One of the best parts about travelling is getting to experience the local food, and Europe is a treasure trove of delicious delicacies waiting to be discovered. For those looking to indulge in a luxurious experience, visiting a Michelin Star restaurant can be the highlight of any trip. But which country has the best?
Independent Cruise Agency Iglu Cruise has revealed the best restaurants across the continent. Using Tripadvisor data, the team researched all 92 three-starred Michelin Star restaurants in Europe and calculated which had the highest percentage of “excellent” reviews, or five out of five stars.
What is a Michelin star?
As described by Michelin, a Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants with outstanding cooking, taking into account five different criteria: quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and consistency both across the entire menu and over time.
The categories for Michelin Stars are as follows:
- 1 Star – High-quality cooking, worth a stop
- 2 Stars – Excellent cooking, worth a detour
- 3 Stars – Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
Only 92 restaurants in Europe have been awarded the highest accolade, three Michelin Stars. The following 10 have the highest percentage of excellent reviews.
| Restaurant | Location | Number of Reviews | Number of Five Star “Excellent” Reviews | Percentage of Five-Star “Excellent” Reviews |
| Frantzén | Stockholm, Sweden | 208 | 196 | 94.2 |
| La Marine | L’Herbaudière, France | 668 | 615 | 92.1 |
| The Table Kevin Fehling | Hamburg, Germany | 251 | 230 | 90.4 |
| Waldhotel Sonnora | Dreis, Germany | 254 | 227 | 89.4 |
| Restaurant Marcon | Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, France | 1,180 | 1,053 | 89.2 |
| La Vague d’Or | Saint-Tropez, France | 474 | 422 | 89 |
| El Celler de Can Roca | Girona, Spain | 3,249 | 2,889 | 88.9 |
| Restaurant Schanz | Piesport, Germany | 268 | 238 | 88.8 |
| Core by Clare Smyth | London, UK | 1,031 | 915 | 88.7 |
| Restaurante Martín Berasategui | Lasarte-Oria, Spain | 1,972 | 1,741 | 88.3 |
Collected by Iglu Cruise
In first place, with an excellent rating of 94.2% is Frantzén, located in Stockholm Sweden. Opening in 2008, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin Star in 2009. A second Michelin Star was awarded a year later in 2010 and in 2018, Frantzén was awarded its third Michelin Star. The restaurant is currently the only restaurant in Sweden with three.
In second place is La Marine in L’Herbaudière, France, with an excellent rating of 92.1%. Out of 668 Tripadvisor reviews, 615 guests awarded the restaurant five stars. La Marine is famous for serving local, seasonal seafood and working with small-scale local fishermen to serve food that is available depending on the season.
The Table Kevin Fehling in Hamburg, Germany is ranked third, with an excellent rating of 90.4%. The restaurant was awarded its third Michelin Star in 2016 and offers guests a tasting menu devised by chef Kevin Fehling. The menu is inspired by cuisines all over the world, with flavours from Asia, South America and Europe.
Next is Waldhotel Sonnora in Dreis, Germany which scored 89.4%. The restaurant was awarded its third Michelin Star in 1999. Germany currently has 10 restaurants which have been awarded three Michelin Stars.
Restaurant Marcon in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, France has an excellent rating of 89.2%. The restaurant changes its menu on a weekly basis and prioritises the environment and ecosystem of Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid by minimising waste production. The final French restaurant on the list is La Vague d’Or in Saint-Tropez, France which has an excellent rating of 89%, with 422 reviews out of 474 awarding the restaurant five stars.
El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain has an excellent rating of 88.9%, with 2,889 out of 3,249 reviews on Tripadvisor being five stars. The restaurant was opened in 1986 by brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca and serves traditional Catalonian cuisine.
With an excellent score of 88.8%, Restaurant Schanz in Piesport, Germany is the next three-starred Michelin restaurant on the list. It is a sophisticated, family-run restaurant that serves elevated French cuisine and tasting menus.
The only British restaurant in the top 10 is Core by Clare Smyth, located in London, which has an excellent score of 88.7%. 915 out of 1,031 reviews gave the restaurant five out of five stars on Tripadvisor. Every meal at the restaurant celebrates British ingredients, seeking the best seasonal produce from sustainable farmers.
Finally, Restaurante Martín Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria, Spain rounds up the top 10 for three-starred Michelin restaurants with the best reviews. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin Star in 1993, second in 1996 and third star in 2002.
The team at Iglu Cruise also revealed which countries in Europe have the most restaurants with three Michelin Stars.
| Country | Number of restaurants with three Michelin Stars |
| France | 30 |
| Spain | 15 |
| Italy | 13 |
| Germany | 10 |
| UK | 9 |
| Switzerland | 4 |
| Denmark | 3 |
| Belgium | 2 |
| Norway | 2 |
| Netherlands | 1 |
| Austra | 1 |
| Slovenia | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
France tops the list with 30, more than double that of Spain which sits in second place. . Italy has 13, while Germany has 10 and the UK has nine.
Could a Foodie Cruise Be For You?
With so many incredible restaurants to explore across Europe, a cruise is an excellent way to taste your way across Europe. Whilst visiting many wonderful destinations you can be sure to find plenty of delicious eateries both on and off the ship.
Many cruise lines are taking a major focus on cuisine and some of the best food in the world is now said to be found at sea, making mealtimes one of the most memorable parts of your cruise holiday. Some cruise lines have even partnered with Michelin Star chefs, who have created beautiful bespoke menus that are creating a buzz on the food scene.
Cruise Lines with World-Class Dining
Disney Cruise Line – Enchanté
Crafted by 3 Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement (of L’Assiette Champenoise, near Reims, France), Enchanté is a gourmet menu created with superior seasonal ingredients, sourced from around the world and in-season produce at the peak of ripeness. The result is an enticing collection of international dishes, all masterfully presented alongside a superlative wine list and first-class service.
Royal Caribbean – Chef’s Table
Chef’s Table is an exclusive and elevated dining experience onboard Royal Caribbean. Guests will enjoy five exquisite courses that range from scallop carpaccio with yuzu vinaigrette, to grilled fillet mignon served with truffle potato puree. All are expertly paired with the perfect wine to highlight every flavour on the menu.
Virgin Voyages – The Test Kitchen
Inspired by Escoffier’s Ma Cuisine, The Test Kitchen is a chef-driven tasting menu which is presented as an ingredient list, a truly unique experience onboard a cruise ship. The cooking techniques, presentation, and flavours are explored through a carefully constructed menu which offers six courses in a Michelin-style concept.
Princess Cruises – The Catch by Rudi
As one of the most decorated chefs working on the seas today, Rudi Sodamin has crafted a speciality seafood restaurant to celebrate the connection we have to the ocean. Guests can enjoy a menu of up to seven courses, including lobster, calamari, prawns, mussels, salmon and more.
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