These are the restaurants to book for your next trip.
The 2027 New Zealand Michelin Guide has officially launched, marking the tyre-company-cum-restaurant-directory’s first presence in Oceania.
For its New Zealand edition, Michelin concentrated on four key culinary destinations: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. «We are thrilled to bring the Michelin Guide to Aotearoa New Zealand for the very first time,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, when the guide was first announced. “The country offers a rich and diverse culinary landscape, shaped by its indigenous Māori heritage, Pacific influences, and a new generation of chefs who champion local produce with creativity and passion.”
Prior to the awards, onlookers questioned how Michelin would handle New Zealand’s restaurant scene, which errs more heavily on the casual side than ‘fine’ dining. Its dining landscape is heavily shaped by the principle of ‘Manaakitanga’ – a Māori tradition that prioritizes warm, generous, and respectful hospitality. It is potentially in light of this rejection of formality that means New Zealand is still without a three Michelin-starred restaurant. Just one restaurant, Queenstown’s Essence, received two stars, and 14 were awarded one.
Among the new one stars is Tala in Auckland, which serves a Samoan-inspired tasting menu. “Michelin coming to New Zealand is great for the hospitality scene and the focus it will bring on NZ cuisine at an international level,” said owner and executive chef Henry Onesemo. “I have always thought New Zealand cuisine was of a world-class standard, and with Michelin it will finally be recognized as such.”
See also: Michelin-Star Recipes You Can Make at Home
A fellow Auckland one-star recipient was Paris Butter. “While the restaurant scene in NZ is relatively young compared to the rest of the world, it is definitely punching above its weight,” said chef and co-owner Zennon Wijlens. The arrival of Michelin is “super exciting not only for the hospitality industry but for NZ as a whole,” he added.
Stars were also awarded to Tussock Hill in Christchurch, Kika in Wānaka, and The Estate on Waiheke Island. There was speculation surrounding the fate of Amisfield, a restaurant within a winery in Queenstown that has routinely been named as one of the country’s best but was marred by controversy surrounding former chef Vaughan Mabee. Michelin was happy to overlook this, and Amisfield was awarded one star.
The ceremony also saw 35 restaurants awarded a Bib Gourmand – Michelin’s recognition for destinations that serve ‘good food at moderate prices.’
It may come as a surprise to hear that New Zealand is getting its first Michelin guide ranking before Australia. The latter has more international flights and over double the number of international visitors per year, and, to many, a more influential dining scene.
So, how did New Zealand get the inspectors in first? Simply, money talks – or rather, money grants stars. Individual restaurants cannot pay to get a Michelin star, nor can they pay for inspectors to visit, but tourism boards and government bodies can fund the guide’s presence in a country; Michelin still holds ultimate discretion over how many stars go out and who gets them. The practice has become standard for new Michelin locations (Australia is following the same tact, and will get its own guide this fall).
The launch of the nation’s first Michelin Guide follows hot on the heels of the launch of its inaugural Michelin Keys award, which highlighted 19 leading hotels across New Zealand, including Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Blanket Bay, and The Lindis.
New Zealand’s Michelin-starred restaurants
Two stars
Essence, Queenstown
One star
Ahi., Auckland
Amisfield, Queenstown
Inati, Christchurch
Logan Brown, Wellington
Jano Bistro, Wellington
Kika, Wānaka
Mudbrick, Waiheke Island
Ortega, Wellington
Paris Butter, Auckland
Rātā, Queenstown
Sherwood, Queenstown
Tala, Auckland
The Estate, Waiheke Island
Tussock Hill, Christchurch
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