California\u2019s star-struck chefs, hospitality workers, and restaurateurs all convened in downtown San Diego on Wednesday, June 24, to attend the Michelin Guide: California ceremony. It\u2019s there that chefs found out the starred status of their restaurant for 2026, whether jumping onto the guide for the first time or retaining a one-, two-, or three-starred ranking.<\/p>\n
The biggest news of the night was the fact that not one, but two, Bay Area spots joined the ranks of three-Michelin-starred restaurants. Chef Val M. Cantu\u2019s fine-dining restaurant Californios<\/a>, and chef Brian Limoges\u2019 Enclos<\/a> made the jump from two stars to three, the only restaurants to earn that distinction this year. Californios is the first Mexican restaurant in the United States to earn the three-Michelin-starred distinction; the restaurant earned its first Michelin star in 2015, later becoming a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in 2017. Meanwhile, Enclos has been a Michelin favorite from the start: The restaurant leapt into the two-Michelin-starred distinction in 2025<\/a>, just six months after opening, and has already leveled up to three stars.<\/p>\n Nine new restaurants were added to the list of one-starred designations, with three Bay Area restaurants nabbing the honors. Troubadour<\/a> in Healdsburg, plus Naides<\/a> and Wolfsbane<\/a> in San Francisco, each earned a star. Also joining the list of new one-star honorees were Corridor 109<\/a>, Kojima<\/a>, Lielle<\/a>, Lucien<\/a>, Miura<\/a>, and Seline<\/a> in Southern California.<\/p>\n The Bay Area also took home some special Michelin distinctions. Evan Williams and the bar team at San Francisco\u2019s Maria Isabel<\/a> took home the Exceptional Cocktail Award.<\/p>\n Frida Blomdahl Hay, general manager at Sons & Daughters<\/a>, took home the Michelin Service Award, as well.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, as new restaurants rise to the starred ranks of Michelin restaurants, a few Bay Area restaurants were relieved of their star designation. Kenzo<\/a> in Napa lost its stars. In San Francisco, Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn<\/a>, O\u2019 by Claude Le Tohic<\/a>, and the Shota<\/a> all had their one-star designation removed. At least one of those removals was expected: Chef Dominique Crenn announced <\/a>in early June plans to shut down her French omakase counter, Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn. Bar Crenn itself remains open.<\/p>\n The head-scratcher of the night was the seeming return of Green Stars, just a month after the tire guide stated it would retire that designation. Green Stars highlight \u201crestaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices,\u201d per an explainer from Michelin<\/a>, and were first launched in 2020. The elimination of Green Stars was (briefly) announced alongside the new Michelin initiative, \u201cMindful Voices,\u201d which is \u201cdesigned to highlight individuals who, through their commitment and actions, are pioneering new approaches in the fields of gastronomy, hospitality and wine,\u201d per a Michelin press release last month<\/a>. Yet, at Wednesday\u2019s ceremony, two restaurants were given new Green Star distinctions: Monte\u2019s<\/a> in Santa Barbara and Six Test Kitchen<\/a> in Paso Robles.<\/p>\n Michelin\u2019s foray into California began with the guide ranking the San Francisco Bay Area in 2007<\/a>; Los Angeles had its own guides in 2008 and 2009, before that city\u2019s guide underwent a decade-long pause. Eventually, Michelin expanded to cover the entire state in 2019<\/a>, thanks to the California Tourism Board, which gave Michelin $600,000 for the extended coverage<\/a> of the state\u2019s restaurants.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the full list of Bay Area Michelin-starred restaurants for 2026:<\/p>\n Atelier Crenn, San Francisco<\/p>\n Californios, San Francisco (Promotion)<\/p>\n Enclos, Sonoma (Promotion)<\/p>\n The French Laundry, Yountville<\/p>\n Acquerello, San Francisco<\/p>\n Aubergine, Carmel-by-the-Sea<\/p>\n Sons & Daughters, San Francisco<\/p>\n Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford<\/p>\n Chez Noir, Carmel-by-the-Sea<\/p>\n Hilda and Jesse, San Francisco<\/p>\n Mister Jiu\u2019s, San Francisco<\/p>\n Naides, San Francisco (New)<\/p>\n Niku Steakhouse, San Francisco<\/p>\n The Progress, San Francisco<\/p>\n San Ho Won, San Francisco<\/p>\n State Bird Provisions, San Francisco<\/p>\n Troubadour, Healdsburg (New)<\/p>\n The Village Pub, Woodside<\/p>\n Wolfsbane, San Francisco (New)<\/p>\n