36 TENNESSEE RESTAURANTS RECOGNISED IN INAUGURAL MICHELIN GUIDE AMERICAN SOUTH

|Published on: Nov 25, 2025|Categories: Food, New Year, Travel & Lifestyle, Uncategorized, Welcome|

Prestigious Culinary Guide Expands to the South for the First Time

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (3rd Nov 2025) – 36 Tennessee restaurants have been recognised in the first-ever MICHELIN Guide American South, marking a milestone moment for the state’s culinary scene. The globally renowned guide debuted tonight in Greenville, South Carolina, honouring chefs and restaurants that define the South’s distinctive flavours and creativity.

“This is a proud moment for Tennessee, our cities and for the entire South,” said Mark Ezell, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Our state is rooted in tradition, community and celebrated for its world-class hospitality. Every meal here tells a story. We’re honoured to celebrate the talented chefs and restaurants behind these experiences as part of the first MICHELIN Guide American South.”

Tennessee restaurants recognised in the MICHELIN Guide American South:

One MICHELIN Star (3)

MICHELIN Green Star (1)

Bib Gourmand (9)

 

MICHELIN Special Award: Sommelier (1)

Recommended Restaurants (24)

Tennessee is one of six states included in the MICHELIN Guide American South, a first-of-its-kind regional edition made possible through a collaborative partnership between Travel South USA, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD), destination marketing organisations across Tennessee and participating states including  Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina, along with the pre-existing Atlanta Guide. Together, these partners helped bring the globally recognised MICHELIN Guide to the South, spotlighting the region’s flavours and culinary innovation on an international stage.

 About the MICHELIN Guide

 Recognised globally for excellence and quality, the MICHELIN Guide offers a selection of world-class restaurants.

  • The famous one, two and three MICHELIN Stars identify establishments serving exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed and infused with the personality of a talented chef.
  • The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value – often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time.
  • The MICHELIN Green Star honours restaurants that are pioneers in sustainable practices.
  • Recommended restaurants and special professional awards are also highlighted by the MICHELIN Guide inspectors.

The MICHELIN Guide remains a reliable companion for any traveller seeking an unforgettable meal and hospitality experience. The Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage the development of car mobility as well as tire sales by giving practical advice to motorists. Progressively, the Guide has specialised in restaurant and hotel recommendations. Michelin’s inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by the inspectors in the very beginning.

All restaurants in the Guide are recommended by Michelin’s anonymous inspectors, who are trained to apply the same time-tested methods used by Michelin inspectors for many decades throughout the world. This ensures a uniform, international standard of excellence. As a further guarantee of complete objectivity, Michelin inspectors pay all their bills in full, and only the quality of the cuisine is evaluated.

To fully assess the quality of a restaurant, the inspectors apply five criteria defined by Michelin: product quality; mastery of cooking techniques; harmony of flavors; the personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; and consistency over time and across the entire menu. These criteria guarantee a consistent and fair selection, so a Starred restaurant has the same value regardless of whether it is in Paris, New York or anywhere else in the world.

Learn more about the MICHELIN Guide by visiting guide.michelin.com. Explore Tennessee’s dining experiences at TNVacation.com and join the conversation on social media with @TNVacation using hashtag #TNSoundsPerfect.

About Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is dedicated to driving economic growth and tourism in all 95 counties. TDTD’s global marketing efforts increase visitation to Tennessee, which boosts tax revenue, creates jobs and attracts new investment across the state. Tennessee is a global destination of choice offering visitors’ world-class music, live entertainment, family-friendly experiences, charming communities, innovative and classic culinary creations, renowned scenic beauty and outdoor adventure—all centred at the crossroads of rich history and unrivaled hospitality. Vacations “sound perfect” in Tennessee. Visit TNvacation.com and follow @TNvacation on social media for travel inspiration.

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Media Contacts:

For more information on the above destinations, please visit www.ttmworld.co.uk. For media enquiries, more information, hi-res images or video, please contact:

 Karl Cushing, PR Account Manager: karl@ttmworld.co.uk

For Tennessee Tourism

 Maxine Hanson, PR Executive: maxine@ttmworld.co.uk

 Kirsty Dillury, Chief Communications Officer kirsty@ttmworld.co.uk

 For any other enquiries, please visit www.ttmworld.co.uk, email ttmoffice@ttmworld.co.uk or

call +44 (0)208 313 1717