On 30 June 2026, New Zealand did something it had never done before: it took its place on the global MICHELIN map. At the inaugural MICHELIN Guide New Zealand ceremony in Auckland — the Guide’s first-ever selection anywhere in Oceania, and the furthest its inspectors have ever travelled — 110 establishments across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown were recognised. Among them: one Two-Star restaurant, 14 One-Star restaurants, 35 Bib Gourmand picks for great food at fair prices, and 60 MICHELIN Selected venues.
For food and wine lovers, it’s a headline that lands — and a fresh reason to look south. Here’s the story, the restaurants worth knowing, and the deeper food and wine scene that makes New Zealand worth the journey.
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Why it matters
Food has become one of the biggest drivers of where people choose to travel. Tourism New Zealand’s research shows 90% of frequent travellers trust the MICHELIN Guide, and 80% are willing to spend more to dine at a MICHELIN-recognised restaurant. Food-focused visitors are high-value travellers too — their average total trip spend runs nearly NZ$800 higher per trip than the average visitor (International Visitor Survey, YE Mar 2026).
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The headlines: Oceania’s first Two-Star restaurant
Essence — Queenstown
Led by Executive Chef Paul Froggatt, Essence is New Zealand’s only Two-Star restaurant and the first ever awarded in Oceania. The Guide praised its refined tasting menus built around premium seasonal produce — “refined technique with creativity and modern sensibility” delivering “clarity and balance” — paired with sweeping views of Lake Wakatipu and a Pinot Noir–led wine list. For those chasing one unforgettable meal, this is the centrepiece of a Queenstown stay.
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New Zealand’s 14 One-Star restaurants
The One-Star list spans all four Guide cities and shows off the range of the country’s food scene — from wood-fired hearths and Samoan tasting menus to vineyard tables and garden-to-plate cooking.
Auckland
- Ahi (Auckland) — ‘Fire’ in Māori — traditional NZ flavours reinterpreted around the wood-fired hearth.
- Mudbrick (Waiheke Island) — Stunning island views with European, Japanese and Indian influences.
- Paris Butter (Auckland) — European technique with subtle Asian influences; refined and modern.
- Tala (Auckland) — A multi-course experience inspired by Samoan cuisine — the only Samoan restaurant in the world with a MICHELIN Star.
- The Estate (Waiheke Island) — French technique meeting New Zealand produce, among the vineyards.
Wellington
- Jano Bistro (Wellington) — French cuisine in a historic cottage, using herbs and edible flowers from its own garden.
- Logan Brown (Wellington) — Contemporary, layered dishes in a landmark former bank building.
- Ortega (Wellington) — Seafood prepared in diverse styles.
Christchurch
- Inati (Christchurch) — Shared dining reimagining European classics with high-quality NZ produce.
- Tussock Hill (Christchurch) — A boutique vineyard with a lunch-only menu of seasonal sharing plates.
Queenstown
- Amisfield (Queenstown) — Bold, creative dishes beside its own vineyard, using seasonal Central Otago produce.
- Kika (Queenstown) — Bold flavours and premium local produce in a sharing-style format.
- Rātā (Queenstown) — Modern NZ cuisine using local Otago produce with a deep connection to the land.
- Sherwood (Queenstown) — A ‘garden-to-table’ philosophy, most ingredients grown on site or foraged locally.
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Beyond the stars: Bib Gourmand & Selected
Not every MICHELIN experience comes with a big bill. The 35 Bib Gourmand venues flag excellent food at fair prices, while 60 MICHELIN Selected restaurants round out a deep, credible national food scene — making it easy to build memorable dining into any budget or trip length, not just the top end.
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Global marketing is driving the demand
This isn’t a one-day headline. Tourism New Zealand is putting serious marketing weight behind the moment — a global campaign spanning launch content, media and influencer coverage, and travel-trade and ambassador famils bringing guests from 14 international markets to experience the food regions first-hand. Awareness of New Zealand as a food and wine destination is being pushed hard across key markets right now, and that’s translating into client interest and enquiry.
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More than the stars: a food and wine scene worth travelling for
New Zealand’s appeal for food and wine lovers runs far deeper than the Guide’s four cities. The country is a patchwork of distinctive wine regions — Central Otago for world-class Pinot Noir, Marlborough for Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay for Syrah and Bordeaux-style reds, and the boutique vineyards of Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride from Auckland. Around them sits the larder that so impressed MICHELIN’s inspectors: Bluff oysters, Kaikōura crayfish, Marlborough green-lipped mussels, Central Otago stone fruit, artisan cheeses and mānuka honey — and the growers, fishers and foragers behind them.
Add cellar-door tastings, farmers’ markets, long lunches at vineyard restaurants, and Māori food experiences such as hāngī, and there’s a genuine food and wine journey in every region — not just a meal, but a reason to travel the length of the country.
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How ANZCRO can help
The MICHELIN news is doing the hard work of piquing interest — and that’s where we come in. When a client’s imagination has been captured by the headlines, ANZCRO can turn it into a food and wine itinerary tailored to their taste, timeframe and budget. From choosing which regions and vineyards to build the trip around, to pairing the country’s standout dining destinations with the right wine country, cellar-door experiences and regional food trails — all wrapped into a wider New Zealand holiday with accommodation, transfers, touring and rental cars sorted. Our team does the legwork so you can focus on your client.
Have a client whose interest has been piqued by New Zealand’s first MICHELIN Stars? Talk to your ANZCRO team and we’ll help craft a food and wine itinerary they’ll be talking about long after they get home.
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Frequently asked questions
Does New Zealand have any MICHELIN-starred restaurants?
Yes. New Zealand received its first-ever MICHELIN Stars on 30 June 2026, when the inaugural MICHELIN Guide New Zealand recognised 110 establishments across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown — including one Two-Star restaurant and 14 One-Star restaurants.
What is New Zealand’s only Two-Star MICHELIN restaurant?
Essence in Queenstown, led by Executive Chef Paul Froggatt, is New Zealand’s only Two-Star restaurant and the first Two-Star restaurant awarded anywhere in Oceania. It is known for refined seasonal tasting menus and views over Lake Wakatipu.
Which New Zealand restaurants have one MICHELIN Star?
The 14 One-Star restaurants are Ahi, Mudbrick, Paris Butter, Tala and The Estate (Auckland/Waiheke); Jano Bistro, Logan Brown and Ortega (Wellington); Inati and Tussock Hill (Christchurch); and Amisfield, Kika, Rātā and Sherwood (Queenstown). Tala is also the only Samoan restaurant in the world to hold a MICHELIN Star.
Which New Zealand cities are covered by the MICHELIN Guide?
The inaugural guide covers four cities: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. This makes a north-to-south food trail an easy way to combine starred dining with multiple destinations in one trip.
What are the best wine regions to pair with a food-focused New Zealand trip?
Central Otago is renowned for Pinot Noir, Marlborough for Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay for Syrah and Bordeaux-style reds, and Waiheke Island for boutique vineyards near Auckland. These regions combine cellar doors, vineyard restaurants and scenery, making them ideal to weave into a food and wine itinerary.
Are there affordable MICHELIN-recognised restaurants in New Zealand?
Yes. Alongside the starred restaurants, the guide named 35 Bib Gourmand venues for great food at fair prices and 60 MICHELIN Selected restaurants — so food lovers can enjoy MICHELIN-recognised dining across a range of budgets.
Will this drive demand for New Zealand travel?
Yes. Tourism New Zealand is backing the MICHELIN moment with a major global marketing push across launch content, media and influencer coverage, and international travel-trade famils. That activity is lifting awareness of New Zealand as a food and wine destination in key markets now.
How can I plan a food and wine trip to New Zealand?
ANZCRO can tailor a food and wine itinerary to suit your taste, timeframe and budget — pairing New Zealand’s standout dining destinations with the right wine regions, cellar-door experiences and regional food trails, and packaging the accommodation, transfers and touring as part of a wider New Zealand holiday.
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Sources
Tourism New Zealand — New Zealand’s first MICHELIN Guide serves up major moment
MICHELIN Guide New Zealand 2026 selection; rova.nz restaurant list; NEWS WIRE Auckland coverage.