Nine new UK ‘stars’ in Michelin’s latest Main Cities guide

It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. Once again, Michelin’s guide inspectors have travelled through 20 countries looking for the best hotels and restaurants to suit every taste and budget. The result of their labours is the 32nd edition of the Michelin guide Main Cities of Europe. The 2013 issue of the gourmet’s bible offers a selection of 3,728 establishments, including 2,154 restaurants and 1,574 hotels.

This year’s selection includes a number of newly-honoured restaurants; Michelin says these new additions reflect “a European culinary scene that is both traditional and inventive and which offers enormous variety to diners, who have a greater understanding and appreciation of cuisine and wines.” Within the pages of the Michelin guide Main Cities of Europe’s 2013 edition are nine new two-star and 50 new one-star restaurants, from a total of 412 starred restaurants – nearly ten per cent more starred restaurants than in 2012, when the guide listed 376 starred establishments.

The UK gains a new two-star entry, Sketch in London, and eight new one-star restaurants, while three one-star establishments from the previous edition lose their status this year. Other distinctions in the new guide include the first star awarded to a restaurant in Warsaw – Atelier Amaro – where Michelin says its inspectors were “enchanted by the chef’s preparation of local products, his innovative cooking style and original combinations of ingredients.” In the Nordic countries, Copenhagen’s Geranium was awarded a second star just one year after obtaining its first. Popular two-starred Copenhagen restaurant Noma retained its status despite a recent norovirus episode that saw dozens of diners infected by an ill staff member. In Sweden, Stockholm has two new one-star restaurants, Gastrologik and Ekstedt. Sjömagasinet, one of the most well-known restaurants in Gothenburg, regained its star, while Bhoga was included for the first time in the “Rising Star” category. New stars were also awarded to restaurants in Athens and Vienna.

For those wanting to eat well at a reasonable price, the Michelin inspectors – all of whom are full-time employees and former hospitality professionals engaging in their tasty work anonymously – have discovered 54 new Bib Gourmand restaurants, bringing the total to 265 in the guide’s 2013 edition. The UK has gained seven new Bib Gourmand restaurants and lost seven that were present in the previous guide – all the winners and losers are based in London.

The Michelin guide Main Cities of Europe is written in English and available as of 14 March, priced at £14.99 or €23.90. Smartphone and tablet versions of the guide are also available.