Anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors have arrived Down Under for the first time, travelling through South Australia to begin evaluating and potentially listing some of its best eateries.
Any outstanding establishments could be included in the 2027 Michelin Guide to South Australia, with the full list to be announced in October 2026.
This offers a significant opportunity for SA's hospitality scene and could eventually pave the way for a national rollout, Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert said.
"The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide sends a powerful message to the world that Australia is home to world class culinary talent, exceptional produce, unique dining experiences and a hospitality culture that can compete with the very best globally," he said.
"This has the potential to create a halo effect across the entire hospitality and tourism economy."
International tourists to South Australia already spent as much as $1.8 billion, but with more than 62 million people visiting the Michelin Guide's website and more than four million followers on its Instagram, these listings could bring even more to the state.
According to EY's 2025 Beyond the Michelin Stars study, 74 per cent of travellers consider the guide's presence as a decisive criterion when choosing a destination and 76 per cent are prepared to extend their stay to eat at a restaurant recommended by the guide.
"The guide has a proven track record as a powerful driver of gastronomic tourism and economic development in the region it covers," SA Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said.
"It aims to give visitors another reason to book a trip to our state, and once they're here, they'll go onto experience even more of what South Australia has to offer."
The South Australian Tourism Commission found SA was ranked best out of all Australian states and territories for good food and wine.
International director of the Michelin Guide Gwendal Poullennec said inspectors were struck by the authenticity and personality of the state's dining culture.
"South Australia offers an impressive diversity of culinary expressions within a single destination," he said.
"The strength of its identity lies in the freedom chefs enjoy defining their own voice, guided by outstanding produce, a strong relationship to the land and a confident openness to global influences."
But SA's culinary culture is likely not the only factor to have brought Michelin to Australia.
The guide entered a partnership with the South Australian government after Tourism Australia turned down a Michelin deal that would have cost $40 million over five years, according to reports in the Australian Financial Review.
Similar agreements have been reached with Tourism New Zealand and Thailand's tourism body.
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