Dining at a Michelin-star restaurant can cost $25 to $500 or more per person. These prices don’t include drinks, government charges, or tips.
Michelin-starred restaurants can set their prices. For instance, SubliMotion Ibiza charges $1,761 per person for a 20-course meal, as it uniquely engages all five senses.
But why such a huge cost gap?
The cost of dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant depends on using rare, high-quality ingredients, top-notch cooking techniques, and elaborate sensory settings.
We understand that planning a Michelin dining experience can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this blog to help you plan your dining budget effectively.
To make sense of Michelin-starred restaurant costs, we’ve put together price ranges for different regions. This overview gives an idea of what to expect when dining out, no matter where you go.
Region | Lowest Price | Lower-Mid Price | Upper-Mid Price | Highest Price |
USA | Less than $25 | $25-50 | $50-75 | More than $75 |
Euro-Zone | Less than €35 | €35-60 | €60-100 | More than €100 |
UK | Less than £25 | £25-50 | £50-90 | More than £90 |
China | Less than ¥100 | ¥100-400 | ¥400-1,000 | More than ¥1,000 |
Denmark | Less than DKK400 | DKK400-800 | DKK800-1,800 | More than DKK1,800 |
Hongkong | Less than HK$100 | HK$100-$800 | HK$800-$1,600 | More than HK$1,600 |
Hungary | Less than Ft8,000 | Ft8,000-16,000 | Ft16,000 -25,000 | More than Ft25,000 |
Iceland | Less than ISK600 | ISK600-800 | ISK800-1,500 | More than ISK1,500 |
Japan | Less than ¥5,000 | ¥5,000-10,000 | ¥10,000-30,000 | More than ¥30,000 |
Macao | Less than MOP$100 | MOP$100-$800 | MOP$800 -$1,600 | More than MOP$1,600 |
Norway | Less than NOK400 | NOK400-800 | NOK800-1,800 | More than NOK1,800 |
Poland | Less than PLN80 | PLN80-150 | PLN150-240 | More than PLN240 |
Prague | Less than Kronen 800 | Kronen 800 -1,200 | Kronen 1,200 -2,000 | More than Kronen 2,000 |
Serbia | Less than din./дин. 2,500 | din./дин. 2,500-5,000 | din./дин. 5,000-8,000 | More than din./дин. 8,000 |
Singapore | Less than S$25 | S$25-150 | S$150-300 | More than S$300 |
South Korea | Less than ₩50,000 | ₩50,000-150,000 | ₩150,000-250,000 | More than ₩250,000 |
Sweden | Less than SEK400 | SEK400-800 | SEK800-1,400 | SEK1,400 |
Switzerland | Less than CHF55 | CHF50-100 | CHF 80-150 | More than CHF150 |
Taiwan | Less than NT$300 | NT$300-2,000 | NT$2,000-4,000 | NT$4,000 |
Thailand | Less than ฿300 | ฿300-1,500 | ฿1,500-4,000 | ฿4,000 |
Turkyie | Less than ₺1,000 | ₺1,000-1,600 | ₺1,600-2,400 | More than ₺2,400 |
UAE | Less than $150 | $150 – $250 | $250 – $350 | More than $350 |
Michelin Star restaurants are famous for their world-class culinary standards, outstanding service, and memorable dining experience. They invest heavily to maintain high standards due to Michelin Guide’s strict criteria.
This prestige and exclusivity make these restaurants highly sought-after. They set prices at will.
According to Chef’s Pencil, an international food magazine, the average price increase is nearly $100 for every additional Michelin star.
Operational costs, like rent, utilities, and staff salaries significantly affect Michelin-starred restaurant prices. The higher the spending, the higher the menu prices.
In high-cost cities, like New York or Tokyo, Michelin-star restaurants pass these costs on to diners while maintaining their value. In contrast, restaurants in smaller towns have lower operational costs.
Not all high-quality ingredients are available locally. When restaurants have to import ingredients, the cost of dining increases.
For example, seafood is plentiful in coastal areas like Spain or Japan. Restaurants offer high-quality seafood without raising menu prices.
In contrast, landlocked countries like Switzerland or Hungary import ingredients, which can drive up costs.
In France and Japan, celebrating gourmet food and fine dining has been part of the culture. Michelin-starred restaurants in these regions provide elaborate dining experiences.
They pay exceptional attention to detail and present dishes artfully. All meals — appetisers, sides or mains — align with haute cuisine.
However, this preparation requires significant effort, time, and skilled staff, which leads to higher prices.
Michelin Guide often uses a price symbol to symbolise the price bracket of meals in each region.
The level of demand for Michelin dining impacts the costing of restaurants.
In cities, like Paris and Hong Kong, diners are hugely interested in fancy dining, and are willing to pay more.
In regions with less demand for luxury dining, restaurants adjust their prices to stay competitive to appeal to diners who may not want to pay premium prices.
On average, it costs $165 (€155) for a premium tasting menu at a Michelin one-star restaurant, $256 (€240) at a Michelin two-star restaurant, and $356 (€334) at a Michelin three-star restaurant. These prices are only for the meals.
Thailand, Ireland, Belgium, Austria, and Germany are among the most budget-friendly countries for dining at a top-rated Michelin restaurant.
Bangkok, Lyon, Seoul, Rotterdam and Barcelona are the most affordable cities for Michelin three-star dining.
Denmark, Singapore, Sweden, Japan and the US are expensive for Michelin dining.
Copenhagen, Shanghai, Kyoto, Singapore and Paris are the most expensive cities for Michelin three-star dining.
Yes, Michelin restaurants can adjust their prices depending on demand, location, and operational costs. While they can set and modify prices, their high standards and reputation often lead to premium pricing.
Typically, Michelin-starred restaurants don’t significantly drop their prices immediately after losing a star. They maintain their pricing to uphold their perceived value and quality.