Three Wellington restaurants—Jano Bistro, Ortega Fish Shack, and Logan Brown—were among 14 eateries across New Zealand awarded Michelin stars during a ceremony held Tuesday evening in Auckland. This recognition marks the first time Wellington establishments have been included in the country’s Michelin Guide, which also highlighted 110 restaurants nationwide with various accolades.

The awards signal a milestone for New Zealand’s culinary scene, reflecting its growing international standing. Essence Restaurant by ROKI Collection in Queenstown was the only recipient of two stars, denoting “excellent cooking worth a detour,” while the other 14 earned one star, representing “high-quality cooking worth a stop.”

At Jano Bistro, co-founded in 2014 by head chef Pierre-Alain Fenoux and Diana Goh, the announcement triggered an immediate surge in bookings. Fenoux described the response as “overwhelming,” with reservations booked for weeks and inquiries coming from as far as November. Despite the excitement, he said the team planned to take time to absorb the recognition before publicly displaying the award.

Ortega Fish Shack co-owner Davey McDonald said his staff were “absolutely beaming” after receiving their star, noting the phone had not stopped ringing and local patrons were stopping by to offer congratulations. McDonald expressed that the accolade was a significant honor after nearly 17 years operating the family-owned business. Logan Brown’s co-owner Steve Logan shared similar sentiments, acknowledging an increase in bookings post-announcement and describing the Michelin star as a reaffirmation of their work over 30 years. He highlighted the ceremony’s formal atmosphere and emphasized that while the star was prestigious, the restaurant’s standards remained consistent.

The Michelin Guide also recognized a range of other eateries throughout Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast with Bib Gourmand status, awarded to establishments offering good quality and good value cuisine. Owner Helen Turnbull of 50-50, a Kāpiti Coast restaurant, described the honor as a testament to her team's efforts and the community’s support.

Outside Wellington, Christchurch saw notable recognition with Tussock Hill Vineyard and Cellar Door Restaurant receiving their first Michelin star. Co-owner Melaina Targett recounted an unprecedented surge in bookings immediately after the announcement, with reservations continuing well into the year. Simon Levy, owner of Inati fine dining in Christchurch, reported receiving over 100 bookings within 90 minutes of accepting his star. Levy, who moved to New Zealand from the UK 13 years ago, called the award a “dream coming true” and expressed hope that Michelin’s future focus would expand to include more regions.

Waiheke Island’s Tantalus Estate and Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant also gained stars, with Tantalus reporting a swift increase in bookings and social media engagement following the announcement. Additionally, the guide’s Selected award, a third-tier recognition, was given to 60 eateries nationwide, including Christchurch’s Miro café. Co-owner Sharon Pierce noted that the Michelin Guide holds significant influence internationally and welcomed the greater attention it brought to her establishment.

The Michelin Guide's entrance into New Zealand has been widely seen as a milestone for the country's hospitality sector, providing both increased domestic pride and international visibility amid growing interest from visitors and locals alike.