For the second time, the MICHELIN Guide Ceremony took place at the renowned EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, which was founded in 1893 as the ‘École Hôtelière de Lausanne’.
Multiple successes at The Chedi Andermatt: one restaurant promoted to Two MICHELIN Stars, one restaurant awarded One MICHELIN Star and the 2023 Young Chef Award for the establishments’ chef duo.
Swiss gastronomy remains on course for success: 138 MICHELIN Starred restaurants, including five new Two Star restaurants.
Sustainability remains a central focus: nine new MICHELIN Green Stars for environmentally-conscious gastronomy.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, commented, “Once again, Switzerland’s top gastronomy shows its adaptability in difficult economic times. The number of starred restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide remains at a consistently high level, with a total of 138 eateries being awarded One, Two or Three Stars in Switzerland this year, including many interesting new openings and impressive new Two Star level establishments.
What particularly struck our inspectors during their travels was the ever-growing – and absolutely justified – self-confidence of Swiss chefs and producers regarding their regional produce. From Appenzell lamb to Lostallo salmon, countless small-scale, passionate suppliers scattered throughout the country and products that are increasingly produced, planted or farmed locally by the restaurants themselves, there continues to be a strong trend and will on the part of Swiss gastronomy to set sustainability standards, while ensuring enjoyment at the highest level. To this end, 33 establishments in Switzerland were awarded the MICHELIN Green Star for their sustainable efforts, nine of which are new additions.”
Four Three MICHELIN Star restaurants confirm their award
The gourmet restaurant, Memories in the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz (SG), which made it into the international top league last year under the kitchen management of Sven Wassmer, confirmed its Three MICHELIN Stars, as did the following restaurants, which have already had Three MICHELIN Stars for several years: Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl in Basel (BS) with Peter Knogl as head chef, Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville in Crissier (VD), where Franck Giovannini runs the kitchen, and Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau (GR) with Andreas Caminada and Marcel Skibba as chefs.
Five new Two MICHELIN Star restaurants
Among the 26 restaurants awarded Two MICHELIN Stars this year, the MICHELIN Guide counts five new ones, three of them being in French-speaking Switzerland. Particularly noteworthy among the new additions is Andermatt's The Japanese Restaurant, located in the valley at The Chedi Hotel. Since spring, twins Dominik Sato and Fabio Toffolon have been at the helm in the kitchen as a dual leadership team, and their mix of Japanese and European influences has earned them their second MICHELIN star. The chef duo also took the reins at the hotel's second restaurant, The Japanese by The Chedi at Gütsch, and confirmed One MICHELIN Star. As a further honour, the two chefs in their early thirties also received the Young Chef Award sponsored by Blancpain for their wonderful and inspiring performance.
The following restaurants were also newly awarded Two MICHELIN Stars: The Mammertsberg in Freidorf (TG), where chef Silvio Germann, who previously brought Two MICHELIN Stars to the IGNIV by Andreas Caminada in Bad Ragaz, now maintains his outstanding level here. The result: his cuisine, characterised by precision and his own ideas, was immediately awarded Two MICHELIN Stars. At L'Atelier Robuchon in Geneva (GE), housed in the basement of the luxury hotel The Woodward, Executive Chef Olivier Jean earned the second MICHELIN Star for the Geneva branch of Joël Robuchon's ten Atelier restaurants with his cuisine inspired by regional and seasonal products. The restaurant, La Table du Lausanne Palace in Lausanne (VD) also rose from One to Two Stars. Franck Prelux, who previously brought a Star to the restaurant Au Crocodile in Strasbourg as head chef, is responsible for this and now demonstrates his skills in the restaurant of the Grandhotel Lausanne Palace with his very product-oriented, classically based cuisine. The restaurant, La Table du Valrose in Rougemont (VD) achieved another significant leap. Chef Benoît Carcenat has succeeded in turning One MICHELIN Star into Two in just one year with his modern French-influenced menu.
19 restaurants newly awarded One MICHELIN Star
19 restaurants newly awarded One MICHELIN Star are presented in the 2023 selection, bringing the total number of One Star restaurants to 108. Spread throughout the country, these establishments reflect the diversity of Swiss gastronomy. Worth mentioning here, for example, is the Gasthaus zum Kreuz in Dallenwil (NW), which is home to two restaurants, newly awarded a MICHELIN Star for the cuisine of Dietmar Sawyere: at Stübli, the chef convinces with a cuisine focused on Alpine products, and at the evening restaurant Bijou with a surprise menu combining Swiss and Asian influences. Equally interesting is the new restaurant by Stefan Wiesner, who previously made a name for himself at the Rössli in Escholzmatt, where he was nicknamed the ‘Hexer’. Now he is wowing the MICHELIN inspectors at Wiesner Mysterion - Zauber in Romoos (LU) with his unique alchemical natural cuisine, for which the restaurant was awarded One Star at its first attempt. In the same building, he offers a regional-seasonal menu in his second restaurant, the Wiesner Mysterion - Werkstatt-Kost, for which this restaurant was directly awarded the Bib Gourmand. Both restaurants were also awarded the MICHELIN Green Star for their absolutely consistent sustainable philosophy and initiatives. The restaurant ZOE in Bern (BE), run by operational duo Fabian Raffeiner (kitchen) and Mark Hayoz (service), also deserves a special mention. The restaurant’s modern and creative vegetarian cuisine was awarded One MICHELIN Star when it was included in the Swiss selection and also received the Green Star for its sustainable concept.
The following restaurants were also newly awarded One MICHELIN Star:
• Birdy's by Achtien - The Nest, Brunnen (SZ)
• Osteria Enoteca Cuntitt, Castel San Pietro (TI)
• La Pinte des Mossettes, Cerniat (FR)
• Au 1465, Champex-Lac (VS)
• Gilles Varone, Chandolin-près-Savièse (VS)
• 1910 Gourmet by Hausers, Grindelwald (BE)
• Radius by Stefan Beer, Interlaken (BE)
• Osteria dell'Enoteca, Losone (TI)
• Colonnade, Luzern (LU)
• La Dispensa, Neuchâtel (NE)
• Hôtel de Ville, Ollon (VD)
• Cà d'Oro, Sankt Moritz (GR)
• Restaurant GERBER WYSS, Yverdon-les-Bains (VD)
• elmira, Zürich (ZH)
• Wöschi, Zürich (ZH)
Nine new MICHELIN Green Stars reflect the gastronomy's sense of responsibility
The MICHELIN Green Star, the sustainable gastronomy distinction launched in January 2020, highlights restaurants that stand out for their commitment to the environment and resources and act as role-models. This year's selection counts a total of 33 Green MICHELIN Stars, including nine new ones. The increasing importance of sustainable management continues to be clearly evident and the initiatives with which the chefs are committed to a future-oriented gastronomy are very diverse. Measures include the use of regional and seasonal products, compliance with organic-ecological guidelines, species-appropriate animal husbandry and short transport routes, as well as energy saving, waste avoidance and recycling, not to mention raising staff awareness and informing guests.
The following restaurants were newly awarded a MICHELIN Green Star:
• ZOE, Bern (BE)
• Le Tapis Rouge, Brienz (BE)
• Gilles Varone, Chandolin-près-Savièse (VS)
• Radius by Stefan Beer, Interlaken (BE)
• Le Maguet, Les Evouettes (VS)
• Wiesner Mysterion - Zauber, Romoos (LU)
• Wiesner Mysterion – Werkstatt Kost, Romoos (LU)
• Magdalena, Schwyz (SZ)
• elmira, Zurich (ZH)
Four talented professionals highlighted with the MICHELIN Special Awards
This year, the MICHELIN Guide presented three awards for special achievement: Service, Young Chef and Sommelier. The MICHELIN Service Award, presented by Pernod Ricard, went to Sandra Marugg Suter from the MICHELIN starred Restaurant Schlüssel in Oberwil for her exceptionally warm and pleasantly personal guest service. The MICHELIN Young Chef Award, presented by Blancpain, went to twins, Dominik Sato and Fabio Toffolon, who as a chef duo gave MICHELIN Stars to two restaurants in the Andermatt hotel The Chedi: The Japanese Restaurant received Two Stars, while The Japanese by The Chedi at Gütsch confirmed One Star. Antoine Sicard from the Maison Wenger in Le Noirmont, which was again awarded Two MICHELIN Stars, was recognized for his wine expertise with the MICHELIN Sommelier Award, presented by Swiss Wine.
15 restaurants newly awarded the Bib Gourmand
Presented last week, 15 restaurants newly received the Bib Gourmand, the MICHELIN Guide distinction highlighting restaurants that stand out for their exceptional quality-price ratio. Alongside those maintaining their distinction, 125 restaurants are now celebrated with this distinction, highly appreciated by users of the Guide seeking affordable establishments, without compromising on the quality of the cuisine and the products offered.
The MICHELIN Guide Switzerland 2023 at a glance
(a total of 558 restaurants recommended by the MICHELIN Inspectors)
• 4 restaurants with Three MICHELIN Stars
• 26 restaurants with Two MICHELIN Stars (of which 5 are new)
• 108 restaurants with One MICHELIN Star (of which 19 are new)
• 33 MICHELIN Green Star restaurants (of which 9 are new)
• 125 restaurants with the Bib Gourmand (of which 15 are new)
The complete restaurant overview for Switzerland is available here.
In addition to the restaurant selection, the MICHELIN Guide also offers a carefully compiled hotel selection with unique accommodation in Switzerland and around the world.
Each hotel in the guide is selected for its exceptional style, service and character and can be booked directly via the MICHELIN Guide website and app.
Illustration Image: MICHELIN Guide Ceremony © Michelin
