The cities to visit for the most affordable Michelin restaurants
I can really enjoy an evening dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The big ‘but’ is that it has become so ridiculously expensive in the Netherlands. Eating out is already pricey, let alone a restaurant with one or more stars. And yes, I’m explicitly saying ‘in the Netherlands’, because dining at a high level doesn’t necessarily have to cost you an arm and a leg… You just need to know where to go.
That’s why here’s a list of the ten most affordable cities to visit if you want to go to Michelin-starred restaurants without taking out an extra mortgage. Admittedly, they’re unfortunately not exactly nearby, so a ticket will probably cost you quite a bit. But once you’re there…
If you’d rather stay closer to home, check out these cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe. You can have a Michelin-worthy dinner for under 30 euros — because it really is possible.
The 10 best cities for a Michelin-starred dinner on a budget
This list was compiled by John Lewis Finance, which examined around 16,000 restaurants around the world listed in the Michelin Guide. Their criteria: one-star restaurants where a full meal costs no more than 35 euros — and that consists of multiple courses. At that price, you really can’t go wrong.
1. Tokyo, Japan
You can definitely keep yourself busy here, because this city has 263 (!!) restaurants with one star or more.
2. Seoul, South Korea
This city has 35, quite a few fewer, but still enough to keep you entertained culinarily for long enough.
3. Osaka, Japan
A food trip through Japan has been on my bucket list for so long, and this only motivates me even more. You’ll find 99 here with at least one star.
4. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok has ‘only’ 30 — I expected there to be more. But because of all the delicious street food, I’d already want to stay there for a month, let alone add all these restaurants to the mix.
5. Kyoto, Japan
You’ll find 73 here, including a few with three stars — surely that’s something you’d want to experience?
6. Taipei, Taiwan
The only city on the list I’ve actually been to, and I really did eat nothing but incredibly delicious food here. Unfortunately, though, not at one of the 37 restaurants with star(s).
7. Tainan, Taiwan
This destination is also known as the gastronomic capital of Taiwan, and is apparently so busy with that reputation that it deliberately received no stars last year: it would have become too crowded, with queues forming outside the restaurants.
8. Guangzhou, China
You have 119 Michelin-starred establishments to visit here; three with two stars, and the rest with one.
9. George Town, Cayman Islands
The only one on the list not in Asia — and honestly, I didn’t even know that the British territory in the Caribbean Sea was such a culinary destination. Yet you’ll find 36 of them here.
10. Taichung, Taiwan
And finally, the last one on the list. It seems clear from this list, right? You should plan that culinary trip to Japan or Taiwan, then you can’t go wrong…
Read also:
