New Zealand has reached a landmark moment in its tourism story, with the prestigious MICHELIN Guide unveiling its first ever New Zealand restaurant selection. As the Guide's inaugural expansion into Oceania, the announcement places us firmly on the global culinary map and provides travel advisors with another compelling reason to recommend New Zealand to discerning guests!
Recognising 110 restaurants across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka - leading the awards is Essence in Queenstown - the only restaurant to receive Two MICHELIN Stars.
14 restaurants earned One MICHELIN Star:
In Auckland - Ahi, Mudbrick, Paris Butter, Tala and Tantalus Estate Restaurant.
In Wellington - Jano Bistro, Logan Brown and Ortega Fish Shack.
In Christchurch – Inati and Tussock Hill.
In Queenstown - Amisfield, Rātā and Sherwood.
In Wānaka – Kika.
An additional 35 Bib Gourmand recipients were recognised for offering outstanding food at exceptional value and a further 60 restaurants were included in the MICHELIN Guide selection, demonstrating the depth and diversity of New Zealand's dining experiences.
This recognition extends well beyond the restaurants themselves, reinforcing New Zealand's reputation as a destination where world class landscapes are matched by exceptional food, wine and hospitality. As culinary experiences continue to shape travel decisions, this recognition provides discerning guests with an internationally recognised benchmark of quality and another compelling reason to experience New Zealand. The Guide's inspectors praised New Zealand's distinctive food culture, noting that while each region offers its own unique culinary identity, they all share one central theme of "purity". This is reflected in a cuisine shaped by a rich blend of cultures and contemporary influences, underpinned by outstanding seasonal produce sourced from both land and sea. From world renowned grass fed lamb and beef to fresh vegetables, seafood and artisan products, local ingredients are transformed into innovative dishes inspired by global flavours. Paired with internationally acclaimed wines, New Zealand delivers an authentic food and wine experience that celebrates regional character, natural abundance and genuine manaakitanga.
The Michelin Guide's recognition of New Zealand extends beyond dining. Alongside the restaurant selection, Michelin has also highlighted a collection of exceptional hotels and lodges that showcase the country's diverse accommodation offering. Rather than traditional hotel star ratings, Michelin selects properties based on their character, architecture and design, quality and consistency of service, value and the overall guest experience. From sophisticated city hotels to iconic luxury lodges, the selection pairs seamlessly with New Zealand's award winning restaurants, celebrated wine regions and immersive touring experiences. Combined with scenic rail journeys, helicopter adventures and boutique touring, these accolades give travel advisors even more inspiration to create exceptional itineraries where outstanding cuisine and memorable stays are at the heart of the guest experience.
Two MICHELIN Keys, representing exceptional stays.
One MICHELIN Key, recognising very special places to stay.
MICHELIN Selected Hotels (recommended however have not received a Key).
Pacific Destinations is proud to partner with these exceptional properties and our team would be delighted to help travel advisors tailor bespoke New Zealand itineraries that combine MICHELIN recognised dining with luxury accommodation, iconic sightseeing and immersive regional experiences to create unforgettable journeys!
