The global culinary spotlight is officially shining on New Zealand. For the first time in history, the MICHELIN Guide has extended its reach into Oceania, making Aotearoa the furthest territory the prestigious guide has ever travelled.
In November 2025 Tourism New Zealand and MICHELIN announced a three-year investment to bring the guide to New Zealand. With anonymous inspectors having spent months dining across four key culinary hubs, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. For over a century, the Michelin Star has stood as the ultimate international benchmark of culinary excellence. Now the world will learn what our students and alumni have long known, New Zealand’s hospitality industry is world-class.
On the 30th of June the first stars and selected restaurants were announced, out of 18,000 eateries across the country only 110 have been selected for the guide. 1 restaurant has received 2 stars, Essence in Queenstown, 14 have received 1 star, including our close friends at Logan Brown, 35 achieved Bib Gourmand status, and 60 were put on the selected restaurant list.
Alumni Anthony Voice, working for New Zealand's first Two Starred restaurant.
We are proud to see a majority of these establishments currently staffed by our alumni or being close partners with us for internships and research projects. Anthony Voice, a New Zealand student that graduated from our Diplôme de Cuisine in June 2025, is currently working for the country’s best restaurant as commis chef alongside fellow alumni Nikhil Amrutkar, chef de partie and graduate of the Diplôme Avancé Culinaire in Cuisine. Our Alumni Vladimir and Bhanu are with the 1 starred Ahi, and in Amisfield are our alumni Pedro and Rohan.
But it's more than just the stars, being featured on the MICHELIN Guide is a tremendous accomplishment. Rodd & Gunns the Lodge in Queenstown is managed by Head Chef Tony, Mr Morris in Auckland by Head Chef Kritika, and Botswana Butchery in Queenstown by Head Chef Yashan, all graduates of the Diplôme Avancé Culinaire in Cuisine.
Bringing the MICHELIN Guide to NZ has given our students globally recognised prestige that will enrich their future possibilities on the international stage. View the full New Zealand MICHELIN Guide to see the best of New Zealand’s culinary scene.
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