Updated August 2024
Congratulations to all 46 of California’s Central Coast Michelin restaurants in the 2024 Michelin Guide California!
In Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Monterey counties, we now have 44 Central Coast restaurants. They are in the revered Michelin Guide California. Some are just listed (or mentioned), some are rated Bib Gourmand, and some have 1 or 2 stars. There are now 5 restaurants in these counties which were awarded 1 Michelin star!
The 3 spots who got the very first stars in this region kept theirs). Add the very first Central Coast restaurant to ever get a Michelin star, Aubergine in Monterey (now they have 2 stars!) and that makes 6.
There are also new ratings of the Bib Gourmand distinction and restaurants listed in the guide. This makes a total of 28 Michelin restaurants in SLO & SB Counties.
Michelin Restaurants Ratings Explained
- Three MICHELIN Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey!
- Two MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour!
- One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
- Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking
- Listed/recommended · fresh ingredients, carefully prepared: a good meal
Monterey County Michelin Restaurants
Michelin Totals: In Monterey County, there are 16 Michelin restaurants. One of them has a Michelin star. In Ventura County, there is 1 Michelin restaurant. It is located in Ojai.
Michelin 2-Star: Aubergine, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Michelin 1-Star: Chaz Noir, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Bib Gourmand: Yafa, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Maligne, Seaside
Listed:
- Gusto Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza, Seaside
- Lucia Restaurant & Bar, Carmel Valley
- La Bicyclette, Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Akaoni, Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Casanova, Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Cultura, Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Coastal Kitchen, Monterey
- Montrio Bistro, Monterey
- Paprika Café, Monterey
- The Sardine Factory, Monterey
- Stokes Adobe, Monterey
- Pèppoli, Pebble Beach
San Luis Obispo County Michelin Restaurants
San Luis Obispo’s first Michelin star restaurant is Six Test Kitchen in Paso Robles. Read all about it at this link.
Its second Michelin star restaurant is the Restaurant at Justin Winery, which was also awarded a green star. The Michelin Guide says, “Green Stars go to restaurants that are highly sustainable; they work with local farmers, growers, and fishers, utilize seasonal ingredients, avoid waste, reduce or remove entirely single-use plastics, and generally working to have a lower environmental impact.”
Michelin Totals: There are also 5 listed restaurants. The total of Michelin-approved dining destinations is 7 in SLO County.
Michelin 1-Star & Green-Star: Restaurant at Justin Winery, Paso Robles
Michelin 1-Star: Six Test Kitchen, Paso Robles
Listed:
- The Hatch, Paso Robles
- Les Petites Canailles, Paso Robles
- Nate’s on Marsh, San Luis Obispo
- Ox + Anchor, San Luis Obispo
- Ember, Arroyo Grande
Santa Barbara County Michelin Restaurants
Santa Barbara’s first Michelin star restaurant is Bell’s in Los Alamos. (Read all about Bell’s and get their recipe for Moules Frites.)
Its second Michelin star restaurant is Caruso’s at Rosewood Miramar Resort (Montecito), which was also awarded a green star. The Michelin Guide says, “Green Stars go to restaurants that are highly sustainable; they work with local farmers, growers, and fishers, utilize seasonal ingredients, avoid waste, reduce or remove entirely single-use plastics, and generally working to have a lower environmental impact.”
Unfortunately, Bib Gourmand restaurant Mesa Verde in Santa Barbara closed in summer 2024. (Read about Mesa Verde, get their Spring Pea Salad recipe.)
Michelin Totals: Add these up with all the additional named restaurants. Santa Barbara County has a total of 21 Michelin approved restaurants.
Michelin 1-Star & Green-Star: Caruso’s, Santa Barbara
Michelin 1-Star: Bell’s, Los Alamos
Bib Gourmand: Bettina, Santa Barbara; Corazon Cocina, Santa Barbara; Loquita, Santa Barbara; Sama Sama Kitchen, Santa Barbara; peasants FEAST in Solvang (read about peasants FEAST and get their Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream recipe.
Listed:
- AMA Sushi at Rosewood Miramar Resort, Montecito
- Sushi by Scratch Restaurants, Montecito
- Barbareño, Santa Barbara (get their Hive & Honey Coconut Panna Cotta recipe)
- Bibi Ji, Santa Barbara (get their Chicken Tikka recipe)
- Blackbird at Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara
- The Lark, Santa Barbara
- Los Agaves, Santa Barbara
- Stonehouse at the San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara (get their Classic Lemon Tart recipe)
- Yoichi’s, Santa Barbara
- Silvers Omakase, Santa Barbara
- Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos
- Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos
- Coast Range in Solvang
- First & Oak in Solvang (read about First & Oak, and get their Braised Short Rib with Oyster Mushroom recipe)
Ventura County Michelin Restaurants
Both of Ventura County’s Michelin restaurants are in Ojai, and both are listed (or mentioned). These are both excellent and worth a visit!
Michelin Totals: 2 Listed
- The Dutchess, Ojai
- Rory’s Pace, Ojai
Sparkling Wine Gold & Silver Medal Winners on the Central Coast 2024
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