The 2024 vintage of the Swiss Michelin Guide highlights 136 starred venues. The four restaurants that were previously awarded three stars still hold the distinction. Two new German tables get two macarons.
During a ceremony that took place on Monday at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guide, praised the firm level that Swiss gastronomy has shown in recent years. “Out of 136 starred restaurants in this selection (138 in 2023, editor’s note), 107 received one star, 25 two stars and four three stars,” he said, quoted in a press release.
Nothing is changing at the level of three-star establishments, and four of them still have their distinction. Staying in this closed club are the Memories in Bad Ragaz (SG), led by chef Sven Wassmer, the Crissier Town Hall (VD) managed by Franck Giovannini, the Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl in Basel and the Schloss Schauenstein in ‘ Andreas Caminada and Marcel Skibba in Fürstenau (GR).
Two new two-star establishments
This year, only two new two-star restaurants appear in the guide, bringing to 25 the number of addresses “whose food is even after a way”: these are the Colonnade in Lucerne (LU) and The Counter in Zurich. The latter deserves a special mention, as it achieved the feat of winning two stars immediately after its opening, emphasize the organizers.
On the French side, the Pic Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne stands out among the restaurants that already have two stars. Indeed, the former “Anne-Sophie Pic” was able to defend its rank after a long closure (and name change).
During this edition, six new restaurants were awarded one star, including two in Geneva: Arakel and FP Journe le Restaurant.
Quentin Philippe, head of Arakel, told the Forum that he was “very happy to receive this star”. “It’s a great achievement,” he said, even though the restaurant has only been open since February. But he declares that nothing will change: neither the service, nor the dishes, nor the prices, he declares at the RTS microphone.
>> Quentin Philippe Interview in the Forum:
The Michelin guide gives six new Swiss restaurants a star: an interview with Quentin Philippe / Forum / 6 min. / Monday at 6:00 pm
Across Sarine, the Mandarin Oriental Savoy in Zurich, the Villa Sommerlust in Schaffhausen, An Seomra bia in Cham (ZG) and the Maihöfli by UniQuisine in Lucerne won a macaron.
Various special prices
Among the special prizes, Sarah Benahmed from the two-star restaurant La Table du Lausanne Palace was awarded a Service award. The distinction recognizes “his professionalism as well as his pleasant, calm and relaxed way of looking after customers.”
The Young Chef Prize was awarded to Gilles Varone, 29, who, with his young age and one star, serves “modern and seasonal” cuisine in his eponymous restaurant located in Savièse (VS). Called on Monday evening at 7:30 pm, he expressed great joy at this consecration. “It’s a waking dream,” he said, emphasizing that his job is his passion. Getting titles is an “objective”, but “the most important thing is that the customers are happy”, says the Valaisan.
>> Watch his intervention Monday 7:30 pm:
At the age of 29, chef Gilles Varone already has a Michelin star and this year was awarded the award for the best young chef of the year. Interview / 7:30 pm / 2 min. / Monday at 7:30 pm
Ten new venues have achieved the gourmand Bib, a distinction that shows good restaurants that are very good value for money. There is only one of them in French-speaking Switzerland, the Là-haut à Chardonne (VD) by Julien Ostertag, which was rewarded for “its high-end bistronomy”. Their number therefore increases to 114 (125 in 2023).
Finally, three new green stars were awarded to restaurants dedicated to more sustainable gastronomy: Joots in Basel, Osteria del Centro in Comano (TI) and Silex in Zurich.
juma with res