Here’s some delicious Disney news, Victoria & Albert’s in the Grand Floridian at Walt Disney World recently earned Disney its very first Michelin Star (as well as being the first and only restaurant owned and operated by a U.S. theme park destination to receive one). Nevertheless, other than often being given to fancy and expensive restaurants (though not always), what do Michelin stars actually mean—and why is it a big deal that Disney earned one? Let’s explore this mysterious and prestigious award…
Michelin has been awarding stars for fine-dining restaurants for over a century. And thanks in no small part to celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay (with an impressive 17 UK stars), Michelin ratings remain a pretty big deal to this day. So, let’s take a look at what makes a restaurant Michelin star-worthy and offer a few guesses about which Disney restaurants might be the next to earn one.
UPDATED:
- April 18, 2025 – Victoria & Albert’s retains its star in 2025
- December 5, 2025 – 2025 California Stars
Did You Know?
Today, the Michelin Guide is the leading authority on fine dining, but that’s not what it was originally intended to do. So why is a tire-guy awarding culinary awards?
The Michelin tire company was established in 1889 by André and Édouard Michelin. At the time, there were only about 3,000 cars in all of France. With so few drivers, the brothers quickly realized they needed to find a way to encourage more road travel (and therefore boost tire sales), so in 1900, they created a guidebook. Six years later, they devised the Michelin star system that designated a restaurant as “worth a stop” (one star), “worth a detour” (two stars), or “worth a special journey” (three stars).
Capitalizing on the FOMO (fear of missing out) that’s always been part of human nature, the Michelin brothers knew people would absolutely drive farther to visit the best restaurants – and the more they drove, the more often they’d need new tires. Brilliant, right?
Another “fun fact” is that not every U.S. city (or even state) has a Michelin Guide. There are only seven U.S. guides: Atlanta and Colorado – both added in 2023 – along with California, Chicago, Florida (but only Miami, Orlando, and Tampa), New York City, and Washington, D.C. That’s why it’s such a big deal to earn stars in the U.S.
The Florida guide was added in 2022 when Victoria & Albert’s was closed half the year for renovations, so that’s likely why they didn’t earn a star until this year. Capa at the Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World (not a Disney-owned restaurant) did earn a star in 2022 and 2023 (and kept its star again this year).
Another interesting thing about Michelin stars that many people don’t know is that a restaurant can lose stars. So a three-star restaurant can become a two-star, a two-star restaurant can become a one-star, and a one-star restaurant… well, you get the idea.
How Does a Restaurant Earn a Michelin Star?
Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants based on five factors:
- The quality of the ingredients
- The harmony of flavors
- The mastery of techniques
- The personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine
- Consistency across the entire menu and over time
The maximum number of stars a restaurant can earn is three; however, they can also earn the Michelin Green Star award (introduced in the U.S. in 2020), which designates restaurants that are leaders in “sustainable gastronomy.” So far, only 29 U.S. restaurants have been awarded a Green Star, with (no surprise) 15 of them in California.
Why Did Victoria & Albert’s Earn a Michelin Star?
This is what the Michelin Guide has to say about it:
“Nestled within Disney’s crown jewel, the Grand Floridian Resort, this restaurant is by no means an easy reservation, but the reward is a kind of magic rarely seen these days. The setting is intimate, and the pacing is that of a leisurely, three-hour waltz orchestrated by a gracious brigade of veteran servers. Chef Matthew Sowers cooks with contemporary verve and draws on influences spanning from Asia to the Nordics. Think delicate tarts set with New Zealand langoustine, striking ‘sandwiches’ made with venison carpaccio and red cabbage, and bold sauces like cherry-cola bordelaise. Other details like water lists, an ornate coffee and tea service, and a serious wine program further impress.”
It also probably didn’t hurt that Victoria & Albert’s Chef de Cuisine Matthew Sowers previously worked with three Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement to create the menu for Remy restaurant on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Chef Lallement also developed the menu for the adult-exclusive Enchanté (inspired by “Beauty and the Beast”) on the Disney Wish.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by Michelin for the innovative dining experience our team brings to life here at Victoria & Albert’s,” said Chef Sowers. “Everybody on our team earned this Star…and we hope to inspire future generations of culinary professionals to follow their dreams.”
Know Before You Go:
If you’re thinking of booking a table at Victoria & Albert’s on your next Walt Disney World vacation, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The prix-fixe menu begins at $295.00 per guest (plus tax and tip). Optional additional wine pairings start at $155.00 per guest; zero-proof pairings start at $115.00 per guest
- Only guests ages ten and up can dine at Victoria & Albert’s
- Victoria & Albert’s has a semi-formal/formal dress code (meaning no theme park attire or mouse ears allowed)
Michelin-Starred Restaurants near Disney Parks
There are no two- or three-star restaurants near Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but that doesn’t mean there never will be.
Disneyland:
One restaurant near Disneyland currently holds one Michelin star: Knife Pleat in Costa Mesa, Calif. Michelin also lists restaurants that are “recommended” but not awarded any distinction; in Anaheim, those are Poppy & Seed on Anaheim Blvd. and The Ranch steakhouse on Ball Road.
Disneyland Resort considers Carthay Circle Restaurant in California Adventure and Napa Rose in the Grand Californian to be “fine dining,” but only Napa Rose has the potential to earn Disney a Michelin star because a Michelin-starred restaurant needs to be accessible to the public (i.e., not behind a “paywall”).
Paseo, the new fine-dining Mexican restaurant in Downtown Disney from Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán could also potentially earn a star. However, like Capa at the Four Seasons Orlando, it’s not a Disney-owned restaurant, so while it would certainly earn Disney bragging rights to have a starred restaurant at the resort, it’s not quite the same as earning one themselves.
Similarly, when Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori’s Arthur & Sons Steak and Bourbon steakhouse opens in Downtown Disney, it could give Disneyland another shot at having a starred restaurant on property.
If you’re wondering about Club 33 (and so was I), the fact that it’s a private club prevents it from being eligible for a Michelin Star.
Walt Disney World:
There’s one two-starred restaurant in Orlando, Sorekara, which offers a tasting menu that highlights Japan’s 72 micro seasons. There are also currently eight one-star restaurants: Natsu, Papa Llama, Kadence, Camille, Soseki, Ômo by Jônt, Capa, and, of course, Victoria & Albert’s.
Over the years, a few Walt Disney World-area restaurants have been recommended by Michelin, so any (or all) of these could be promoted, including Ravello at the Four Seasons, Citrico’s in the Grand Floridian, and Toledo in the Coronado Springs Resort plus Morimoto Asia from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Worth noting is that the Florida guide has also recommended the (not fancy and not expensive) Polite Pig in Disney Springs (it’s delicious, but not at all fancy).
Disney designates Tiffins in Animal Kingdom and Takumi- Tei, Le Cellier, and Monsieur Paul in Epcot as fine dining – plus several more in Disney Springs and Walt Disney World hotels, including Jaleo from Michelin-starred Chef Jose Andres and Morimoto Asia. While the in-park restaurants are not star-eligible because they require park admission to access, the two in Disney Springs are contenders, plus potentially Todd English’s bluezoo at Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel because English is a James Beard award-winning chef.
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Let’s Hear From You!
Have you dined at Victoria & Albert’s, and if not, are you more likely to consider it now that it has received a Michelin star? Is the fine dining price tag and dress code something you associate with the Disney parks? And which Disney restaurant do you think will be the next to earn a star? Let us know in the comments below!
