MICHELIN guide was first published in August 1900. Stars were awarded to superior restaurants beginning in 1926, with the second and third stars added in 1931 for establishments outside the Paris area and in 1933 for the capital. The definitions for the stars were introduced in 1936 and are still used today:

A very good restaurant in this category;
Excellent cooking, worth a detour;
Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.

Today, in the 23 countries worldwide currently covered by the MICHELIN guide, over 2,500 restaurants have been awarded one, two or three stars.

Other pictograms were introduced in the late 1990s to identify new categories of restaurants. These included Bib Gourmand restaurants, which offer very good value for money and were featured for the first time in 1997.

The pictograms clearly show that the MICHELIN guide really is for all people—with a selection ranging from three stars to Bib Gourmand restaurants and from luxury to “boutique” hotels—and for all occasions, whether romantic dinners or meals for the entire family.

 

Stars and the Bib Gourmand pictogram denote the quality of cooking, while pavilions and fork-and-spoon symbols indicate the level of comfort

The pictograms in the MICHELIN guide can be defined as follows: stars and the Bib Gourmand icon reflect the quality of the cooking, while pavilions and fork-and-spoon symbols signify the level of comfort.

From that point on, all combinations are possible. A restaurant may rate five forks and spoons (“luxury in the traditional style”) but not receive a star because the quality of the cooking does not warrant it. Conversely, a restaurant may have one fork and spoon (“quite comfortable”) and yet receive three stars because of its outstanding cooking.

Investing in silverware and valet parking will increase the number of forks and spoons (for a restaurant) or pavilions (for a hotel) but will have no impact on the number of stars. Serving outstanding dishes will have no influence on a restaurant’s level of comfort but may have an impact on the number of stars. The two categories are totally separate.

 

The MICHELIN guide's international development

In 1900, the MICHELIN guide was confined to just one country: France.

While the MICHELIN guide moved quickly to cover other destinations in Europe, it wasn’t until 2005 that the Guide made its first entry into the United States with the launch of the MICHELIN guide New York City. That was followed the next year by the MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country and, in November 2007, the MICHELIN guide Los Angeles and the MICHELIN guide Las Vegas.

In late 2007, the first guide to Asia, and more particularly Japan, was released. The initial edition of the MICHELIN guide Tokyo was brought out in November 2007.

Today, the MICHELIN guide covers 23 countries: China, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland and Finland.

When they launched the first guide bearing their name in August 1900, André and Edouard Michelin certainly never imagined that 110 years later their little red guide would cross borders and navigate the seas to become the global benchmark in fine dining.

Photos, texts and logos are provided by Michelin.


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