The ceremony held in Monaco on Monday 16th March was a landmark moment not just for the Principality, which hosted the Michelin Guide France & Monaco Awards for the first time, but for the surrounding region. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur emerged as one of the night’s strongest performers, with 10 restaurants earning their first Michelin star — a distinction that brings with it not only global recognition but a demonstrable and immediate economic boost, from increased bookings to higher average spend and a surge in international attention.
For the restaurants concerned, a first star is transformative. It signals to the wider world that a table is worth a journey, and for those on the French Riviera, that message reaches an international audience of considerable spending power.
The Alpes-Maritimes — a strong showing
The Alpes-Maritimes department produced four new stars. La Table du Cap Estel in Èze-Bord-de-Mer joins an already illustrious stretch of coastline that includes the two-starred La Chèvre d’Or just above it. In Nice, Épicentre earned its first star, adding to a city that already holds six other starred addresses. La Table de Pierre in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Auberge de la Roche in Valdeblore — a mountain village in the arrière-pays — complete the département’s new entries.
The Var and the coast
In the Var, two coastal restaurants earned their first stars. Les Oliviers in Bandol and L’Oursin at the Hôtel Les Roches in Lavandou both join a department whose dining scene already includes the three-starred La Vague d’Or and La Table du Castellet. Shanael in Toulon also earned recognition for the first time.
Bouches-du-Rhône
In the Bouches-du-Rhône, two new stars were awarded. Auffo in Marseille becomes the latest addition to a city that has steadily built its gastronomic reputation over the past decade and already holds two three-starred restaurants. Further west along the coast, L’Oursin in Carry-le-Rouet earned its first star, bringing Michelin recognition to a small fishing port that few international visitors would previously have had reason to seek out.
Vaucluse
In the Vaucluse, Garrigue in Ansouis — a hilltop village in the Luberon — rounded out the region’s new entries, adding to a department that already counts several starred tables among Provence’s most sought-after dining destinations.
What a Michelin star means in practice
The economic impact of a first star should not be underestimated. For many restaurants, the night of the ceremony marks a before and after: reservations fill within hours, press attention arrives from across Europe, and the address enters the itineraries of food-focused travellers who plan trips specifically around Michelin-recognised tables.
On the French Riviera, where gastronomy is already woven into the region’s identity and tourist offer, a new star strengthens the collective proposition and draws visitors who might otherwise have passed through.
See also:
Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
Main photo: Épicentre Chef Sélim M’Nasri (in the hat) was among those to win their coveted first Michelin star during Monday’s ceremony. Photo credit: Cedric Le Dantec