The Michelin Guide is coming to Australia for the first time, with South Australia confirmed as its first Australian destination.

The inaugural selection will be revealed at a ceremony at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, when Australia will find out which of its restaurants have been awarded the country's first ever Michelin stars.

This page collects all of The Staff Canteen's coverage of the Michelin Guide in Australia: the build-up, the results, the chefs behind them, and what it all means for Australian kitchens.

When is the first Michelin Guide Australia ceremony?

The first Michelin Guide ceremony in Australia takes place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Michelin is calling this first edition the Michelin Guide South Australia 2027.

The ceremony will be livestreamed on the Michelin Guide's YouTube channel, and on the night Michelin will reveal its Michelin star restaurants, Bib Gourmands, recommended restaurants and a set of special awards recognising individual talent and leadership.

Which areas does the Michelin Guide South Australia cover?

The guide covers the whole of South Australia, not just the capital. Alongside Adelaide, that takes in wine regions including the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Clare Valley, where much of the state's destination dining sits.

The guide was announced on May 11, 2026, in partnership with the Government of South Australia. Michelin inspectors had already been eating anonymously across the state by that point.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said: "What has particularly impressed our Inspectors is the strong sense of place that runs through South Australia's dining scene."

Emily Bourke, South Australia's minister for tourism, said: "We are proud to welcome the Michelin Guide to South Australia. Today's announcement is a fantastic recognition of what we already know."

Are there any Michelin star restaurants in Australia?

Not yet. Until now, no Australian restaurant has ever held a Michelin star, because Michelin has never inspected in Australia. That changes on October 14, when the first Australian Michelin stars will be awarded.

Many Australian chefs have, of course, worked in Michelin-starred kitchens overseas, and a Michelin star on home soil has long been one of the missing pieces of the country's fine dining story.

How does the Michelin Guide judge restaurants?

Michelin inspectors are full time employees who dine anonymously and pay for their meals. Every restaurant, in every country, is judged against the same five criteria:

  • the quality of the ingredients
  • mastery of cooking techniques
  • harmony of flavours
  • the personality of the chef expressed through the cuisine
  • consistency, both over time and across the menu

The decor, service and price do not count towards stars.

What do Michelin stars and Bib Gourmands mean?

  • One Michelin star: high quality cooking, worth a stop
  • Two Michelin stars: excellent cooking, worth a detour
  • Three Michelin stars: exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
  • Bib Gourmand: good quality food at a moderate price

Restaurants can also be recommended in the guide without receiving a star or a Bib Gourmand.

Unlike the UK, the Australian guide is digital only, published on the Michelin Guide website, its apps and social channels rather than in print.

How do Michelin stars compare with Australia's chef hats?

Before Michelin, recognition at the top end of Australian dining has come from chef hats. The best known are awarded by the Good Food Guide, which began in Sydney through The Sydney Morning Herald in 1980 and scores restaurants out of 20, with one, two or three hats. The Australian Good Food and Travel Guide (AGFG) runs its own chef hat awards alongside it.

The main differences come down to who is judging and against what. Michelin uses anonymous, full time inspectors applying the same five criteria worldwide. Hats are awarded by critics and food writers, and are designed to reflect Australian dining on its own terms, with service, ambience and value feeding into the final call.

For now, the two systems will sit side by side, with hats still carrying weight across the country and Michelin adding an international benchmark in South Australia.

The Staff Canteen in Australia

The Staff Canteen launched in Australia in November 2025, led by Rob Treacy, founder of Australian hospitality platform Life on the Pass, and supported by the UK editorial and commercial teams. Chefs including Heston Blumenthal, Clare Smyth and Matt Abé backed the launch.

In August 2026, The Staff Canteen Live held its first networking lunch outside the UK, hosted by chef Nelly Robinson at Nel in Sydney.

We will be covering the Michelin Guide South Australia in full, from the results on the night to chef reactions and the stories behind Australia's first Michelin star restaurants.

Find out more about The Staff Canteen Australia