Restaurants across South Australia are benefiting from the Michelin effect with full dining rooms, increases in bookings, walk-ins and website traffic during the first week since the coveted awards.
Last week 77 South Australian restaurants became the first in the country to feature in the globally renowned MICHELIN Guide, including:
- Australia’s first two Michelin Star restaurant, Magill Estate Restaurant
- 10 restaurants with One Michelin Star
- 16 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand for high-quality food at great value
- 50 included in the official MICHELIN Guide selection
For comparison, New Zealand, which has 2.8 times the population of South Australia, debuted in the MICHELIN Guide in June 2026, and was awarded a total of 15 Stars, including only one Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant.
Nearly half of the restaurants are in regional South Australia – including Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare Valley, Eyre Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula, Flinders Ranges & Outback, Kangaroo Island, and Limestone Coast.
The benefits have been felt across the variety of award recipients with Michelin Starred restaurants, Bib Gourmand and Michelin Selected restaurants reporting increases in bookings, long-lead reservations, walk-ins and activity on their websites and social media pages.
Feedback from restaurants:
Around 100 bookings and close to booking out with a waitlist – Aurora
An average of 15 bookings every half hour (one booking every one or two minutes!) – Tarantino’s
Bookings have so far tripled – arkhé
Website traffic up 4000%, thousands of new followers, hundreds of direct messages and emails including from renowned international chefs congratulating them – Anvers Restaurant
Large uptick in walk-ins and online bookings – Shobosho
Well over 500 extra bookings in just a few days. – Pantry on Prospect
Surge in long-lead reservations, with people planning their visit well in advance – Africola
Absolutely bookings are up – Thursday to Saturday we were packed and we’ve had more bookings in future dates compared to normal – La Popular Taqueria
Spike in activity across website, socials and bookings – Restaurant Aptos
About 50 bookings overnight following Michelin announcement – Kiin
Notable increase in day-to-day trade in week following Guide reveal – Parwana
Increase in bookings all round – Skillogalee Barrel House
We’re seeing this excitement come through in restaurant bookings and new faces from near and far. It’s especially refreshing to feel this burst of energy within our coastal community – Pearl
Some of the restaurants which feature alongside a winery, have reported increased wine sales and visitation to their cellar doors.
In addition to extensive national coverage, South Australia’s MICHELIN Guide success has been covered by international media including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and China, promoting SA as a culinary destination.
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said the phenomenal response to the inaugural MICHELIN Guide South Australia has exceeded expectations; “We are thrilled to hear that the benefits from Michelin are being felt far and wide across the state, from fine dining restaurants to family favourites.”
“It’s not the price tag that gets places in the MICHELIN Guide, it’s the skill of the chefs, the produce. There’s something for everyone, you can try authentic tacos at La Popular Taqueria from just $11.”
“The increase in business extends beyond the individual restaurants, to their food and wine suppliers and for those connected to wineries, to their cellar doors.”
“We have even heard of an increase in bookings at restaurants in the vicinity of those featured in the MICHELIN Guide, as it’s bringing people out and inspiring them to explore or revisit places.”
“Looking forward, bookings from international visitors are anticipated to increase as well, as holiday-makers plan their trips to SA to explore Australia’s only state with Michelin recognised restaurants.”
Daniella Guevara Muñoz the owner and chef at La Popular Taqueria, in Port Adelaide added; “We’ve been blown away by the response since getting a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide.”
“We were secretly hoping – but not expecting – to get in the Guide, and to be recognised with a Bib, shows that the nine years of hard work we put into this restaurant was absolutely worth it.”
“To have something as globally recognised and respected as Michelin in South Australia is nothing but a positive, it puts a spotlight on some of our favourite places in the state and shows the world just how special and unique this place really is when it comes to food and hospitality,” she said.
“It’s been so pleasing to see a significant increase in bookings since Michelin – up over 50 percent compared to the same time last year. But more importantly, it’s such a joy to share our Michelin recognition with our friends and neighbours Low & Slow. How good for Port Adelaide to have two Michelin places in their neighbourhood?”
Angus Kiley, the head chef and owner at neighbouring Low and Slow American BBQ said receiving a restaurant selection from Michelin is an incredible achievement for Low & Slow.
“Our entire team is thrilled to secure such an incredible acknowledgment,” she said.
“The response has been massive. We’re feeling lots of love. Bookings are solid and we’ve seen a huge uptick in walk-ins and enquiries. We are a small venue – so bookings are definitely recommended!”
“We’ve called Port Adelaide home for 11 years now, and it’s amazing to have international recognition alongside our neighbour La Popular.”
