The 2024 Atlanta Michelin Guide drops Oct. 28

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The inaugural Atlanta Michelin dining guide in 2023.

Credit: Discover Atlanta/Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

Michelin will reveal its 2024 Atlanta dining guide during a ceremony at the Georgia World Congress Center on Monday, Oct. 28. 

This year marks the city’s second dining guide from the French tire company, which awards coveted stars, Bib Gourmands, and other distinctions to restaurants in cities worldwide, including Atlanta. 

In 2023, Michelin recognized 45 restaurants in the city of Atlanta and within the perimeter (ITP). No restaurants were recognized by the guide last year outside Atlanta’s perimeter (OTP). Sources indicate, however, that may change with the 2024 guide.

Atlas, Bacchanalia, Hayakawa, Lazy Betty, and Mujō achieved one-star recognition in 2023, with The Chastain and Bacchanalia awarded green stars for sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. Michelin recognized ten restaurants as Bib Gourmands for serving high-quality food at affordable prices (“best value for money”), while 30 more restaurants were recommended in Atlanta’s inaugural guide. 

Awards for exceptional cocktails, outstanding sommelier, outstanding service, and Michelin young chef were also presented during the 2023 ceremony. 

In addition to learning if new restaurants achieved Michelin status of any kind in 2024, the ceremony will also reveal whether current restaurants in the guide retained, leveled up, or dropped out of the guide altogether. 

How the Michelin guide started

Michelin — yes, the French tire company — began publishing a series of guidebooks for motorists in the early 20th century that featured general maintenance on the newly invented automobile, along with where to find fuel, hotels, and eat on the road. Single-star ratings began in 1926, followed by two- and three-star ratings in 1936. 

How the guide ratings work

Anonymous inspectors working for Michelin dine at restaurants multiple times a year, awarding their final recommendations for stars, Bib Gourmands, and other distinctions at a reveal ceremony.

Starred restaurants must consistently meet the following five criteria during each inspector visit: Showcasing quality products and ingredients; harmony of flavors; mastery of cooking techniques; voice and personality of the chef reflected in the cuisine; and consistency of food and service.

One star: A restaurant includes high-quality cooking and is worthy of a stop. 

Two stars: A restaurant excels at cooking and people visiting a city should prioritize a meal here. 

Three stars: A restaurant showcases exceptional food and service and people visiting a city should add it to their plans. 

Bib Gourmand: A restaurant that serves high-quality food at a reasonable price. 

Green star: A restaurant prioritizes sustainability and environmentally friendly practices.

Recommended: A restaurant hasn’t achieved star or Bib Gourmand status but is still worthy of recognition in the guide. 

U.S. cities and states with Michelin guides

Michelin features guides in the United States for New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Florida, California, and Colorado. In 2024, Michelin announced its Texas guide to include restaurants in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth. 

Restaurants in the Atlanta guide join over 17,000 other restaurants from around the world recognized by Michelin in its prestigious dining guides. 

The 2024 Atlanta Michelin guide ceremony is invitation only but should be available via live stream on YouTube. Stay tuned for more updates and information on the 2024 Atlanta Michelin dining guide reveal ceremony.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Rough Draft Atlanta.