Michelin Guide unveils its first-ever New Zealand selection with 110 restaurants

The MICHELIN Guide has officially entered Oceania with its inaugural New Zealand 2026 Restaurant Selection, recognizing 110 establishments across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. The milestone marks the Guide’s first expansion into the region, celebrating culinary excellence rooted in local terroir and seasonal produce. The selection includes one restaurant awarded Two MICHELIN Stars, 14 with One MICHELIN Star, 35 recognized with Bib Gourmand for exceptional value, and 60 additional entries in the official MICHELIN Guide selection. The sole recipient of Two MICHELIN Stars is Essence in Queenstown, led by Executive Chef Paul Froggatt. Perched above Lake Wakatipu, the restaurant’s understated dining room focuses on refined, modern cuisine crafted from premium New Zealand ingredients, with two tasting menus emphasizing clarity, balance, and seasonal purity. Its wine list highlights a strong selection of Pinot Noir. Fourteen restaurants earned One MICHELIN Star for their high-quality cooking, including Ahi in Auckland, which reinterprets traditional New Zealand flavors using a wood-fired hearth and modern techniques; Mudbrick, blending European, Japanese, and Indian influences in a vineyard setting; Paris Butter, offering a season-driven tasting menu in an elegant space; and Tala, delivering a multi-course experience inspired by Samoan cuisine. Wellington’s Jano Bistro presents French cuisine with local herbs and edible flowers, while Logan Brown impresses with layered flavors in a grand former bank building. Ortega focuses on seafood in a nautical setting. Christchurch’s Inati offers a shared dining experience reimagining European classics, and Tussock Hill provides a lunch-only menu of seasonal sharing plates in a boutique vineyard. Queenstown’s Amisfield, Kika, Rātā, and Sherwood round out the starred selections, each emphasizing bold flavors, local produce, and a deep connection to the region’s terroir. Thirty-five restaurants received Bib Gourmand awards for delivering high-quality, thoughtful cooking at accessible prices, spanning all four regions. The MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Ceremony also honored three Special Awards: Young Chef, Service, and Sommelier, recognizing outstanding talent in Aotearoa New Zealand’s culinary scene. The inaugural selection underscores New Zealand’s vibrant food culture, where hospitality is sincere, ingredients are seasonal and traceable, and regional character takes center stage.