California’s MICHELIN stars: the back story

About California’s MICHELIN stars: the back story

By the ULTIMATE California Editorial Team

The 2026 MICHELIN Guide California, revealed on 24 June 2026, gave the state ten three-star restaurants. Two were promoted this year: Californios in San Francisco, now the first Mexican restaurant in the world with three stars, and Enclos in Sonoma.

San Francisco

San Francisco has four three-star restaurants: Atelier Crenn, Benu, Californios and Quince. Six more hold two stars, and the city’s one-star list runs from Korean and Filipino cooking to seafood and steak.

Wine country

The French Laundry in Yountville, SingleThread in Healdsburg and Enclos in Sonoma all hold three stars, and Troubadour in Healdsburg earned its first star in 2026.

Californios is the world’s first Mexican restaurant to earn three MICHELIN stars (MICHELIN Guide, 2026).

San Diego and the coast

Addison at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar holds three stars, and Lucien in La Jolla is new to the one-star list. On the coast, Aubergine in Carmel holds two stars and Chez Noir one; further north, Harbor House Inn at Elk on the Mendocino coast holds two.

Booking

Book well ahead, especially for weekends, through each restaurant’s own website. Our list shows only MICHELIN’s own distinctions, without other scores.

Our advice: pair a starred dinner with a night nearby, especially in wine country, where the roads are dark and winding.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with California’s MICHELIN stars: the back story before you go.