Today, Michelin announced this year's restaurant selection for The MICHELIN Guide Switzerland, at a Ceremony held at the prestigious EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne. The origins of the historic EHL Hospitality Business School, also known as the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, date back to 1893.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guide, praised the consistently high standard of Swiss gastronomy: “Of a total of 136 Starred restaurants in this selection, 107 have been awarded One Star, 25 Two Stars, and 4 Three Stars. The chefs in Switzerland clearly know how to translate great talent and top-level training into interesting concepts and delicious culinary compositions. The fine balance of tradition and modernity in Swiss restaurants is striking, while their focus on outstanding local, seasonal produce reflects a commitment to sustainability. Cattle from the Muotathal, trout from the Blausee, and duck or Ribelmais guinea fowl from Appenzell are just as popular as ingredients from small organic producers or from the restaurateurs' own farms. The MICHELIN Inspectors also observed an increase in 'sharing plates' menus in many restaurants, which are highly popular and emphasize communal hospitality.”
Every Three MICHELIN Star Restaurant Retains Its Award
All four of last year's Three Star restaurants were able to confirm their awards again this year. In the gourmet restaurant Memories at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz (SG), Sven Wassmer's team continue to deliver creations of the highest caliber. The same applies to the Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl in Basel (BS), with Peter Knogl as Head Chef; the Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville in Crissier (VD), where Franck Giovannini is in charge; and Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau (GR) with Andreas Caminada and Marcel Skibba as Head Chefs.
2 New Two MICHELIN Star Restaurants: Colonnade and The Counter
The MICHELIN Guide Switzerland has newly awarded two restaurants with Two MICHELIN Stars this year: the Colonnade restaurant in Lucerne (LU) and The Counter in Zurich (ZH). This brings the number of restaurants whose cuisine is 'worth a detour' to 25. The Counter deserves special mention because it has achieved Two MICHELIN Stars immediately after opening. In this urban restaurant in the center of Zurich, guests sit at the eponymous counter right next to the open kitchen and enjoy a surprise menu consisting of numerous refined and elaborate creations. Responsible for this unique modern concept is Mitja Birlo, who, together with his well-coordinated team, is building on the success of his previous establishment, the 7132 Silver in Vals.
No less remarkable is the cuisine at the stylish Colonnade, housed in the luxurious, traditional Mandarin Oriental hotel on the banks of Lake Lucerne. Here, Gilad Peled delights guests with modern French cuisine made from excellent produce. In his three, five or eight-course menus, he demonstrates a knack for well thought-out and wonderfully harmonious combinations that fit perfectly with the season. This outstanding achievement has seen the kitchen team rise from One to Two Stars. Among the establishments retaining Two Stars, a special mention goes to the Pic Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, which reopened under a new name (formerly ‘Anne-Sophie Pic’) after a lengthy closure and immediately defended its award.
Six Restaurants Newly Awarded One MICHELIN Star
The MICHELIN Guide Switzerland 2024 recommends six restaurants that have been newly awarded One Star. In total, the guide includes 107 One Star restaurants, providing further proof of the strength and diversity of the Swiss restaurant landscape, which can be found throughout the country. The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors describe the elegant ORSINI in Zurich's Mandarin Oriental Savoy as a great restaurant experience that will live long in the memory, which was awarded a Star for Dario Moresco's creative and modern Italian cuisine, which is rich in contrasting flavors.
Also worth mentioning is the Villa Sommerlust in Schaffhausen, where the Spanish chef duo Dan Rodriguez-Zaugg and Alejandro Perez Polo combine influences from their home country with South American and Asian elements in a very innovative way. Arakel in Geneva deserves the same attention for its surprise menu by chef Quentin Philippe, which successfully combines tradition and modernity. In addition to these three restaurants, three other establishments have just been awarded a Star: The Dining Room in Cham (ZG), F.P. Journe - Le Restaurant in Geneva (GE), and Maihöfli by UniQuisine in Lucerne (LU).
Three New MICHELIN Green Stars For Restaurants Committed Sustainable Gastronomy
The MICHELIN Green Star, the award for sustainable gastronomy introduced in January 2020, recognizes restaurants that are committed to more environmentally friendly cooking. Providing inspiration for both guests and fellow restaurants, these establishments combine gastronomic excellence with a remarkable commitment to sustainability. This year's selection includes a total of 34 MICHELIN Green Stars. The three new ones are roots restaurant in Basel (BS), Osteria Del Centro in Comano (TI), and Silex in Zurich (ZH). Numerous future-oriented initiatives of these restaurateurs have been recognized, including the use of regional and seasonal products, compliance with organic-ecological guidelines, animal welfare, and short transport routes, as well as energy saving, waste avoidance, and recycling, but also a commitment to employee welfare and transparency towards guests.
Three Talented Professionals Receive a MICHELIN Special Award
This year, The MICHELIN Guide presented three Special Awards for outstanding achievement in Service, as a Young Chef and as a Sommelier. This year's MICHELIN Service Award, presented by Pernod Ricard, went to Sarah Benahmed from the Two MICHELIN Starred restaurant La Table du Lausanne Palace in Lausanne. The award recognizes her professionalism and the charming, relaxed and refreshing way in which she looks after her guests. The MICHELIN Young Chef Award, presented by Blancpain, went to Gilles Varone, who at a young age provides modern, seasonal cuisine at Star level in his restaurant of the same name in Savièse and was also awarded a Green Star thanks to his sustainable initiatives. Loris Lenzo was honoured with the MICHELIN Sommelier Award for his work at Einstein Gourmet in St. Gallen. He responds to guests in a friendly, casual yet stylish manner and recommends the right wine from the list of over 3,000 options with exemplary expertise. He thus provides the perfect accompaniment to the international Two Star cuisine of chefs Sebastian Zier and Richard Schmidtkonz. The Sommelier Award was presented by Swiss Wine.
10 More Restaurants Receive the Bib Gourmand
In its 2024 selection, The MICHELIN Guide has newly honored 10 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand. This is awarded to establishments with a particularly good price-quality ratio. The newly distinguished restaurants offering tasty and affordable cuisine made from high-quality products include: Birdy's by Achtien, where Chef Christian Vogel offers an exciting 'food-sharing' concept with vegetarian dishes, as an alternative to his MICHELIN-Starred restaurant Birdy's by Achtien - The Nest; the restaurant Là-Haut by Julien Ostertag, who creates sophisticated bistronomy with his uncomplicated and expressive cuisine; and the friendly Colani Bistrot, which is home to the tempting Mediterranean cuisine of Paolo Casavona and is located inside the Hotel Colani, as is the One Star restaurant Chesa Stüva Colani. The MICHELIN Guide Switzerland 2024 lists a total of 114 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand.
The full list of restaurants that have newly received a Bib Gourmand:
• Birdy’s by Achtien, Brunnen (SZ)
• Là-Haut, Chardonne (VD)
• Gasthof zum goldenen Kreuz, Frauenfeld (TG)
• MIRADI, Gstaad (BE)
• Colani Bistrot, Madulain (GR)
• Balm Bistro, Meggen (LU)
• Zer Schlucht, Saas-Fee (SZ)
• Multertor, St. Gallen (SG)
• Le Restaurant, Solothurn (SO)
• Didi’s Frieden, Zürich (ZH)
The MICHELIN Guide Switzerland 2024 at a Glance
(a total of 540 restaurants recommended by the MICHELIN Inspectors)
• 4 restaurants with Three MICHELIN Stars
• 25 restaurants with Two MICHELIN Stars (of which 2 are new)
• 107 restaurants with One MICHELIN Star (of which 6 are new)
• 34 MICHELIN Green Star restaurants (of which 3 are new)
• 114 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand (of which 10 are new)
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. The MICHELIN Key, a new award for hotels, was introduced in 2024. Just as the MICHELIN Stars celebrate the best restaurants in the world, the MICHELIN Keys recognize The Guide's most remarkable accommodations.
Illustration Image: Restaurant Colonnade, Luzern © Julien Faure
