Yep, There’s a Michelin-Starred Restaurant in a Football Stadium
Michelin Star
The 2025 Michelin guide has just come out – but have you ever thought about sports venues or arenas that have had Michelin-starred chefs or restaurants on-site? The fan of today deserves more than just a great game – they’re after the whole experience, and that includes incredible food and drink options. We’ve looked back on where the concept of a Michelin star comes from and what Michelin stars actually mean, we’ve explored how Michelin-starred chefs are embracing casual dining experiences and we’ve picked out great Michelin-starred events and venues to check out this year.
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What Does a Michelin Star Actually Mean?
The Michelin guide was created by the Michelin tire company in 1900 to promote car ownership and tire sales and to encourage people to explore the French countryside. In 1926, the guide started to include restaurants and star ratings. It initially started with one star, then in 1931 the second was introduced, and the third in 1933. Today, the guide covers over 37 countries. A Michelin star means that a restaurant is the best of the best and is only awarded to exceptional restaurants.
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But how do people decide which restaurants are worthy? That’ll be a team of the Michelin guide’s inspectors. They spend their time in a range of restaurants over the course of the year and are completely anonymous – they pay for their meal and act like normal customers. They’ll usually visit the same restaurant a number of times so they can see if their experience differs. Michelin inspectors review things like ingredient quality, flavours and cooking techniques, chef’s personality, dining experience, value for money and consistency.
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Michelin Star Criteria
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One Star
One star means that the restaurant is ‘very good and worth a stop’. The food is prepared well with fresh ingredients and next-level cooking techniques, but it might not have the create flair that you’d expect at two and three-star venues.
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Two Stars
Two stars mean that the restaurant is ‘excellent and worth a detour’ – you can get exceptional food and a unique experience. Food will be made with the highest quality ingredients, using advanced methods. You should except more distinctive flavours and presentation than you would at a one-star restaurant.
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Three Stars
‘World class and worth a special journey.’
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Three stars mean that the restaurant is the ultimate example of fine dining. Dishes are perfect – they are innovative, and they use unusual ingredients. Service is always faultless, with an elegant and refined atmosphere.
See All Three-Star Restaurants
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Michelin-Starred Chefs Are Going Casual
The lines between fine dining and casual food and drink experiences are blurring, with more Michelin-starred chefs blending street food with high-end produce. Just look at Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year 2013 winner Bar Carter, who has opened One Star Döner Bar, a high-end Berlin style kebab restaurant – he’s showing that street food can be luxury, too. And with opulent versions of street food served on menus in hospitality area such as the Star and Lion in Villa Park – where you can enjoy meals like beer can chicken with burnt corn macaroni cheese – there is a great opportunity in stadia to follow the likes of Box Park and serve up quality pop-up restaurants on match day.
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It’s All about Geranium: The Michelin-Starred Restaurant That Lives in a Stadium
Home to three Michelin stars, meat-free restaurant Geranium is based on the eighth floor of Danish national football stadium, Parken. Ran by head chef Rasmus Kofoed, the space is decorated with light woods and cream walls that reflect the light that floods in from massive windows which extend out over the parkland below. The restaurant serves zero meat but still stars seafood. The seasonal menu is made up of 22 tasting-style dishes. You can expect things like salted herring with algae and fill stems or winter greens, plus wine pairings and alcohol-free pairings.
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5 Sports Events and Venues Playing Host to Michelin-Starred Chefs in 2025
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Royal Ascot 2025
Heading to the races later this year? You’re in for a treat – Royal Ascot will host a collection of chefs in residence, who collectively have 29 Michelin stars. The line-up includes Yannick Alléno, who has 15 Michelin stars to his name, and is hosting an alfresco pop-up inspired by his London bar, Bar Antoine, at Four Seasons Hotel, Park Lane. Then there’s master pâtissier Benoit Blin, who has over 30 years of expertise including working at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and the Ritz Paris – who will be hosting afternoon tea. The wider collective of 15 chefs will each present a unique menu to provide guests with a special culinary journey.
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On Four, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
On Four at Tottenham Hotspur is a premium dining service with incredible views – it also plays host with an impressive line-up of chef partners. It has previously partnered with Michelin-starred chef Chris Galvin, and currently partners with:
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The Great British Menu’s judge Tommy Banks
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Pied à Terre Executive Head Chef Phil Kearsey
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Owner of The Small Holding (which currently has a green Michelin star) Will Devlin
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Twice-Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar
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Judy Joo, owner of London’s Seoul Bird restaurant
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Chef Shay Cooper, who has worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants
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Young Masterchef judge Kerth Gumbs
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Acorn Award-winner Tom Shepherd
East Wing, Allianz Twickenham Stadium
The East Wing at Allianz is a huge hospitality area that you want to get to well before the match begins because everything you eat and drink is included in price of entry. It has attracted big industry names previously (including Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Tom Booton and Ollie Dabbous). At the moment, Michelin-starred chef and rugby fan Tommy Banks is in charge of things. There’s a five-course menu on offer (including cheese) and the menu varies from game to game.
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F1 Garage at Various Formula 1 Locations, Gordon Ramsay
For 2025, Formula 1 has partnered with multiple Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay to deliver a special culinary experience in the Paddock’s F1 Garage. F1 Garage offers an interactive experience that immerses the on-track action with premium food, drinks and services. Gordon and his team of chefs will deliver a menu of gourmet dishes inspired by each weekend’s Grand Prix, and each menu will make the most of locally sourced ingredients. There will also be expert mixologists on hand to deliver signature cocktails for an exceptional dining experience. In 2025, you can visit F1 Garage in Miami, Monaco, Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Austin, Mexico City, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
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Masalchi, Wembley Park,
Founded by twice Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, Masalchi at Wembley Park is a celebration of cuisines of India. Inspired by street food across all of India, it’s a relaxed and sociable setting where people can stop by and enjoy homely and delicious dishes.
