Australia’s first Michelin Star restaurants revealed

Eat & Drink

The Michelin Guide, the French dining authority that has rated restaurants for more than a century, has awarded its first stars in Australia. Eleven South Australian restaurants made the cut – but only one walked away with two.

After months of speculation, the first recipients of Australia’s coveted Michelin stars have been unveiled – and the guide cast a wider net than perhaps many expected.

In all, 77 venues were recognised in the Michelin Guide South Australia 2027, revealed in Adelaide on Wednesday night. It comes months after the state government paid an undisclosed sum to bring the guide to South Australia, less than two years after Tourism Australia reportedly knocked back a $40 million, five-year national proposal.

Most of those venues earned a place in the Michelin Selected category, the guide’s base tier, which flags restaurants inspectors rate highly but that fall short of a star.

Fifty venues made that list, spread from Adelaide out to Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island and Mount Gambier.

A further 16 received a Bib Gourmand, the award for good quality cooking at more moderate prices. It is a distinction Michelin takes seriously, and one South Australia’s casual dining rooms were tipped to do well in. Africola, Parwana Afghan Kitchen and Nick Favaro’s Hutt Street favourite Bar Torino were among the recipients.

But which restaurants took out the stars?

Ten restaurants were awarded one star, and only Magill Estate took two. (No restaurant received the maximum three.)

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Wine country dominated the one-star list. Six of the 11 starred restaurants sit on wine estates, including Maxwell in McLaren Vale, Hentley Farm in the Barossa and LVN at Bird in Hand in Woodside.

In Adelaide, one star went to Jake Kellie’s arkhé, Jamie Musgrave’s Botanic, Aurora at ILA and Alanna Sapwell’s Esmay.

Chef Scott Huggins leads the kitchen at Magill Estate, which overlooks the Penfolds vineyards at the foot of the Adelaide Hills. Inspectors highlighted its 10-course tasting menu and its Icon wine pairing, which draws on South Australian producers.

“South Australia’s debut has been very impressive. It speaks to a food culture of real depth, where exceptional produce, skilled chefs and an unmistakable sense of place come together,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide.