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Michelin Guide to California

The first edition of the Michelin Guide to California is a gourmet's guide to the best restaurants along the Pacific Coast Highway and elsewhere in California.

Cover of the Michelin Guide to CaliforniaCover of the Michelin Guide to California

This Michelin guide is the very first to cover the whole of California, and here at Pacific Coast Highway Travel we're delighted to see it. In the past, only the big cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles have had their own Michelin guides, and we know there are so many excellent restaurants along the coast in places such as Monterey, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, and San Diego.

Cover of the Michelin Guide to California

Finally there's a Michelin restaurant guide to the whole of California... well, to Southern California, that is, because this book covers the state from Wine Country to San Diego. There's no room, then, for the highly-acclaimed Ravens Restaurant in Mendocino, one of the best California restaurants we've ever eaten in.

There are some surprising omissions, too. The way the book is divided geographically, there's no chapter that covers Big Sur, so no entry for the highly-acclaimed Nepenthe, which really ought to be in there.

Ravens Restaurant in MendocinoRavens Restaurant in Mendocino

Michelin Guide to the Pacific Coast?

In fact, they may as well have called this the Michelin Guide to the Pacific Coast instead of the Michelin Guide to California, as with the sole exception of Sacramento, which gets ten pages, everywhere else is on or near the coast, or in Wine Country.

Still, despite a few minor quibbles, this 550-page paperback is going to be a terrific investment for anyone who loves their food and is planning to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, or travel in California's wine country. The cover price of $19.95 (even cheaper on Amazon) is about the same as one cheap entrée, so it's an absolute bargain as it reviews over 660 places to eat..

Nepenthe Restaurant in Big SurNepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur

Michelin Guide to California Contents

So, where does the Michelin Guide to California cover? It starts with the wine regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma County, then there are separate chapters for Sacramento, Marin County, San Francisco, The East Bay, The Peninsula (south from San Francisco), The South Bay, Monterey (which includes Carmel), Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange County, and finally San Diego.

Dining at SingleThread in Sonoma CountyDining at SingleThread in Sonoma County

Michelin Guide to California: Chapters

Each chapter begins with a one- or two-page color photo, and a two-page map of the city or region. Those are followed by a two-page spread about eating in the destination concerned, which highlights any outstanding dining experiences. It also covers places that don't qualify as restaurants but where you can have good eating or drinking experiences, like ice-cream parlors, bakeries, patisseries, brewpubs, and coffee shops. 

The only exceptions are Los Angeles and San Francisco, which because of their size are divided up into the different city districts. Individual entries fit two to a page, with exceptional places getting a full page. Even half a page allows for a detailed description. The first paragraph describes the style of food and some recommended dishes, at length, and a second shorter paragraph covers the décor, atmosphere, and more general points. Not every entry is to that strict formula, but most are.

The Restaurant at Meadowood in St Helena, California, has Three Michelin StarsThe Restaurant at Meadowood: Three Michelin Stars

Stars, Bibs, and Plates

The guide doesn't only feature restaurants with Michelin stars. Michelin also has a rating that they call Bib Gourmand, which are 'Inspectors' favorites for good value'. Finally they have their Michelin Plate rating, and these are places which offer good cooking using 'fresh ingredients, capably prepared: simply a good meal'.

The Dametra Cafe in Carmel, CaliforniaThe Dametra Cafe in Carmel, California

A Typical Michelin Guide to California Entry: Monterey

We turned first to Monterey, a place we've visited several times. We were delighted to see the Dametra Café in nearby Carmel in there as a Michelin Plate. This place was so popular we had to queue to get in, which the receptionist at our hotel had warned us about but said it was well worth the wait. It was, especially as the owner came out and handed out free glasses of wine to all of us who were queuing.

So what does Michelin California say about Dametra Café? To us, it sums it up well, explaining where the name came from, recommending dishes such as their 'rich and buttery baklava' for dessert, and capturing the cheerful decoration and lively atmosphere.

Finally, of course, there are the practical details that are the same for every entry in the book: address, phone, website, price range, and general opening times - not specific hours but general, e.g. 'lunch and dinner daily'.

A Dish from Aubergine in Carmel, CaliforniaA Dish from Aubergine in Carmel, California

Monterey Michelin Star

Next time we're dining in the Monterey area we'll have to head for Aubergine, which is also in Carmel. This gets one Michelin star, has a full-page write-up, and the dishes sound mouthwatering: how about a goats cheese panna cotta topped with slivers of red apple? Or maybe we'll try Yafa, also in Carmel, which we know from this guide is a casual Mediterranean place that has live music at weekends and food good enough to earn a Bib Gourmand.

The Manresa restaurant in Los Gatos, California, has Three Michelin StarsThe Manresa in Los Gatos has Three Michelin Stars

The Best California Fine Dining

If you're someone who plans their trips around where they most want to eat, then you're going to have to have a few days in San Francisco followed by a drive around Wine Country. This is where all seven of the restaurants with three Michelin stars are located: three in San Francisco, three in Wine Country, and one, Manresa, in the South Bay area.

For the record, these are the seven restaurants which the Michelin guide rates as the best dining experiences in California:

The French Laundry in California Wine CountryThe French Laundry in California Wine Country

Michelin Guide to California Indexes

At the back of the book there are several helpful indexes. The first lists all the three-star, two-star, and one-star restaurants. The next lists all the Bib Gourmand restaurants, though not the Michelin Plate entries. Thankfully for travelers not on a three-star budget, there are four pages of Bib Gourmands. 

The Three-Michelin-Star Quince in San FranciscoThe Three-Michelin-Star Quince in San Francisco

There's then an index of restaurants by cuisine, from Afghan (yes, it's in San Carlos) through to Vietnamese, although they also index restaurants by styles, so if you're vegetarian or vegan, or prefer steakhouses or seafood, you're covered. Finally there's a list of restaurants in alphabetical order. In short, you won't go hungry for eating ideas, whatever your budget.

Other food and drink pages

  • There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.

    Santa Cruz Downtown Wine Tastings

    There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.

  • Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea is one of the top dining experiences in California with gourmet vegan and vegetarian cuisine.

    Ravens' Restaurant Mendocino

    Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea is one of the top dining experiences in California with gourmet vegan and vegetarian cuisine.

  • The wineries and vineyards along the Pacific Coast Highway make some of the best wine in the world, from Oregon and Washington to California's Sonoma and Napa.

    Wineries and Vineyards on the Pacific Coast Highway

    The wineries and vineyards along the Pacific Coast Highway make some of the best wine in the world, from Oregon and Washington to California's Sonoma and Napa.

  • Santa Barbara Wine Country is one of the top wine destinations says Wine Enthusiast, alongside Napa Valley, rating California vineyards alongside Champagne.

    Santa Barbara Wine Country

    Santa Barbara Wine Country is one of the top wine destinations says Wine Enthusiast, alongside Napa Valley, rating California vineyards alongside Champagne.

  • Where to eat on the Pacific Coast Highway: advice on the best fine dining options, budget restaurants, romantic locations in Oregon, Washington and California.

    Where to Eat on the Pacific Coast Highway

    Where to eat on the Pacific Coast Highway: advice on the best fine dining options, budget restaurants, romantic locations in Oregon, Washington and California.

  • West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.

    Road Food Guide

    West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.

  • Sonoma County is so associated with wine that it's easy to overlook the fact that it's also home to distilleries and here's a list of the main distillers.

    Sonoma County Distilleries

    Sonoma County is so associated with wine that it's easy to overlook the fact that it's also home to distilleries and here's a list of the main distillers.

  • San Francisco has some of the best Chinatown restaurants in the USA, and its Chinese restaurants provide superb dining. Here are our top eating places.

    San Francisco Best Chinatown Restaurants

    San Francisco has some of the best Chinatown restaurants in the USA, and its Chinese restaurants provide superb dining. Here are our top eating places.

  • If looking for Paso Robles accommodation you could stay on a vineyard at the luxury JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, in the grounds of the JUSTIN winery.

    Paso Robles Accommodation

    If looking for Paso Robles accommodation you could stay on a vineyard at the luxury JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, in the grounds of the JUSTIN winery.

  • The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.

    Santa Barbara Italian Restaurant

    The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.

  • The Miramar Santa Monica's restaurant, FIG, had a rave review from the Los Angeles Times for its romantic dining and tasty food.

    The Miramar Santa Monica Restaurant

    The Miramar Santa Monica's restaurant, FIG, had a rave review from the Los Angeles Times for its romantic dining and tasty food.

  • Expert advice and personal recommendations on where to eat and where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway, including a guide to PCH Hotels that you can buy.

    Where to Eat and Stay on the Pacific Coast Highway

    Expert advice and personal recommendations on where to eat and where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway, including a guide to PCH Hotels that you can buy.

  • There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.

    Ventura Bars, Breweries, and Beer Festivals

    There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.

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