Philadelphia Receives Its Own Michelin Guide

Philadelphia Receives Its Own Michelin Guide

Philadelphia now has the proud distinction of being one of just eight destinations in the United States with its own Michelin Green Guide.

The Michelin Green Guide highlights Philadelphia as a premier travel destination. It explores the great attractions, restaurants, hotels, and experiences in Philadelphia and The Countryside of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered with Michelin to create the guide and bring the esteemed publication to the city.

Since 1900, the Michelin Guide has featured destinations around the globe. It has long been recognized internationally as the most prestigious standard for restaurant and hotel recommendations. Their green guide series presents a city’s top attractions for visits of any length.

Michelin described Philadelphia as the “Frenchest American city.” The editors praise how the city “offers the perfect compromise between American excess and European spirit, not to mention all the appeal of a city packed with art, history, and a cultural effervescence few people expect.”

Why Michelin chose Philadelphia

Editor-in-chief Phillippe Orain said Michelin chose to feature Philadelphia because it is “the best gateway” to the U.S. and the East Coast. He noted how the Philadelphia International Airport is more manageable than other major airports. The city also has accessible options for travelers on a multi-stop trip to other U.S. destinations.

Additionally, Philadelphia is “the most important historical city in the U.S.” and the birthplace of America. He called Philadelphia “the best way to make a quick and very important introduction to the U.S.” for foreign tourists.

Orain also noted the humanity Philadelphia exudes. In an on-air interview with WHYY , Orain said, “It’s a very human city with a strong human identity that you can see when walking or cycling in the neighborhoods.”

What are Philadelphia’s Michelin-ranked attractions?

The Michelin Green Guide rates attractions from one to three stars. The highest recognition possible is a three-star rating for experiences “worth a special journey.”

Among the Philadelphia destinations that received three-stars are Independence National Historical Park, the Liberty Bell, and George Washington’s tent at the Museum of the American Revolution. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Barnes Foundation, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art also received three stars. The three-star Countryside destinations included the Nemours Estate and the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.

A one-star rating is a destination “worth a visit,” and a two-star rating is “worth a detour.” Notable two-star destinations in the guide are Longwood Gardens and Eastern State Penitentiary. And popular one-star destinations include Reading Terminal Market and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

In addition to Michelin’s recommendations, the guide also features notable Philadelphians and their personal insight on what makes the city special. The local ambassadors include Mural Arts Philadelphia executive director Jane Golden, local musician Fareed Simpson, restauranteur Michael Solomonov and the Philadelphia Orchestra music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Award winners, editor-in-chief Phillippe Orain, and members of the PHLCVB pose for a photo after the Michelin Launch Press Conference. Photo by J. Ryan for the PHLCVB.

The English version of the Michelin Green Guide is available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple Books, Bookshop, and other major retailers. The French version is also available for purchase.

Will Philadelphia receive a Michelin Red Guide?

The Michelin Red Guide is a ratings publication that awards stars to a destination’s chefs and restaurants. For a Philadelphia Red Guide to be produced, Michelin would have to select the city and reach out to the PHLCVB to initiate.

The PHLCVB has been in touch with Michelin, and Michelin has conveyed that they are constantly evaluating potential new destinations for the Red Guide around the world. Once all of Michelin’s conditions are present to highlight the quality of the culinary scene in a given city, region, or country, the Michelin Guide begins its process and initiates contact with local administrations.

In Philadelphia, the PHLCVB is the main point of contact for Michelin. At this stage, there isn’t any news to share about Philadelphia as a new destination for the Guide. Anyone can, however, advocate by emailing michelin.guides@michelin.com to keep their teams informed of the strong interest in establishing the Michelin Red Guide in Philadelphia.

Check out our plan your trip page for more recommendations and tips on visiting Philadelphia.