Since 1904, the Michelin star guide has been used to highlight the best restaurants in the world. As of last year, there were over 140 restaurants with three stars – the highest possible rating.
But among those, which are the best? When the standard is so high, how can you possibly rank the crème de la crème?
The UK-based financial website Money has done the hard work, cross referencing Michelin ratings with Tripadvisor reviews. Because it’s not just about what the food critics think. The public’s taste buds matter, too.
These are the top five three-star restaurants in the world, according to Money.
5. La Vague d’Or – Saint-Tropez, France
This glamorous beach resort in the French Riviera boasts one of the best restaurants in the world. In addition to its three Michelin stars, La Vague d’Or has 96.41% “excellent” or “very good” reviews on Tripadvisor, according to Money.
The “Run Away Together” menu allows you to “compose your fugue in four acts” – three savory dishes and one sweet. Be sure to try the soupe de poissons.
4. Cheval Blanc – Basel, Switzerland
Chef Peter Knogl calls Cheval Blanc “French haute cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian influences.” The menu boasts egg yolk ravioli with white truffle, wild caught sea bass, and venison. The Basel restaurant has 96.51% good reviews on Tripadvisor.
3. Régis et Jacques Marcon – Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, France
This restaurant in the French commune of Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid has housed in a spectacular glazed building. The menu, by chefs Régis et Jacques Marcon, includes locally reared meat and hand-picked mushrooms. 96.65% or reviewers on Tripadvisor rated it “excellent” or “very good.”
2. King’s Joy – Beijing, China
This Beijing restaurant, just a stone’s throw from Yonghe Temple, serves both traditional Chinese food and Western European fusion cuisine. Remodeled from a courtyard house, the restaurant features a glass-roofed dining room. 96.81% of reviewers rated King’s Joy highly on Tripadvisor.
1. Frantzén – Stockholm, Sweden
Dining at Stockholm’s Frantzén is a multisensory experience. Guests are taken on a tour of the multi-story townhouse before being treated to a fixed menu with wine pairing.
The Japanese-influenced dishes, which change nightly, include seafood, caviar, and sculptural creations. According to Money, the restaurant has 98.25% of “excellent” or “very good” reviews.
But before you rush Stockholm, note that the menu costs 4,200 SEK or about $375 per person. “Maximalism is underrated,” says the restaurant’s website.
