The latest Michelin Guide for 2022 has given another restaurant in Switzerland its fabled three stars. The guide hailed an exceptional year for Swiss restaurants, despite issues relating to energy price increases and higher running costs.

Michelin hails a great year for Swiss gastronomy

“The year 2022 has been exceptional for Swiss gastronomy," noted the international director for the Michelin Guide, Gwendal Poullenne. Speaking to Watson, she said that despite “difficult times”, the food industry has “continued to thrive across the country.”

Started in 1900, the Michelin Guide is an annual series of guidebooks published by the international company to help direct travellers and foodies to the best eateries around the world through its star system. Restaurants in the guide are reviewed anonymously by so-called "inspectors" so that their recommendations reflect the same experience that a regular customer would have.

Switzerland gets new three-star Michelin restaurant

In 2022, the highest echelons of the Michelin Guide for Switzerland welcomed a new addition. Memories in Bad Ragaz has been awarded three Michelin stars for the first time - the highest rating the organisation can bestow. 

“Each plate is an ode to its generous terroir, to the diversity of its products which vary with the seasons and to the talent of its producers," the guide wrote about the restaurant. The head chef, Sven Wassmer, was praised for “his irreproachable know-how, his ability to focus on the essentials, his authentic and unique style, as well as his selection of the best products.”

Switzerland now has 138 Michelin-star restaurants

There are now four three-star restaurants in Switzerland, the others being the Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville in Crissier, the Cheval Blanc in Basel and the Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau. In all, there were 138 restaurants in Switzerland with at least one Michelin star, 25 restaurants were given two stars and 29 were given a Michelin Green Star - a new award given to restaurants that prioritise green and carbon-saving policies, like making sure their food is mostly sourced from within the 26 Swiss cantons. 

The most Michelin-star restaurants are in Canton Zurich with 73, followed by Vaud with 59, and Bern and Graubünden in joint-third with 56. In another first for Switzerland, a fully vegan restaurant - the KLE in Zurich - was awarded a Michelin star for the first time.