The Michelin Guide is coming to South Australia in 2026 - News + Articles

May 12, 2026

Good food, great wine, and now the Michelin stars to prove it.

Last year, Michelin announced its first expansion into Oceania, launching a Michelin Guide in New Zealand later this year. Australians were left scratching their heads – why don’t we get one, too? After all, we’ve got some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world here, not to mention the most truly outstanding produce.

It turned out that Tourism Australia had knocked back an offer from Michelin to set up a guide here – not because our food isn’t world class, but because it would cost too much to establish and maintain. But still, local food lovers were stung. Australia had been left off the guest list while everyone else got to come to the party.

Now, that’s set to change. At least in part.

The Michelin Guide has announced that it will be launching its first South Australian guide, with the inaugural restaurant selection of the Michelin Guide South Australia 2027 to be revealed in October of this year.

A dish from the acclaimed Restaurant Botanic in Adelaide.

Why is South Australia the only state getting the Michelin Guide?

The new guide is a joint venture between Michelin and the South Australian government. It’s not known how much money has changed hands. What is known is that the new guide will help to boost South Australia’s profile on the world stage as a globally renowned culinary destination, and hopefully boost tourism, both domestic and international.

South Australia’s Minister for Tourism Emily Bourke said in a statement that the government was proud to welcome the Michelin Guide to the state.

“Today’s announcement is a fantastic recognition of what we already know: our state sits atop the nation’s foodie must-visit list,” she said. “With its mix of culture, food, wine and natural beauty, South Australia offers a vibrant calendar of food festivals and wine events, celebrating culinary excellence, from city dining experiences to regional gourmet celebrations, and we look forward to sharing this with Michelin Guide readers around the world.”

The Tasting Australia festival is another big SA foodie drawcard.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said that the new Guide will reflect the depth and character of the region’s food culture.

“South Australia offers an impressive diversity of culinary expressions within a single destination,” he said “The strength of its identity lies in the freedom chefs enjoy defining their own voice, guided by outstanding produce, a strong relationship to the land and a confident openness to global influences. 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 d’Arenberg Cube – where food, wine and art collide.

How will the restaurants be chosen for the Michelin Guide?

The restaurant selection in South Australia will be made according to the Michelin Guide’s historic methodology, focusing only on the quality of the cuisine proposed by the restaurants, which the anonymous inspectors evaluate by following five universal criteria:

The quality of the ingredients
The mastery of cooking techniques
The harmony of flavours
The personality of the cuisine
The consistency both over time and across the menu

Whether other states will make the same decision and launch guides of their own is not yet known. For now, big congrats to South Australia – we can’t wait to see what you’ll dish up.