The "authenticity and personality" of South Australia’s food culture will see it feature in the prestigious MICHELIN Guide.
The state’s international reputation as a world-class food and wine destination will be bolstered by its inclusion - the first time any destination in Australia has been featured in the publication.
MICHELIN Guide International Director Gwendal Poullennec said South Australia offered "an impressive diversity of culinary expressions within a single destination".
"The strength of its identity lies in the freedom chefs enjoy defining their own voice, guided by outstanding produ
ce, a strong relationship to the land and a confident openness to global influences,” Mr Poullennec said.
"Our Inspectors were struck by the authenticity and personality of the region’s dining culture, and we are delighted to spotlight South Australia on the MICHELIN Guide stage."
The publication will shine a spotlight on South Australian restaurants, increasing demand by attracting patrons from new global markets, supporting the state’s hospitality and tourism sectors and local jobs.
The guide’s inspection team believe, "South Australia offers a compelling proposition for gastronomic travellers in search of authenticity, diversity and a strong sense of place".
Inspectors are on the ground already, visiting restaurants in Adelaide and across regional South Australia for potential inclusion into the MICHELIN Guide South Australia 2027. The full list is expected to be announced in October 2026.
Restaurants are evaluated through five universal criteria including the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking techniques, the harmony of flavours, the personality of the cuisine and the overall consistency.
The selection process is entirely independent, and restaurants cannot pay to be included or awarded distinctions.
While the MICHELIN Guide is often associated with fine dining, the style of a restaurant and its level of comfort or formality have no bearing on the award.
MICHELIN Stars have been awarded to a wide range of eateries from street food stalls to gourmet restaurants. Currently, there are no MICHELIN Guide recommended restaurants in Australia.
Regions such as the Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and Kangaroo Island are expected to feature in key international tourism promotional activity to champion MICHELIN’s selections.
More than 18,000 restaurants are so far included in the guide’s world-wide network.
The MICHELIN Guide website attracts more than 62 million visitors each year, in addition to the organisation’s 3.9 million Instagram followers and 3.8 million app users.
The MICHELIN announcement comes days after Willunga was named the best Food and Wine town in the nation in Australian Traveller's 100 Best Towns in Australia to Travel to list. The town, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, also placed seventh overall on the list.
Latest data from Tourism Research Australia highlights the value of South Australia’s international visitor market, with international tourism spend at a record high $1.8 billion.
Nationally, South Australia is ranked number one out of all Australian states and territories for ‘good food and wine’ and ‘world-class wineries and wine regions’, according to the latest visitor research from the South Australian Tourism Commission.
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS
