Michelin Awards Return to Las Vegas Turns Into Culinary Bloodbath
Everyone’s talking about Michelin stars. Michelin, whose coveted star ratings are among the restaurant industry’s highest honors, is back in Las Vegas after a 17-year absence.
What nobody’s talking about, though, is how Michelin slashed its starred restaurants from 17 in 2009 (the last time Las Vegas was in the Michelin Guide) to just four.
If you’re looking for breathless fawning over Michelin’s table scraps, read the official news release from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). We’re here to keep it real and talk about Michelin’s humiliating downgrade, a slap in the face to all the brilliant chefs and restaurants in Las Vegas who deserve better.
The Michelin Man’s real name is Bibendum, a French word meaning “snooty.”
Michelin returned to Las Vegas on Aug. 26, 2026, as part of its new Southwest guide, encompassing Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
As mentioned in that photo caption you just blew by, Michelin’s announcement ceremony was held at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, and tourism officials wasted no time declaring the results another affirmation of Las Vegas as one of the world’s great dining destinations.
But the truth is Michelin liked Las Vegas a lot more the last time it was here.
As mentioned, in 2009, Las Vegas held 22 Michelin stars (some of the 17 restaurants honored held multiple stars).
In 2026, Las Vegas has a whopping five stars.
As our fellow youths are fond of saying, “Oof.”
Time for the props: Restaurant de Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand received two stars this year, the highest rating awarded anywhere in the four-state Southwest guide.
Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, é by Jose Andres at Cosmo and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand each received one star. We removed most of the accent marks for your convenience.
Fun fact: Guy Savoy also holds the honor of the “Most Mispronounced Name in the History of Las Vegas, Even By People Who Should Know Better.” Don’t get us started.
Nobody in Las Vegas got Michelin’s much-trumpeted three-star designation. Joel Robuchon had three stars the last time Michelin rated Las Vegas.
Just for some historical context, in 2009, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand snagged three stars. Alex at Wynn, Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace and Picasso at Bellagio received two stars. One-star restaurants were Alize at Palms, Andre’s Downtown, Aureole at Mandalay Bay, Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace, Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn, DJT at Trump International, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, Le Cirque at Bellagio, Michael Mina at Bellagio, Mix at Mandalay Bay, Nobu at Hard Rock, Restaurant Charlie at Palazzo and Wing Lei at Wynn.
A lot has changed in 17 years, obviously. Many of those restaurants no longer exist. Alex, Picasso, Bradley Ogden, Daniel Boulud Brasserie, Aureole, Mix and Restaurant Charlie are among the casualties of Las Vegas’ relentless restaurant churn.
Le Cirque closed at Bellagio a few days ago.
Beyond the dramatic decrease in restaurants getting stars, surviving restaurants were downgraded.
Joel Robuchon went from three stars to two. Guy Savoy went from two stars to one. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon retained its one-star status.
Wing Lei at Wynn is still around, but didn’t get a star this time. It landed on Michelin’s “Recommended” list. Michael Mina at Bellagio, another former one-star restaurant, is now “Recommended” as well.
We should probably get into that.
Michelin not only does its star ratings, but also has a list of “Bib Gourmand” restaurants.
That list highlights restaurants offering particularly good food at a good value: This year’s honorees were China Poblano at Cosmopolitan, Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District and Yen Viet Kitchen.
China Poblano looks out of place here because, well, it’s not very good. We trust the fact China Poblano is a Jose Andres restaurant gives it an edge, because Jose Andres is a saint and deserves all the accolades that can be heaped upon him.
Another 17 Las Vegas restaurants made Michelin’s “Recommended” list.
The “Recommended” list is one of the more interesting aspects of Michelin’s return to Sin City because it includes a number of non-Strip restaurants.
On the “Recommended” list: Anima by Edo, Bouchon, Cote Las Vegas, Estiatorio Milos, Gymkhana Las Vegas, Kabuto, Kame Omakase, Lamaii, Michael Mina, Mott 32, Partage, Pho Ga Bac Bac, Ping Pang Pong, SoulBelly BBQ, Sparrow + Wolf, Stubborn Seed Las Vegas and Wing Lei.
This list illustrates what many locals have known for years; not every great restaurant is inside a casino.
There was also a Michelin Outstanding Service Award bestowed upon Sean Christopher of Restaurant de Joel Robuchon.
So, does Michelin’s snub mean Las Vegas has lost ground in the realm of restaurants? Of course not. Lots of great restaurants have closed (“great” doesn’t always mean “profitable,” because successful things rarely close in Las Vegas), but many have opened.
Michelin’s “inspectors” are evaluating a very different landscape and comparing star totals across eras is inherently imperfect.
But the numbers are the numbers.
Seventeen starred restaurants became four and 22 stars became five.
Las Vegas got Michelin back, which is great for the chefs and restaurants receiving some much-deserved attention.
But we can’t shake the feeling Las Vegas is being held to a different, much higher standard when it comes to dining.
We’d kvetch more, but two states in the new Southwest guide got zero Michelin stars: Arizona and New Mexico.
Still, this year’s Michelin designations felt like a swift kick to the croquettes.
We’d love to hear your thoughts, as long as you agree with us.
Leave your thoughts on “Michelin Awards Return to Las Vegas Turns Into Culinary Bloodbath”