Michelin: Romandy Overlooked, Andermatt Celebrated
Edouard Amoiel
02 novembre 2026
Seven new one-star restaurants, none in French-speaking Switzerland. No restaurants in the country were promoted to two stars. And a third star for The Japanese Restaurant at The Chedi in Andermatt, where the chefs were also invited to stay for the rest of the evening. The Swiss results leave a mixed impression, to say the least.
In Andermatt, where the Michelin Guide unveiled its 2026 Swiss selection on Monday, November 2, speeches and expressions of gratitude to partners preceded the announcement of the first stars by quite some time. A new duo hosting the event, a slow-moving pace, and, sitting in front of my screen, the persistent feeling that I was watching an evening that was struggling to get off the ground.
A Low-Key Ceremony
Gwendal Poullennec, for his part, joined the event via video link. The guide’s international director cited, among other things, the guide’s expansion to all corners of the world to explain his absence. Michelin is growing, then. We hope that this growth will still leave him time to come and pay tribute to the women and men who bring Swiss gastronomy to life. His remarks, a mix of restating principles and institutional rhetoric, did little to liven up the ceremony.
There was, however, one reason to smile, and it came from Geneva. Émeline Gigaud, sommelier at the Arakel restaurant, received the Sommelier of the Year award. We applaud this achievement and extend our heartfelt congratulations to her. Then the first stars were awarded. Six restaurants received new stars. None in French-speaking Switzerland. Not a single one.
Like the Bibs
This absence follows the one we noted recently in our article “ Michelin Leaves French-Speaking Switzerland Wanting More .” Eleven new Bib Gourmands, none in French-speaking Switzerland. We wondered then whether the stars would help restore balance. Tonight, the answer came: far from correcting this impression of neglect, the list reinforces it. From Bib Gourmands to new stars, French-speaking Switzerland remains on the sidelines. And the situation in French-speaking Switzerland isn’t limited to the absence of new distinctions… at Bellevue, Tsé Fung, the Chinese restaurant at La Réserve Genève, has lost its star.
Of course, we can debate a guide’s choices every year. We can also accept that we don’t share its inspectors’ judgment. But a selection that fails to identify a single new restaurant worthy of recognition in all of French-speaking Switzerland gives one pause. It calls into question Michelin’s perspective on our region, its cuisines, and the people who bring them to life. In any case, it’s hard to see in this selection the trends we’ve observed through our visits and meals.
Zero two-star ratings, one three-star rating
The next announcement did nothing to dispel the surprise: not a single new second star was awarded anywhere in the country. At this point, the evening felt more like a routine review than a celebration of discovery. And then came the highlight. The Japanese Restaurant, located within The Chedi in Andermatt, earned a third star.
First, let’s congratulate the twin brothers Dominik Sato and Fabio Toffolon, as well as their teams. This recognition belongs to them, and our questions about the guide should in no way detract from their work or their talent. But how can we fail to notice that the big announcement of the evening specifically honors a restaurant at the resort hosting the ceremony?
This geographical proximity does not imply any favoritism. However, it makes the issue of transparency all the more necessary. What partnerships govern the organization of these ceremonies? What criteria are used to select the destinations? A guide that demands so much trust would benefit from providing a clearer explanation of the conditions under which it reaches its decisions.
A Mixed Record
For the contrast tonight was striking: French-speaking Switzerland with no new stars, no promotions to two stars, and Andermatt at the top of the list. It’s enough to leave one with a profound sense of uncertainty, far beyond Geneva’s hopes alone. I had been invited to attend the ceremony in person. In the end, I watched it from the comfort of my own home—and I’m glad I did. Rarely has a star-awarding ceremony struck me as so flat, so bland, and so colorless. I almost found myself missing the ceremonies held at the Lausanne Hotel School. That says it all. To wrap things up, the hosts invited the chefs who had made the trip to continue the celebration after the ceremony… at The Chedi Andermatt. What a coincidence.
