Michelin Starred Restaurants in Italy: What Travelers Need to Know 2023
The new Michelin starred restaurants in Italy for 2023 were announced this week with the release of the 68th edition of the MICHELIN GUIDE ITALY 2023.
The ceremony was held in Franciacorta (in the Lombardy region).
Thirty-eight new restaurants in Italy were added to the guide: 33 one-star, 4 two-star, and one three-star.
Compared to other countries, how does Italy rank in terms of its number of Michelin stars?
As of 2023, there are a total of 385 Michelin starred restaurants in Italy, a country beloved around the world for its cuisine.
Italy is the third most Michelin starred country, after France and Japan.
Which restaurants in Italy received three stars for the first time in 2023?
Only one: Villa Crespi, led by Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo.
The newest of Italy’s three-star restaurants is at Villa Crespi, a five-star Relais & Chateaux property, on Lake Orta in the Piedmont region of northern Italy.
“Italy particularly impressed our visitors this year with the introduction of a new restaurant in the Olympus of Italian gastronomy, Villa Crespi,” commented Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides.
“The 2023 selection of the MICHELIN Guide [Italy] is composed of no fewer than 385 Starred restaurants, showing a wide diversity of Chef profiles, even very young ones, and a wide geographical diversity: a new record for the Italian peninsula, highlighting how much tradition and innovation make a perfect match for outstanding culinary experiences, brimful of emotion, history and conviviality.”
Where in Italy are the four new two-starred Michelin restaurants located?
This year, there were four new two-starred restaurants added to the Michelin Guide.
Located the The First Roma Hotel in Rome (Lazio region): Chef Daniele Lippi
Located in Rome (Lazio): Chef Domenico Stile
Located in The Ashbee Hotel in Taormina (Sicily) : Chefs Beck and Salvatore Iuliano
Located in Penango (near Asti, in Piedmont): Chef Gabriele Boffa
How many one-star Michelin restaurants are there in Italy?
Italy now has 335 one-star entries (which includes the 33 new ones).
Which region of Italy has the most Michelin starred restaurants?
Lombardy retains its status as the most starred region in Italy. It has 60 Michelin starred restaurants (three with 3 stars, 5 with 2 stars and 52 with 1 star).
Campania takes second place with 48 stars, Piedmont with 44, Tuscany with 42 and Veneto with 32.
Where are the three-star Michelin restaurants in Italy located?
With the new addition, there are now 12 three-star Michelin restaurants in Italy. Her e is the list:
Da Vittorio
Located in Brusaporto, a commune in the Bergamo province of the Lombardy region; listing in the Michelin Guide
Piazza Duomo
Located in the town of Alba, in the province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region; listing in the Michelin Guide
Dal Pescatore
Located in the village of Runate, in the province of Mantua in the Lombardy region; listing in the Michelin Guide
Enoteca Pinchiorri
Located in Florence, in Tuscany; listing in the Michelin Guide
Le Calandre
Located in the commune (municipality) of Rubano in the province of Padua in the Veneto region; listing in the Michelin Guide
Reale
Located In the city Castel di Sangro, in the Province of L’Aquila in Abruzzo; listing in Michelin Guide
Uliassi
Located in Senigallia, in the province of Ancona in the Marche region; listing in the Michelin Guide
St. Hubertus
Located in the frazione of San Cassiano/Sankt Kassian, in the Bolzano province of the Trentino-Alto Adige region; listing in the Michelin Guide
Osteria Francescana
Located in the city of Modena, in the Emilia Romagna region; listing in the Michelin Guide
La Pergola
Located in Rome, in the Lazio region; listing in the Michelin Guide
Read about other Michelin star restaurants in Rome.
Enrico Bartolini al Mudec
Located in Milano, in the Lombardy region; listing in the Michelin Guide
Villa Crespi
Located on Lake Orta, in the Piedmont region, listing in the Michelin Guide
What is the Michelin Green Star?
The Michelin Green Star is awarded to restaurateurs who are leaders in sustainability, regardless of their culinary distinction. The factors considered in awarding these stars include: “the production of raw materials, respect for labor and support for local producers, waste reduction and management, actions aimed at minimizing the use of energy resources and the impact of the establishment on the environment, and, last but note least, the sustainable training of young people.”
In 2023, 19 new Green Stars were awarded bringing the total in Italy to 48.
Who is the most starred chef in Italy?
With five restaurants totaling nine stars, Enrico Bartolini holds the honor of being the most starred chef in Italy. Based on his newest achievement, an article in WineNews called Chef Bartolini the new King of the Italy Michelin Guide.
In 2023, Bartolini was awarded the Michelin Mentor Chef Award (with the support of Blancpain) for his professional achievements and his positive influence on younger generations.
The chef oversees restaurants in Milan, Bergamo Alta (in Lombardy), Castiglione della Pescaia (a resort in Tuscany), Venice, Monferrato (in Piedmont) and Borgo San Felice (in Siena). In addition, the chef has three restaurants outside Italy, in Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Chef Bartolini earned his first Michelin star at Le Robinie restaurant when he was only 29 years old and the second when he was 33. In November 2017, the chef earned the distinction of garnering four more Michelin stars (all in the same year), two for his restaurant in Milan, one for the restaurant in Bergamo and the third for his restaurant in Castiglione della Pescaia.
What is the basis for garnering Michelin stars?
An article on the Michelin website dispels the widespread impression that the guide’s anonymous inspectors look for outstanding service and decor. Their focus is primarily on the food.
It reads, “…It’s the food on the plate—nothing more. One of the great misconceptions of our guide is that we are somehow concerned with the color of the curtains or the style of the service. But really, it’s just the food—the restaurant could be the swankiest, most comfortable place in the world but if the food isn’t that great, we aren’t going to have it in our guide.
Similarly, if the food is wonderful then we don’t care if we’re sitting on plastic chairs or have been queued outside for an hour.”
Where can I find the entire list of Michelin reviewed restaurants in Italy?
There are two ways to look through the entire list of Michelin starred restaurants in Italy, either in the Michelin Guide or online on the Michelin website. In addition to identifying and describing the Michelin starred restaurants in Italy, it includes information on 16,368 restaurants, about 3000 with Michelin stars.
Of course, some of the starred restaurants are so appealing that they are destinations in themselves, generally requiring reservations to be made long in advance. Others may be places that culinary travelers will want to stop at while touring a region.
The red print guide, MICHELIN Guide Italy (Italia) 2023 (available on Amazon) offers an especially handy format if you are planning a road trip through one or more regions of Italy.
The Michelin website offers the convenience of being able to sort the entire list by region, distinction (number of stars), types of cuisine, and classification (including comfort level, services and facilities. So, for example, if you are traveling in a particular area, you can easily identify nearby top-rated restaurants and read their reviews. Here is the link to the Michelin Italy site.
How do I make reservations for one of the Michelin starred restaurants in Italy?
Understandably, snagging a reservation at any three-star Michelin restaurant in Italy or elsewhere in Europe can be difficult, especially during peak seasons or holidays.
Reservations may need to be made many months in advance. Some restaurants close for all or part of the month of August; others have winter or holiday closures. Most are closed at least one day a week; the particular day varying among them.
If you Google their respective websites, some of the restaurants ask you to fill out a form requesting a reservation; others have online calendars. Some prefer direct calls by phone.
If you do have trouble making a booking, it can be helpful to request to be placed on a waiting list. Sometimes, a hotel concierge can help you book a dinner reservation, especially if you are staying at a property housing the restaurant.
Also, be sure to check the restaurant websites regarding policies for dress codes, and bringing children or pets.
Bear in mind, too, that these restaurants are pricey and many only have tasting rather than a la carte menus. Wine pairings add an additional cost. Some may require a pre-authorized deposit to ensure a booking.
But for those culinary travelers who can afford it, these gastronomic and cultural experiences can be priceless.
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All photo credits as shown, Pinterest photo (Acquolina, Rome)
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