How Many Michelin Star Restaurants Are There?

Michelin-starred restaurants are among the most prestigious establishments within the culinary industry. Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants that demonstrate an exceptional level of gastronomic excellence, and they are highly sought after by chefs and restaurateurs around the world.

The Michelin Guide is what awards these stars, and it has been doing so since 1900. Founded by two brothers, Edouard and Andre Michelin, their goal was to promote their line of tires by encouraging people to travel more. As a result, they began rating restaurants in order to help travelers make decisions on where to dine while they explored different cities.

There are three levels of Michelin star ratings: one star signifies “a very good restaurant in its category”; two stars denote “excellent cooking worth a detour”; and three stars mean “exceptional cuisine worth a special journey”. In addition, there is also a category of Bib Gourmand ratings for restaurants that offer good value for money meals at an affordable price.

So how many Michelin star restaurants are there? According to the 2020 Michelin Guide selection for Europe, there were about 3179 establishments across 23 countries that held a total of 3165 stars between them. This figure has steadily increased over the years with more chefs striving for excellence in their cooking and more diners looking for unique experiences.

The UK has the second highest number of Michelin star restaurants in Europe with 250 establishments holding 262 stars between them. This is followed by France with 545 establishments holding 565 stars and Germany with 281 establishments holding 301 stars respectively.

In conclusion, there are currently 3165 Michelin starred restaurants located across 23 countries in Europe according to the 2020 selection guide from the Michelin Guide. As diners become increasingly adventurous and chefs continue striving for excellence in their craft, this figure is expected to continue growing in years to come.

Conclusion:

There is no denying that having a Michelin-starred restaurant is a major accomplishment within the culinary industry and one that many chefs strive for. The number of establishments with this highly sought-after accolade continues to grow as more diners seek out unique experiences and more chefs strive for perfection in their cooking.