Australia’s first Michelin stars have been awarded to 11 restaurants in South Australia, marking the country’s debut in the prestigious guide. The 2027 Michelin Guide South Australia, unveiled in Adelaide on October 14, 2026, recognizes 77 venues, including one two-star restaurant, 10 one-star establishments, 16 Bib Gourmand selections, and 50 Michelin Selected spots.
Magill Estate Leads with Two Stars
Magill Estate Restaurant, located at the Penfolds winery in Adelaide’s foothills, became Australia’s first two-star Michelin restaurant. Executive chef Scott Huggins leads the team behind its contemporary Australian cuisine, which includes a 10-course tasting menu featuring dishes like sea urchin with snow peas and spring lamb Wellington. The restaurant’s vineyard setting enhances its appeal for international visitors exploring South Australia’s wine regions.
The awards themselves were announced in October 2026.
Ten One-Star Winners Span Adelaide and Wine Regions
The remaining 10 one-star winners reflect South Australia’s culinary diversity, ranging from Adelaide’s urban precincts to its renowned wine areas:
- Anvers Restaurant (Adelaide)
- Aptosarkhé (Adelaide Hills)
- Aurora at ILA (Adelaide, within a cultural venue)
- Botanic (Adelaide Botanic Gardens)
- Esmay (Adelaide, in a former hotel building)
- Hentley Farm (Barossa Valley)
- LVN Restaurant at Bird in Hand (Adelaide Hills winery)
- Maxwell Restaurant (McLaren Vale)
- Skillogalee Barrel House (Clare Valley)
These restaurants blend local ingredients with international techniques. For example, Esmay, led by chef Alanna Sapwell, repurposed the former Hackney Hotel building, while Hentley Farm in the Barossa Valley emphasizes seasonal produce. The spread highlights how South Australia’s food culture extends beyond Adelaide, integrating dining with wine tourism.
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Michelin’s inspectors praised the region’s ability to merge European, Southeast Asian, and Japanese influences with native Australian flavors, such as quandong and lemon myrtle. The five evaluation criteria—ingredient quality, flavor harmony, techniques, chef’s personality, and consistency—were applied uniformly across all inspected venues.
While no restaurant earned three stars in this inaugural guide, the absence doesn’t diminish the milestone. The Bib Gourmand category further broadens the recognition by highlighting 16 affordable yet high-quality dining options, including Golden Boy in Adelaide and Tirage on Kangaroo Island.
The guide also includes 50 Michelin Selected restaurants, such as Chianti in Adelaide and Coriole Vineyards in McLaren Vale, which meet Michelin’s standards without star or Bib Gourmand status. Three individual awards were presented: Shakaan Abillion of Shōbōsho won the Young Chef Award, Melissa Pisanelli of Allegra Dining Room earned the Service Award, and Maxime Martin of Hardy’s Verandah received the Sommelier Award.
The full 2027 Michelin Guide South Australia is available on the official Michelin Guide website, where users can filter restaurants by location, cuisine, and award type. The guide’s launch positions South Australia as a destination where high-end dining and wine experiences coexist with more casual, locally inspired meals.
