Despite the millions of restaurants on Earth, only 136 restaurants have earned a Michelin 3-star distinction. One of the highest honors in the culinary world, these restaurants are the best of the best in all different types of cuisine. Any of these Michelin 3-star restaurants are sure to amaze, but a few stick out as the top of their class.
Are you ready to expand your culinary horizons? Keep reading for the ultimate guide to some of the best Michelin 3-star restaurants in the world.
Alinea: Chicago, Illinois
Alinea, located in the heart of downtown Chicago, is one of the most famous Michelin 3-star restaurants in the Midwest. Alinea is well known for its whimsical modern cuisine. Alinea takes modern flavors from every corner of the globe and spins them into unique dishes.
Head Chef Grant Achatz has taken food to a completely different level, beyond the plate, to stimulate all of your senses. After completely losing his sense of taste in a battle with oral cancer, Chef Achatz was forced to look at food from a completely different angle. Textures, visual components, and sensory elements from every angle have been incorporated into every dish.
As Chef Achatz won his fight against cancer, his taste gradually began to come back. Achatz has described regaining his taste as an intensive learning experience in understanding flavor. Relearning taste in this manner has inspired Chef Achatz to reinvent the wheel, dishing out some of the most creative and inspired dishes on Earth.
Every dish is a full sensory experience. As much a performance as it is a meal, everything is artfully presented. From painted-style desserts to salads still growing in front of you, to edible balloons, anything is possible on this fixed course menu.
Downtown Chicago’s Alinea’s wild concepts of food have earned it Michelin 3-stars, well worth a journey to experience.
The French Laundry: Yountville, California
Located in the heart of Napa Valley, this restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in the United States. Head Chef Thomas Keller has created one of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in the world.
Classically trained in French cooking, Chef Keller is dedicated to bringing high-quality French cuisine to Yountville. The ingredients are as locally sourced as possible, ensuring everything is as fresh as possible. The menu changes daily to reflect the flavors of the seasons.
Benefitting from its Napa Valley location, The French Laundry is also well known for its incredible wine pairings. Each course can be matched to an incredible wine from the area. Experienced sommeliers are available to help you make the best choice for your table or glass.
The restaurant itself is meticulously designed and aimed to be eco-friendly and luxurious. The seasonal menu complements the gorgeous scenery surrounding it, featuring unique twists on classic dishes that are executed flawlessly.
Many famous chefs have trained under Chef Thomas Keller, including Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea and Chef César Troisgros of Le Bois sans Feuilles. Numerous chefs from The French Laundry have gone on to open their own successful restaurants.
Holding a Michelin 3-Star distinction since 2007, The French Laundry has been topping every foodie’s bucket list for 15 years. For fine dining in the Western United States, The French Laundry is an experience worth traveling for.
Le Bois sans Feuilles: Ouches, France
The current record holder for the longest consecutive Michelin 3-Star holding restaurant in the world, Le Bois sans Feuilles, has maintained its 3-star rating since 1968. The secret to the iconic restaurant’s success has been handed down through the generations and continues to thrive today.
The restaurant’s interior showcases the French countryside’s beauty, with massive glass walls on all sides. The intimate setting allows nature to be the decor.
The menu focuses on simplicity. The concept at Le Bois sans Feuilles is to take a few ingredients and make them into something spectacular. These elegant and refined dishes have been the showcase of Le Bois sans Feuillessince its inception.
This gorgeous restaurant is a must-stop luxury destination in the French countryside. If you want a taste of fine French dining, this is the restaurant for you.
Kohaku Restaurant: Tokyo, Japan
As the youngest chef to earn Michelin 3-stars at the time of their awarding, Chef Koji Koizumi has created a modern Japanese restaurant in downtown Tokyo.
Kohaku focuses on creating dishes using only sustainably-sourced local ingredients. The cuisine is authentically Japanese, but with global twists of flavor. One such dish is their beef shabu-shabu, served with truffles and fresh caviar. Many of the dishes have been prepared in Japan for hundreds of years but have unique ingredients added in.
The menu is always evolving to showcase the freshest flavors in Tokyo. Each meal showcases traditional Japanese cooking with each season’s ingredients at the forefront. Everything is prepared with expert technique.
The Michelin star restaurant itself is a work of art. Every surface, inside and out, is intentionally designed. The modern finishes and warm atmosphere sets the stage for an incredible meal.
If you will be visiting Japan, Kohaku is sure to have the finest modern Japanese cuisine. It is well worth traveling for if you are in Tokyo.
Experience the Flavor of the Best Michelin 3-Star Restaurants in the World
A single Michelin star restaurant is already exceptional. However, a Michelin 3-star restaurant is worth traveling to for the experience. Only the world’s best chefs can earn this distinction, so they are sure to exceed your culinary expectations.
With such amazing restaurants all over the world, the best way to experience the flavors of life is to eat at Michelin 3-star restaurants. Pick one out and experience fine dining for your next night on the town!
For more ways to add luxury dining to your life, check out our dining guide!
Featured image source: Guide.michelin.com
