Your Michelin guide to the Mediterranean 

The Michelin Guide 2024 covers 237 countries across America, Asia and Europe. The latter also includes a large number of Michelin-starred restaurants located in the Mediterranean. Discover why the cruising grounds of the West and East Mediterranean are at the pinnacle of culinary excellence at some of the finest restaurants along the varied coastlines.  

West Mediterranean  

For intrepid foodies, the cruising grounds of the West Mediterranean offer a genuine culinary adventure. The entire region is of course already well-known for its rich culinary traditions and diverse cuisine. From Italian pasta dishes to sun-ripened fruits and vegetables, and seafood plucked straight from the ocean, it’s all about the freshest produce seasoned with local herbs.

This year Ducasse is joined in the Michelin pantheon by a couple of newcomers much earlier in their culinary journey, having been awarded their first Michelin stars. The city of Nice celebrates two new openings – Onice, which is the brainchild of Italian and Argentinian chefs Lorenzo Ragni and Florencia Montes and offers a seasonal cuisine rich in tradition; and the innovative plant-based restaurant Racines, which is headed by Chef Bruno Cirino. Both have received a Michelin star rating in their first year of operation.  

Further along the coast in Mandelieu, chef Bessem Ben Abdallah’s waterside restaurant Bessem has also claimed a first Michelin star, awarded for its inventive cuisine, while in Saint-Tropez, La Terrasse – Cheval Blanc St-Tropez, has also been newly recognised by the guide with a first star. Sister to the three-starred La Vague d’Or, La Terrasse serves a laid-back, lunchtime only Mediterranean menu.  

At the other end of this gilded cruising ground, the Principality of Monaco has added another couple of stars to its culinary crown with Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac. Less than a year after opening at the Hôtel Le Métropole, Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac was awarded two Michelin stars, restoring the famous property’s reputation held during the days when Joël Robuchon and Christophe Cussac occupied the same space inside the hotel. 

New to the Michelin-table this year is Sa Clastra – one of two fine dining restaurants on Mallorca’s Castell Son Claret estate. Here Chef Jordi Cantóhas creates simple, yet innovative dishes infused with local island flavours. Ibiza also welcomed two new Michelin stars – the first being awarded to the Japanese inspired Omakase by Walt, and the second to UNIC Restaurant, where Chef David Grussaute’s tasting menu combines local produce with a new twist on traditional Ibizan dishes.  

This year saw several Neapolitan favourites extend their star rating, with Quattro Passi being awarded the maximum three Michelin stars, and the George Restaurant and Piazzetta Milù increasing their star rating from one to two. Among the 26 new one Michelin star restaurants was the Furore Grand Hotel’s Bluh Furor. Just months after opening near Positano, this gourmet restaurant, headed by executive chef Vincenzo Russo, was awarded a Michelin star for its modern take on traditional Campania dishes. The Bluh Fuoro joins some of Italy’s best restaurants on this stretch of coastline, including the nearby one Michelin-starred Restorante Il Refettorio located at the former Monastero Santa Rosa.   

Here, chefs Oli Marlow and Eoin Smith curate dishes using locally sourced produce that they give an Asian twist – enjoyed overlooking the stunning Grand Harbour in Valletta. Another fine view can be enjoyed from Rosamì. This elegant restaurant, which overlooks Spinola Bay, has been awarded a Michelin star for a wide variety of modern cuisine that can be discovered over four completely different menus.

East Mediterranean

Rooted in levant flavours, cuisine in the Eastern Mediterranean includes a vast array of cultural influences. Diverse flavours, aromatic herbs, and spices, with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and age-old preparation methods results in a selection of specialities for each region that are nutritious and flavourful in equal measure.   

The country is still young in terms of Michelin-starred restaurants, having only received its first Michelin star in 2017 for the family-run Monte restaurant in Rovinj. Monte retains its Michelin star today and is joined by no less than nine other restaurants with Michelin stars. Fortunately for yacht owners and charter guests, the majority of these are located along Croatia’s coastline, including the yachting crowd’s favourite, the 360 Restaurant in Dubrovnik. Built into the historic town walls on the curved battlement terrace with beautiful views over the old port, the stunning setting is matched by Chef Marijo Curić’s two five-course tasting menus.

Hytra is the youngest addition to the Michelin star line-up. With views over the Acropolis, enjoy contemporary-style Greek cuisine beneath the stars while admiring the incredible Parthenon backdrop. Alternatively, escape the hustle and bustle of the city and head south to the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel which is home to the one Michelin star restaurant Pelagos. Chef Luca Piscazzi has two tasting menus that take inspiration from the fertile farmlands and waters lapping the shores of nearby islands – giving you a taste of what’s to come as you cruise the Greek archipelagos.

Famed for its fresh local produce and crystal-clear Aegean waters, Izmir’s OD Urla, Teruar Urla and Vino Locale each received a Michelin star, while two restaurants in Bodrum that have always been popular with the yachting crowd also joined the Michelin ranks. Kitchen, which is located at The Bodrum Edition Hotel, offers contemporary dishes based on traditional Turkish favourites, while Göltürkbükü’s Maçakizi, which is the current Bodrum hot spot, serves Aegean cuisine with a modern twist.