In brief
South Australia has made culinary history by becoming the first Australian state to receive Michelin stars, with 11 restaurants granted the honour. Magill Estate Restaurant earned two stars, while the remaining ten venues received one star each. The state’s tourism board paid for covert inspections, positioning it as a global food destination. The Michelin Guide, originally created to aid motorists in the early 1900s, now recognises restaurants worldwide based on star ratings and a Bib Gourmand list.
Australia celebrated a culinary milestone yesterday when the Michelin Guide awarded its first stars to 11 restaurants, all located in South Australia.
Magill Estate Restaurant, situated in Adelaide’s Rosslyn Park, earned two stars – the only venue to reach that level – while the remaining ten restaurants received one star each.
Two Michelin stars
- Magill Estate Restaurant, Rosslyn Park
One Michelin star
- Anvers Restaurant, Kangarilla
- Maxwell Restaurant, McLaren Vale
- Botanic, Adelaide
- Arkhé, Norwood
- Esmay, Adelaide
- Aurora at ILA, Adelaide
- Hentley Farm, Seppeltsfield
- LVN Restaurant at Bird in Hand, Woodside
- Aptos, Stirling
- Skillogalee Barrel House, Sevenhill
The South Australian government paid for incognito inspectors, a strategy the Tourism Minister says puts the state “on the world map” and positions it as a culinary destination. The move follows several unsuccessful attempts to bring the Michelin Guide to Australia, and is the first time any Australian state has achieved such recognitions.
The Michelin Guide, created in 1900 by brothers André and Édouard Michelin, began as a road map for motorists but evolved into a global gastronomic authority. It introduced the star system in 1926: one star indicates high‑quality cooking, two stars denote excellent cooking that warrants a detour, and three stars reserve the guide’s highest honour for exceptional cuisine.
Beyond its new stars, South Australia currently hosts over 70 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand category, which highlights establishments offering good food at moderate prices.
