In brief
South Australian restaurants have become the first places in Australia to watch Michelin’s glossy red star gleam above their doors. Eleven establishments, led by Magill Estate Restaurant in Adelaide that secured two stars, were honoured at a ceremony in Adelaide. The state government secretly funded inspectors’ visits, a move that has set Australia’s culinary scene on the world map. The accolade marks a new chapter for the country’s hospitality industry and opens the door for further international attention.
Australia has earned its first Michelin stars, with South Australia awarding eleven restaurants—including Magill Estate Restaurant’s two stars—for culinary excellence.
Magill Estate Restaurant, located in Adelaide’s Rosslyn Park, is the sole venue to receive a double accolade, while ten other establishments each earned a single star. The star‑bearing restaurants include 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) and Skillogalee Barrel House (Sevenhill).
The South Australian government paid for covert Michelin inspectors to visit the state, a strategy that explains why no other parts of the country have been recognised yet. Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said the investment has "enabled us to create a tourism destination and put us on the world map".
This milestone arrives more than a century after Michelin first published its guide and marks a turning point for Australia’s hospitality industry, putting it alongside nations that previously enjoyed the prestigious design.
For the wider guide, the South Australian listings include over 70 restaurants, some of which have earned the Bib Gourmand honour for offering good food at moderate prices.
Image credit: Supplied by Magill Estate Restaurant (for the Magill menu image).
