The esteemed Michelin Guide is an utmost valuable resource for those in search of world-class culinary experiences. Unnamed mystery inspectors dine at countless restaurants and dish out awards to the most worthy. Gourmands and travelers actively seek out establishments with Michelin recognition, and a number of vegan restaurants have earned coveted distinctions. Here, we share all of the plant-based eateries with Michelin recognition.
But first, how exactly did the Michelin Guide come to be?
The making of the Michelin Guide
It all started with tires. After brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin founded their tire company—yes, that Michelin—they created a free guide to help boost the car economy. Keep in mind, this was in 1889, when France (the brothers’ home base) was home to less than 3,000 cars, the Guide’s official website shares.
At first, this guide offered a bevy of information including maps, where to find fuel, and how to change a tire. After learning his customers weren’t using the guides as intended, Andre Michelin chose to revamp them, and for the first time, decided to charge for them.
Eleven Madison Park
In 1920, the new Michelin guide debuted and for the first time, it included a list of local Parisian hotels and restaurants. The guide’s restaurant section soared in popularity, and the brothers went all in, assembling a team of inspectors to review eateries anonymously.
Initially, a solitary star was the Michelin Guide’s only recognition, but overtime, its ranking system has expanded.
Michelin Guide distinctions
Today, the Michelin Guide has a number of distinctions it awards to restaurants. Here’s what they mean:
- Bib Gourmand: “Good quality, good value cooking”
- One Star: “High quality cooking, worth a stop”
- Two Stars: “Excellent cooking, worth a detour”
- Three Stars: “Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”
- Green Star: Awarded to restaurants with noteworthy sustainable practices
Vegan restaurants with Michelin recognition
Plant-based eaters and omnivores alike are sure to enjoy a meal at these 14, all-vegan establishments recognized by the Michelin Guide.
Millennium
1Millennium
Oakland, CA
Distinction: Bib Gourmand
Since 1994, Millennium has showcased the deliciously exquisite flavors made possible when plants are given the main course treatment. Owner and executive chef Eric Tucker transforms local, sustainable, organic produce into vibrant, globally-inspired dishes infused with a touch of “Northern California sensibilities.” At Millennium, the menu changes frequently to make use of only the best and freshest ingredients, but, if you ever spot king trumpet fritters with chili-persimmon jam or pumpkin tamales featuring pumpkin seed pastor and cashew nut crema, don’t think twice—Michelin inspectors described these offerings as total “knockouts.”
Find it here
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen
2Bloom Plant Based Kitchen
Chicago, IL
Distinction: Bib Gourmand
Founded by chef and restaurateur Rodolfo Cuadros, Bloom Plant Based Kitchen has been serving customers since 2021, and in just three years, it’s solidified itself as a major culinary destination. The thoughtfully curated menu celebrates global flavors, but leans toward Asian and Latin cuisines. Here, the kitchen’s master culinarians take care to transform a medley of vegetables into flavors and textures you didn’t think possible.
While not on the menu at the time of writing, it’s worth noting Michelin inspectors were particularly fond of Bloom’s baja tacos with hemp seed tortilla and fried banana blossom, kelp noodles with acorn squash velouté sauce and pumpkin seeds, and avocado-key lime ice cream with crumbled ginger. For even more insight and ordering recommendations, read our restaurant review.
Find it here
Soda Club
3Soda Club
New York, NY
Distinction: Bib Gourmand
Ravi Derossi’s Overthrow Hospitality exemplifies the very best of plant-based drinking and dining. The country’s “premiere plant-based hospitality group” is behind a number of celebrated restaurants—Soda Club included. This vegan pasta and wine bar boasts an unbeatable, six-course pasta tasting menu for just $75 per person. Michelin inspectors raved about the freshly baked toasted focaccia served in a miso bagna cauda (a hot, garlicky sauce) and the tagliatelle pasta tossed in lemon nori butter, broccoli rabe, capers, and celery root. Pair it all with your choice of wine (choose from over 200 natural and organic bottles) and don’t skip the date cake either. Find it here
Evan Sung
4Eleven Madison Park
New York, NY
Distinction: Three Stars
Chef-owner Daniel Humm sent ripples through the world of fine dining, when, in the spring of 2021, he announced his celebrated restaurant would reopen with a meatless menu following its temporary pandemic closure. With all eyes on Eleven Madison Park, Humm showcased the intoxicating flavors and culinary potential of plant-based fare—ultimately retaining the restaurant’s three Michelin Stars and thus becoming the first vegan restaurant in the world to hold the coveted distinction.
From the bar to the main dining room, tasting menus are the name of the game here, so offerings will vary. The Michelin inspectors enjoyed freshly baked rolls; a quenelle of tonburi (an edible seed) served with horseradish cream and a radish tostada smeared with pumpkin seed butter; and braised seitan wrapped in spinach and dressed with morel mushrooms.
Find it here
La Bartola
5La Bartola
Toronto, Canada
Distinction: Bib Gourmand
Chef Ivan Castro’s La Bartola pays homage to “the fantastic Mexican women cooks,” like his own mother and grandmother, “who create a revolution in the kitchen.” Here, patrons can expect authentic, handcrafted Mexican cuisine—made entirely from plants—influenced by Oaxaca and Mexico City. The tasting menu promises a journey through Mexico with dishes such as al pastor chicharron with jalapeño confit, watermelon aguachile, and churro cake with hazelnut dulce de leche.
If you’re opting for the a la carte menu, do like the Michelin inspectors and go for the braised hibiscus tacos crafted with housemade tortillas, tostadas served with pumpkin seed salsa macha negra and sikil pa’ak, or the quesadillas stuffed with roasted potatoes, cashew queso, refried beans, and crunchy onions. With offerings like this, it’s no surprise La Bartola is Canada’s first plant-based restaurant to receive the Bib Gourmand distinction.
Find it here
Loveurth
6Loveurth
Busan, South Korea
Distinction: Bib Gourmand
At Loveurth, co-CEOs Kim Han-sol and Jung Myeong-won offer an array of beloved dishes from near and far, spanning from stir fried udon finished off with crunchy seaweed to pulled pork Benedict on fluffy, rice flour English muffins; sweet pumpkin gnocchi; tropical tacos featuring vegan mince, gold kiwi, cashew sour cream, and sunflower seeds; and mushroom-tofu eel rice bowls.
Menus are tweaked every so often to provide an array of dishes and global flavors, but you can rest assured that every meal is a notable experience.
Find it here
ARP
7ARP
Busan, South Korea
Distinction: Bib Gourmand
Established with an ethos of equality among people and animals, ARP—a name pulled from the phrase “around plants”—invites guests to share space at its signature curved tables, where they can enjoy a feast of plant-forward fare. On offer are globally inspired dishes including celery pasta featuring sesame seed pesto, chewy mushrooms, fried capers, and garlic flakes; the signature ARP burger featuring a veggie patty, tomato, onion chutney, tartar, onion rings, bok choy, and beet ketchup; bright pineapple basil gelato served with lemon sorbet, agave, lemon zest, and aromatic dill. Do like the Michelin inspectors and go for the bracken pasta made with oyster mushrooms, bracken pesto, French parsley, and lotus root chips.
Find it here
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Casa Albets
8Casa Albets
Lladurs, Spain
Distinction: Michelin Green Star
Tucked away in the Spanish countryside, you’ll find Casa Albets, a rustic family farmhouse turned luxury, eco vegan hotel. The nine-room boutique hotel takes ecology and sustainability seriously, from its design to its restaurant kitchen. Open to hotel guests and non-resident clientele, Casa Albets’ vegan restaurant offers a seasonal tasting menu worth traveling for. This summer, featured dishes included beetroot ravioli with cashew cheese, Thai curry rice with marinated tempeh and shiitake mushrooms, and seitan skewers with chimichurri. Do like the Michelin inspectors and pair your meal with the craft beers on offer.
Find it here
DAR
9DAR
Zurich, Switzerland
Distinction: Bib Gourmand, Michelin Green Star
At DAR, Chef Zineb “Zizi” Hattab interweaves her Moroccan heritage with her upbringing on the coasts of Northeastern Spain. And while Spanish and Moroccan flavors make up the restaurant’s “two pillars,” DAR isn’t afraid of pulling inspiration from the world’s varied cuisines. The master culinarians practice sustainability in all aspects of their work, from working with small organic farms to help inform seasonal menus and utilizing “green electricity.”
DAR’s menu is designed to share, so come with a group to sample a taste of the menu, whether you’re ordering from the a la crate section or opting for the curated tasting menus. Offerings include the tantalizing crunchy pan-fried dumplings served with chorizo oil and sour cream; roasted cauliflower served with bright, zesty chermoula and sweet potato muhammara; and for dessert, halva ice cream topped with plums, corn honey, and sumac.
Find it here
KLE
10KLE
Zurich, Switzerland
Distinction: One Star, Michelin Green Star
There’s a reason why chef Hattab has been regarded as “the new star of Zurich’s gastro scene” by Fooby. Before DAR officially opened its doors nearly three years ago, the celebrated chef opened KLE in January 2020. Here, too, Hattab prioritizes locally sourced produce and sustainability, seamlessly weaving both tenets into her overall restaurant ethos. Dishes are inspired by far-reaching corners of the world, and it’s evident in the name; KLE is pulled from sauerklee, the German word for wood sorrels, plants that have been used by various civilizations throughout history.
Four, five, and six course “surprise” menus are on offer and vary by the seasons. However, menus offer a glimpse of the night’s star ingredients with a list of “seasonal protagonists.” Past offerings have included winter tostadas featuring sunflower seed pesto, roasted carrots, and pickled pears; a summer dish of chamomile-honey braised tomatoes topped with pumpernickel tartare and roasted eggplant cream alongside a spoonful of tomato broth; and for dessert, Sichuan pepper shortbread finished off with gunpowder tea foam, caramelized white chocolate, and raspberries. Pair it all with a sip of the various biodynamic wines on offer.
Find it here
Seven Swans
11Seven Swans
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Distinction: One Star, Michelin Green Star
When Ricky Saward first joined the kitchen staff at Seven Swans, his primary goal as sous chef was to keep the kitchen running smoothly during the head chef’s upcoming time off, reports National Geographic. But after a month, Saward was informed that the chef wouldn’t return, and it was time for him to take full control of the reins. Saward, an accomplished chef himself, knew he had to retain the restaurant’s Michelin star. So, he took a risk and ushered Seven Swans into a new era, ultimately transforming the vegetarian restaurant into an entirely vegan establishment.
A true farm-to-table experience, Seven Swans takes utmost pride in growing its produce on its very own permaculture farm. The seven course menu—with an optional wine or non-alcoholic pairing—showcases “interesting and creative flavor combinations that may seem rather unusual at first glance but actually come together beautifully,” the Michelin inspectors explain. Plus, it’s all served by the chefs themselves.
Find it here
Lucky Leek
12Lucky Leek
Berlin, Germany
Distinction: Bib Gourmand
Chef Josita Hartanto stuns with three-, four-, and five-course tasting menus in the German capital city. Seasonal vegetables, not faux meats, are transformed into beautifully plated creations that are chock full of flavor. At the time of writing, offerings include sweet potato and corn cream soup featuring cherry peppers, black olive oil, and lime-infused sour cream; chive dumplings in a fragrant lemon-rosemary broth; crispy oyster mushrooms served with celery purée, chili, and a paprika emulsion. Finish off this fine feast with the delicate but rich coffee crème brûlée served with a fluffy chocolate biscuit and mango ice cream.
Find it here
De Nieuwe Winkel
13De Nieuwe Winkel
Nijmegen, Netherlands
Distinction: Two Stars, Michelin Green Star
Chef Emile van der Staak’s “botanical gastronomy” is on full display at De Nieuwe Winkel, where the kitchen’s menu and sustainable practices are a deliciously bold stance against the modern food system’s role in the climate crisis. The restaurant’s three seasonal menus feature edible plants native to the region alongside specialties such as honeyberry from Siberia and Japanese ginger; but instead of importing, De Nieuwe Winkel works with local gardens and farms, including Ketelbroek Food Forest, six bountiful acres of land with more than 30 food-bearing plant species.
Here, Michelin inspectors sampled a truly innovative dish made from scoby, the film of bacteria and yeast—often shaped like a mushroom cap—that develops during the kombucha making process. Thin, umami-rich strips of scoby (“akin to the taste of shrimp,” the inspectors explain) were served with pickled radish, ginger, a sauce of mushroom and onion, pickled Sichuan pepper, and walnut milk. Michelin inspectors describe the restaurant as a “groundbreaking experience,” and if you’d like a taste for yourself, you’ll have to act fast. Reservations open just three times a year.
Find it here
Bistro Lupa
14Bistro Lupa
Copenhagen, Denmark
Distinction: Bib Gourmand, Michelin Green Star
Sustainability is woven into Bistro Lupa’s DNA from the menu to its decor. A part of the esteemed Ark Collection Restaurants, Bistro Lupa’s Funga Farm provides many of the mushrooms featured in its dishes. Foraging, too, is integral. The restaurant staff ventures to the great outdoors March through November to forage, taking extra care to take only what is needed. And in the dining room, guests eat off tableware that has been revived from a local vintage shop underneath functional artwork made from the restaurant’s used wine corks, foraged plants, and old towels.
Bistro Lupa offers both tasting menus and an a la carte menu. Past offering include beetroot tartare featuring foraged and fermented plums and homemade soy cream cheese infused with yeast oil; celery root tagliatelle in lentil cream served over Danish seaweed; and oolong tea ice cream infused with chamomile and jasmine served atop a bed of seeds, all finished off with rhubarb syrup and gin. If the housemade kombucha is on the menu during your visit, don’t think twice—the Michelin inspectors highly recommend it.
Find it here
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Jocelyn Martinez is an Associate Editor at VegNews living in Los Angeles, CA.
