Is There Such Thing as a 4 Michelin Star Restaurant?

With the Michelin star rating system, restaurants around the world have been striving to achieve the highest recognition of culinary excellence. A three-star Michelin restaurant is seen as a pinnacle of success, but is there such a thing as a four-star Michelin restaurant?

The answer is no, there isn’t. The Michelin Guide awards three stars to restaurants that offer exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey. A four star rating is not part of the rating system and has never been awarded by the guide.

In order to be considered for a three-star rating, chefs must demonstrate an exemplary level of skill and innovation in their cooking. There must be high-quality ingredients used in dishes that are well balanced and perfectly prepared. The atmosphere and service of the restaurant must also be outstanding.

The only restaurants that have received three stars are those that meet this strict criteria. There are currently only 116 restaurants in the world with this distinction. Achieving three stars is seen as such an accomplishment that any restaurant with fewer than two stars usually will not survive.

The concept of a four-star restaurant has been discussed in culinary circles for many years, but there has never been an official four-star rating awarded by the Michelin Guide. Some argue that if it were introduced it would be reserved for those few restaurants whose food and service exceeds even three-stars standards.

Conclusion:

Although some people may dream of achieving four stars from the prestigious Michelin Guide, this will remain just a dream for now; there is no such thing as a four star Michelin restaurant. Three stars remains the highest accolade awarded by this esteemed guide.