Bains, France | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Place de l’Impératrice, Eugénie-les-Bains, 40320, France | +33 5 58 05 06 07 |
| Le Pré Catelan | Paris, France | Île-de-France | Route de Suresnes – bois de Boulogne, Paris, 75016, France | +33 1 44 14 41 14 |
| Le 1947 à Cheval Blanc | Courchevel, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Le Jardin Alpin, Courchevel 1850, Courchevel, 73120, France | +33 4 79 00 50 50 |
| Épicure | Paris, France | Île-de-France | Le Bristol, 112 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, Paris, 75008, France | +33 1 53 43 43 40 |
| Arpège | Paris, France | Île-de-France | 84 rue de Varenne, Paris, 75007, France | +33 1 47 05 09 06 |
| L’Ambroisie | Paris, France | Île-de-France | 9 place des Vosges, Paris, 75004, France | +33 1 42 78 51 45 |
| Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris | Monaco, France | Monaco | Place du Casino, Monaco, 98000, France | +377 98 06 88 64 |
| Maison Lameloise | Chagny, France | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | 36 place d’Armes, Chagny, 71150, France | +33 3 85 87 65 65 |
| Le Cinq | Paris, France | Île-de-France | Four Seasons Hotel George V, 31 avenue George-V, Paris, 75008, France | +33 1 49 52 71 54 |
| L’Oustau de Baumanière | Les Baux-de-Provence, France | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | Mas de Baumanière, Les Baux-de-Provence, 13520, France | +33 4 90 54 33 07 |
| Pic | Valence, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 285 avenue Victor-Hugo, Valence, 26000, France | +33 4 75 44 15 32 |
| Plénitude – Cheval Blanc Paris | Paris, France | Île-de-France | 8 quai du Louvre, Paris, 75001, France | +33 1 79 35 50 11 |
| Pierre Gagnaire | Paris, France | Île-de-France | 6 rue Balzac, Paris, 75008, France | +33 1 58 36 12 50 |
| Flocons de Sel | Megève, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 1775 route du Leutaz, Le Leutaz, Megève, 74120, France | +33 4 50 21 49 99 |
| Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen | Paris, France | Île-de-France | 8 avenue Dutuit, Paris, 75008, France | +33 1 53 05 10 00 |
| Le Petit Nice | Marseille, France | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | Anse de Maldormé, Marseille, 13007, France | +33 4 91 59 25 92 |
| AM par Alexandre Mazzia | Marseille, France | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | 9 rue François-Rocca, Marseille, 13008, France | +33 4 91 24 83 63 |
| Mirazur | Menton, France | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | 30 avenue Aristide-Briand, Menton, 06500, France | +33 4 92 41 86 86 |
| Georges Blanc | Vonnas, France | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Place du Marché, Vonnas, 01540, France | +33 4 74 50 90 90 |
The list of starred restaurants is updated every year. The most current version can be found on the official webpage of the Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the service, the decor or style of the restaurant taken into account in Michelin Star ratings?
No, the service, the decor, or the style of the restaurant are not taken into account in Michelin Star ratings. Michelin Stars solely reward the quality of the restaurant’s cuisine and culinary offerings. Factors such as the service style, ambiance, or interior design do not influence the decision to award or withhold a Michelin Star. The focus is purely on the food and the dining experience it provides.
2. Can a restaurant lose its Michelin stars?
Yes, nothing is eternal under the moon and a restaurant can lose its Michelin stars. Michelin stars are awarded annually during anonymous evaluations by Michelin Guide inspectors. However, retaining the stars depends on the consistency of the restaurant’s culinary quality and its ability to meet the guide’s evaluation criteria.
If a restaurant fails to maintain the level of quality that earned it its stars, it may lose them during subsequent evaluations. Similarly, changes in personnel, culinary practices, or other factors can affect how Michelin Guide inspectors perceive the restaurant, leading to a revision of its ranking.
It is essential for Michelin-starred restaurants to maintain a consistent level of excellence to retain their stars year after year. Gaining or losing stars can have a significant impact on the establishment’s reputation and patronage.
For example, Gordon Ramsay won 16 Michelin stars during his career as a chef, of which only 7 remain today.
3. How Much Does It Cost To Eat At A 3-star Michelin Restaurant?
Along with practical information about each restaurant, the Michelin Guide also provides insight into the price range of their menus. It is expressed using a number of euro symbols for restaurants in the Euro-Zone and in dollars for restaurants in the USA.
Below is an approximate price range based on the number of euro symbols:
Euro-Zone:
- € < €35
- €€ €35-60
- €€€ €60-100
- €€€€ > €100
4. What is the ‘Étoile Verte’ or Green Star MICHELIN?
Sometimes, you may notice a fourth green star next to the three classic Michelin stars, like these :
The “Étoile Verte” or “Green Star” MICHELIN was introduced in September 2020. Unlike the traditional stars that recognize culinary excellence, the Green Star is awarded to highlight a restaurant’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
The Green Star is awarded to restaurants that stand out for their exemplary environmental practices. These restaurants take measures to reduce their impact on the environment, prioritize local and seasonal products, promote responsible resource management, and implement eco-friendly initiatives.
This new distinction aims to encourage and showcase restaurants that actively engage in environmental protection while providing quality cuisine. The Green Star recognizes not only the chef’s culinary talent but also their dedication to sustainability and the preservation of the planet.
Bon appétit !