Michelin stars are one of the most coveted awards in the culinary world, and a restaurant receiving three stars is considered the ultimate accolade in fine dining. But how many Michelin-starred restaurants are there in the world?
The Michelin Guide is the oldest and most prestigious restaurant guide in Europe, originally created by the Michelin tire company to encourage drivers to explore new places and sample local cuisine. The awarding of stars began in 1926, with 1-star indicating “a very good restaurant,” 2-stars meaning “excellent cooking, worth a detour,” and 3-stars denoting “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.”
In 2020, there were currently 137 restaurants with three Michelin stars, spread across 25 countries, including France (home to the largest number at 50 restaurants), Japan (35 restaurants), Italy (14 restaurants), Spain (13 restaurants), USA (10 restaurants), Germany (7 restaurants) and Belgium (5 restaurants). The remaining starred establishments were found elsewhere around Europe and Asia.
But while 3-star establishments are extremely rare, many more chefs have been awarded 1 or 2 stars for their eateries. According to the guide itself, there were 732 two-starred and 2,753 one-starred establishments globally as of 2020.
It’s no surprise then that France holds a commanding lead here too: it has over 500 starred eateries – more than double that of Japan (202) which holds second place.
In conclusion, as of 2020 there are 137 three-Michelin star restaurants spread across 25 countries; 732 two-starred establishments; and 2,753 one-starred eateries globally.