NZ’s first MICHELIN Guide revealed
The inaugural MICHELIN Guide New Zealand 2026 has been revealed with 110 establishments recognised, including one restaurant achieving Two MICHELIN Stars.
The results were announced at a ceremony in central Auckland after months of anonymous inspections across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Essence in Queenstown, led by Executive Chef Paul Froggatt, was the only restaurant to achieve Two MICHELIN Stars.
A further 14 restaurants were awarded One MICHELIN Star, 35 were recognised with a ‘Bib Gourmand’ for offering good food at great value, and a further 60 are included in the official MICHELIN Guide selection.
“It is rare to award such a quantity of Stars in a country’s inaugural launch, New Zealand’s performance has been genuinely impressive,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide. “The destination presents more than a selection of outstanding restaurants; to our Inspectors, it revealed a contemporary culinary map shaped by unique terroir and a food culture in quiet harmony with nature.”
The One MICHELIN Star restaurants are:
The Estate – Auckland
Tala – Auckland
Paris Butter – Auckland
Mudbrick – Waiheke Island, Auckland
Ahi – Auckland
Jano Bistro – Wellington
Logan Brown – Wellington
Ortega – Wellington
Inati – Christchurch
Tussock Hill – Christchurch
Amisfield – Queenstown
Kika – Queenstown
Rātā – Queenstown
Sherwood – Queenstown
In addition to the restaurant selection, the MICHELIN Guide also presented three Special Awards.
MICHELIN Guide Young Chef Award: Chef Robert Fairs – Londo, Christchurch.
MICHELIN Guide Service Award: Stina Persen – Graze, Wellington.
MICHELIN Guide Sommelier Award: Matthew Aitchison – The French Café, Auckland.