The MICHELIN Guide is a prestigious restaurant and hotel rating system developed by the French tire company Michelin. It awards (1 to 3) Stars to exceptional restaurants, and other distinctions like the Bib Gourmand and MICHELIN Green Star.

The PHLCVB first established its partnership with Michelin in 2022 when production began on the Green Guide. The Green Guide serves as a travel/destination guide spanning many categories, while the Red Guide focuses exclusively on restaurants and culinary excellence. Learn more about the destination guide on the Philadelphia Michelin Green Guide page.

The Bib Gourmand recognizes restaurants that offer exceptionally good food at moderate prices. It’s meant to highlight great value dining, places where you can enjoy high-quality, carefully prepared meals without breaking the bank. The MICHELIN Green Star is awarded to restaurants that are leading the way in sustainable gastronomy. It recognizes chefs and restaurants that are deeply committed to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices.

Michelin selects destinations based on the maturity and diversity of its culinary scene, including innovation, quality of ingredients, local talent, and international interest.

Michelin recognition can boost visibility, tourism, business, and attract talent. Food tourism is important for a destination because it fuels economic growth and cultural preservation. Culinary experiences are one of the top motivators for travel, drawing visitors eager to explore local flavors, traditions, and creativity. This leads to increased spending across restaurants, markets, farms, and hospitality businesses, supporting jobs and small producers. A vibrant food scene can set a destination apart in a competitive travel market, positioning it as a must-visit location for adventurous and experience-driven travelers. In short, food tourism isn’t just about eating—it’s about creating memorable, authentic, and shareable experiences that connect people to place.

Anonymous MICHELIN Guide Inspectors visit restaurants multiple times, evaluating the food based on five universal criteria:

• Quality of ingredients
• Mastery of cooking  and culinary techniques
• Harmony of flavors
• Voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine
• Consistency across the entire menu and between visits

No. Michelin does not accept applications or payments for consideration. Inspectors visit restaurants anonymously and independently.

MICHELIN Guide recognition often boosts culinary tourism, attracts international visitors, and benefits local hospitality and food service industries.  It also enhances the destination’s appeal to event organizers evaluating where to host future meetings, conventions or special events.

Stars are reassessed annually. Restaurants must maintain standards to keep them, and Stars can be gained or lost year to year.

Yes. The MICHELIN Guide awards Stars based on food quality, not formality. A Bib Gourmand is often given to high quality and affordable eateries.

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to be the destination partner for the MICHELIN Guide’s debut in Philadelphia. As the official tourism promotion agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and long-term sales agent for the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the PHLCVB’s role is to attract international visitors, major conventions, and global attention, including the chefs and restaurants shaping Philadelphia’s culinary identity.

The partnership is part of a multi-year agreement with Michelin.

The partnership is funded through PHLCVB resources as part of our broader international marketing efforts that align with our mission to drive tourism and economic impact for Philadelphia.

An EY impact study found that the presence of the MICHELIN Guide in a destination positively influences traveler behavior. Over half of visitors would extend their stay if Michelin-starred restaurants were available, often by one or two nights, and are willing to spend more per person per meal for a Michelin dining experience.