Many holiday highlights happen over a good meal, and there’s nothing better than a special meal at an award-winning, highly acclaimed restaurant. In the USA, over 200 Michelin-starred restaurants are waiting to welcome you; with everything from steak and sushi to what can only be described as edible art on offer.
From Miami’s culinary magic, through to the nouveau cuisine of New York, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to delicious dinners or long lunches. The hardest decision? Where to eat first!
Ready to explore the USA for yourself? Check out our handpicked USA deals here.
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
There’s innovation, and then there’s Eleven Madison Park (EMP). As the only plant-based restaurant in the world to hold three Michelin stars, the fine-dining stalwart continues to push the envelope, offering a dining experience like nowhere else in the world. Owned and operated by Chef Daniel Humm, it has retained its stars since 2011, making history as the first restaurant to retain its stars after changing to a plant-based menu. The exceptional attention to detail goes beyond the food – every element of the experience is custom made, from the staff’s uniforms to the handblown water vases.
Michelin stars aren’t the only accolade EMP holds – it was also crowned #1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2017 and now sits in a prestigious list of the ‘Best of the Best’.
11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010
State Bird Provisions, San Francisco
State Bird Provisions in San Francisco is out to prove that Michelin-starred food need not cost the world, offering an eclectic menu of Californian ingredients served dim-sum style for very affordable prices. In fact, it’s the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in the country.
A constantly evolving menu means there’s always something new to try, but Asian flavours are a recurrent feature, with the likes of nori, yuzu, daikon and miso appearing across the small and large plates. The drinks offering is equally as varied, with everything from skin-contact wine and Belgian beer through to sake and non-alcoholic sodas.
1529 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Ariete, Miami
The breadth and depth of Miami’s diverse food culture is centre stage at Ariete, where Executive Chef and Owner Michael Beltran tells a story of the city’s past, present and future through his prix fixe and tasting menus. Expect the unexpected as you take a ride through Ariete’s offering – dishes fuse the plethora of ingredients found around the state with Cuban and French flavours, like scallop with green strawberries, Thai basil and strawberry consommé, or truffle chicken, with tamal en cazuela, pak choy and bay leaf. Cocktails haven’t been left behind – Cuban-inspired cocktails and an expansive wine list mean you won’t be going thirsty.
3540 Main Hwy, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Jeune et Jolie, Carlsbad
Classic French cuisine is reimagined through the lens of Southern California at Jeune et Jolie, a community-minded restaurant in Carlsbad, north of San Diego. Retro and art deco-inspired décor set the tone for what’s to come, with a gold bar and open kitchen giving you a first-hand look at what goes on in a one-Michelin-starred kitchen. Start your experience with a selection from the raw bar, including oysters, blue prawns and Bay scallops, before choosing your own culinary adventure across four courses. Seasoned sommeliers are on hand to offer their advice for the best pairings, or to shake or stir you up something from cocktail menu.
2659 State St Suite 102, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Alinea, Chicago
As one of just 14 restaurants in the USA to earn the coveted three Michelin stars, Alinea continues to trailblaze New American modernist cuisine from its contemporary Chicago dining room. Every evening, Chef Grant Achatz and his team offer three distinct hospitality experiences – The Kitchen Table, The Gallery and The Salon – each with their own measures of theatre and pleasure. Watch the chefs at their best from the Kitchen Table with an immersive and cutting-edge tasting menu, or ready your senses for an experience like no other in the Salon or Gallery, where experimental moments meet the very best of fine dining. With no menu available prior to your visit, you’ll have to put your trust in Chef Achatz’s starry hands.
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Le Comptoir, Los Angeles
Vegetables take centre stage at Le Comptoir, an intimate 10-person counter experience hidden inside the historic Hotel Normandie in the heart of LA’s Koreatown. Chef Gary Menes sources seasonal ingredients from his own kitchen garden in Long Beach to create an eight-course vegetable-led tasting menu that bears all the hallmarks of Michelin-starred dining, without any of the pretence. With a direct view into the kitchen from your counter spot, watch as the passionate chefs bring each dish to life and then explain it – it doesn’t get much more personal than that!
3606 West Sixth St, Los Angeles CA 90020
Pineapple & Pearls, Washington, D.C.
Forget white tablecloths and silver service – Pineapple & Pearls puts the party first! Traditional fine dining has been turned on its head at the two Michelin-starred Washington, D.C. hotspot, but that doesn’t mean the quality of the food is in any way compromised – in fact, it’s elevated.
Start your big night out with a Hemingway-inspired cocktail or a dram from the absinthe fountain, before settling in for four (large) courses of ambitious yet whimsical dishes, with choices for each course. Just don’t forget your glad rags – there's no official dress code but if there was, it would be fancy! Think sequins, tuxedos, or your finest New Year’s Eve outfit.
715 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
The Inn at Little Washington, Virginia
Nestled in Virginia's picturesque countryside, the unassuming The Inn at Little Washington is a culinary wonderland that has earned an impressive three Michelin stars under the visionary leadership of Chef Patrick O'Connell. Impeccable epicurean craftsmanship and attention to detail define every aspect of this extraordinary gastronomic experience.
Indulge in dishes like big-eye tuna and swordfish carpaccio served with wasabi sorbet, egglplant cutlet paired with black olive tapenade and silken tofu and much more, with much of the produce and herbs used in each dish sourced from a small farm nearby, lending to the fresh, sustainable environment the eatery evokes. 309 Middle St, Washington, VA 22747
Ready to explore the USA for yourself? Check out our handpicked USA deals here.
For more USA inspiration, read Icons of the USA: 7 Bucket-List Experiences
