Michelin Star Restaurants for the Global Gourmand

[Global Rescue]

Travel the globe for the world's best restaurants and discover what top-tier luxury dining costs and delivers.

Article Highlights:​

• Michelin-starred travel hotspots include Tokyo, Paris and NYC, each with dozens of elite restaurants.
• San Sebastián and Bangkok offer exquisite local cuisines reimagined at global levels.
• US cities like Austin and Miami are emerging fine-dining stars with bold regional flavors.
• Mexico and Florida feature Latin-American fusion with rising recognition from the MICHELIN Guide.
• Global Rescue helps members manage food-related illnesses and medical needs while traveling.

Gourmet travelers plan entire itineraries around just one thing: food. Specifically, Michelin-starred food. Whether it’s sushi perfection in Tokyo or avant-garde tasting menus in Spain, these destinations deliver unforgettable culinary experiences.
Before checking out the top Michelin Star restaurant cities by continent to plan your global dining tour, here’s a brief primer:
The Michelin Star restaurant system is a prestigious international rating awarded by the Michelin Guide to recognize excellence in cooking. Restaurants are evaluated based on the quality of ingredients, mastery of flavor and technique, the chef’s personality in the cuisine, value for money and consistency.
Here’s what each Michelin distinction means:

• One Star ★: A very good restaurant in its category. Worth a stop.
• Two Stars ★★: Excellent cooking, worth a detour. Refined and skillful.
• Three Stars ★★★: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey. Among the world’s best.
• Bib Gourmand: Not a star, but a separate award recognizing excellent food at a good value; often more casual but consistently high in quality.

Looking for 5-star? The Michelin system does not include four- or five-star ratings. Three stars is the highest honor a restaurant can receive.

Michelin Star Restaurants in Asia​

Tokyo, Japan
Top Restaurants:

• Sukiyabashi Jiro (★★): Impeccable, minimalist sushi crafted by Jiro Ono. $300–$450.
• Kanda (★★★): Kaiseki experience emphasizing seasonal ingredients. $250+.
• Den (★★): Playful, modern Japanese with creative presentations. $180.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Tokyo:

• Nakajima (★): Sardine-based set meals. $10.
• Tsuta (formerly ★): Truffle oil ramen. $15–$20.
• Soba House Konjiki Hototogisu (★): Inventive ramen. $12.

Bangkok, Thailand
Top Restaurants:

• Le Du (★): Seasonal Thai menus. $85.
• Sühring (★★): German dishes with Thai precision. $170.
• R-Haan (★★): Royal Thai cuisine. $110.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Bangkok:

• Jay Fai (★): Crab omelets and street-style dishes. $25–$40.
• Chim by Siam Wisdom (★): Thai fusion. $60.

Kyoto & Osaka, Japan​

Top Restaurants:

• Hyotei (★★★, Kyoto): Kaiseki tradition. $300+.
• Hajime (★★★, Osaka): Conceptual, artistic tasting menus. $280–$350.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Kyoto & Osaka:

• Gion Nanba (★, Kyoto): Kaiseki lunch. $50.
• Ajikitcho Bunbuan (★, Osaka): Seasonal bento. $40.

Michelin Star Restaurants in Europe​

Paris, France
Top Restaurants:

• Arpège (★★★): Vegetable-forward haute cuisine. $525.
• Guy Savoy (★★★): Classic French fare. $600+.
• Septime (★): Modern French in casual space. $130.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Paris:

• Benoit (★): Ducasse bistro classics. $55.
• Le Servan (Bib): Franco-Asian bistro. $20–$30.

San Sebastián, Spain
Top Restaurants:

• Arzak (★★★): Basque roots and creativity. $280.
• Akelarre (★★★): Ocean views and modernist cuisine. $275+.
• Mugaritz (★★): Experimental dining. $265+.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – San Sebastián:

• Bodegón Alejandro (★): Cozy Basque cooking. $45.
• Narru (Bib): Daily menus. $35.

Barcelona, Spain
Top Restaurants:

• Lasarte (★★★): Modern Spanish cuisine. $270+.
• ABaC (★★★): Molecular Catalan cuisine. $260.
• Disfrutar (★★): Bold Mediterranean dishes. $210.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Barcelona:

• Hofmann (★): Mediterranean lunch. $45.
• Caelis (★): Tasting menus. $50.

Vienna, Austria
Top Restaurants:

• Steirereck (★★): Refined Austrian dishes. $230+.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Vienna:

• Mraz & Sohn (★★): Lunch under $75.
• Steirereck Meierei: Casual café version. $20.

Michelin Star Restaurants in North America​

New York City, USA
Top Restaurants:

• Per Se (★★★): Keller’s French-American tasting. $390+.
• Le Bernardin (★★★): Elite seafood experience. $250–$400.
• Atomix (★★): Korean fusion. $375.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – NYC:

• Jeju Noodle Bar (★): Korean ramen. $20–$30.
• Oxalis (★): French-American bar menu. $10+.

Austin, Texas
Top Restaurants:

• Canje: Caribbean-Texan fusion. $95–$110.
• Nixta Taqueria: Masa-based Mexican. $50–$70.
• More Affordable Michelin Picks – Austin:
• Birdie’s (Bib): Natural wine & food. $15–$25.
• Suerte (Bib): Modern Mexican. Tasting $65.

Florida, USA
Top Restaurants:

• L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (★★): French perfection. $270.
• Soseki (★): Intimate sushi tasting. $185.
• The Surf Club Restaurant (★): Classic American. $160.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Florida:

• Boia De (★): Italian-American fusion. $20–$30.
• Los Félix (★): Elevated tacos. $5–$8.

Michelin Star Restaurants in Latin America​

Mexico City & Oaxaca, Mexico
Top Restaurants:

• Pujol (★★): Famous mole tasting. $150–$180.
• Quintonil (★★): Farm-to-table. $140+.

More Affordable Michelin Picks – Mexico:

• El Califa de León (★): Street tacos. $3–$6.
• Sud 777 (★): Contemporary cuisine. $35 lunch.

The Ultimate in Dining: The 3-Star Michelin Restaurants​

Michelin doesn’t use a 5-star system, but these legendary restaurants are globally regarded as elite:
Maison Pic – Valence, France (★★★)
Osteria Francescana – Modena, Italy (★★★)
The French Laundry – Yountville, USA (★★★)
Sublimotion – Ibiza, Spain (★★★): ~$2,000
Ultraviolet – Shanghai, China (★★★): ~$600–$900

The Global Rescue Connection​

Michelin-star travel is about discovery, indulgence and experience—but even the most refined cuisine can upset your system. Perhaps the legendary dishes in haute cuisine like The French Laundry’s Oysters and Pearls (a dish of Sabayon of pearl tapioca with Island Creek oysters and white sturgeon caviar) or L’Arpege’s signature Arpège Egg (a slow-cooked soft-boiled egg served in its shell with maple syrup, sherry vinegar–infused cream, and chives) didn’t agree with you.
Global Rescue’s 24/7 medical advisory services are a must-have for culinary travelers. Whether you need help finding Pepto-Bismol in Paris or Imodium in Tokyo, our team is always available.
Facing symptoms like food poisoning or a severe allergy? We’ll connect you with a medical professional immediately. Our team can direct you to a clinic, arrange a telehealth consult, or coordinate emergency care—anywhere in the world.
Before departure, we recommend a pre-travel consultation to prepare for dietary differences and ensure you have the right medications. Because sometimes, the difference between a dream meal and a disaster is having someone you trust—on call, wherever you are.