Fourteen Christchurch restaurants awarded by the MICHELIN Guide

MICHELIN Guide celebrating the Christchurch food scene

The city of Ōtautahi Christchurch is celebrating recognition from the MICHELIN Guide to 14 Christchurch restaurants, including two MICHELIN Guide One Star awards, to Inati and Tussock Hill.

One MICHELIN star recognises restaurants using top quality ingredients and where dishes with distinct flavours are prepared to a consistently high standard.

Special Awards

Chef Robert Fair of Londo was the winner of the MICHELIN Guide Young Chef Award, one of three special awards presented.

MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand

Eight Christchurch restaurants were recognised with a MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand, which recognises restaurants that offer good quality, good value cooking.

They are: Earl, Gatherings, Londo, Odeon, Roca, Soul Quarter, The Athens Yacht Club and The Monday Room.

MICHELIN Guide Selected Restaurants

Another four restaurants were recognised as MICHELIN Guide Selected Restaurants: Bessie, Cellar Door, Hugo and Miro.

MICHELIN Guide One Star awards

• Simon & Lisa Levy, Inati
• Adam Harrison, Tussock Hill

The awards were presented at the MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Ceremony on 30 June in Auckland. The event honoured New Zealand’s rich food culture, deep connection to land and sea and the spirit of manaakitanga at the heart of Kiwi hospitality.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says it’s wonderful the rest of the world is discovering the amazing food scene the city has.

ChristchurchNZ Head of Destination Kath Low says,

According to Tourism New Zealand, food is the number one topic of interest for 85% of potential travellers from New Zealand’s top markets, making this recognition a significant boost to consideration of Christchurch for travellers. Food and drink are not just add-ons to the tourism experience but a central pillar of the country’s appeal.

Explore the profiles of some of Christchurch’s best restaurants, including several that have been recognised by the MICHELIN Guide.

Your questions answered

• What is the MICHELIN Guide? The MICHELIN Guide is a globally recognised restaurant guide published by French tire company MICHELIN.
• How are restaurants reviewed? The guide uses anonymous, full-time inspectors who assess restaurants against five criteria: ingredient quality, cooking skill, flavor balance, culinary identity, and consistency. They dine incognito and pay their own way to ensure reviews reflect a typical guest experience.
• What is the MICHELIN star ranking? Stars are awarded on a 1-3 basis. One star noting high-quality cooking and worth a stop. To three stars awarding exceptional cusines that is worth a special journey.
• What is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand? Named after the iconic Michelin Man, known as Bibendum, MICHELIN’s Bib Gourmand distinction first appeared in 1997 and honors restaurants that simply offer good quality, good value cooking. The price limit for Bib Gourmand consideration varies from country to country, depending on the cost of living, but MICHELIN Guide Inspectors are all searching for the same reasonably priced quality, wherever they happen to be in the world.
• What is a MICHELIN Special Award? MICHELIN Special Awards were first introduced in 2017 and aim to recognise the professionalism and hard work of those involved in the food and beverage industry. The awards recognise men and women, in the kitchen or ‘front of house’, who bring their passion for the profession and their know-how to ensure diners enjoy an unforgettable gastronomic experience.