Ottawa has never been rated by the Michelin Guide — but the city's dining scene is stronger than ever. Here's our running watchlist of who would likely earn stars, Bib Gourmands, and a mention in the world's most famous dining guide.
Michelin stars aren't about glitz — they're about precision, consistency, and the ability to deliver a world-class dining experience every single night. Here's who we think would make the cut if Ottawa were under the Michelin spotlight right now.
Michelin's Bib Gourmand recognizes restaurants offering excellent food at more moderate prices.
Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants offering exceptional cooking, worth a special journey.
⭐ One Star: High-quality cooking, worth a stop.
⭐⭐ Two Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.
⭐⭐⭐ Three Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.
Ottawa currently has no Michelin-rated restaurants, but Toronto, Vancouver, and the province of Québec do — meaning Ottawa could be next.
Antheia has recently opened in Ottawa and is already drawing attention as a serious fine-dining debut. Led by chef Briana Kim, the intimate, fermentation-driven tasting menu emphasizes precision, depth, and a clear culinary point of view. While still early, Antheia shows many of the qualities associated with Michelin Guide recognition and is one to watch closely.
Ottawa Tourism Meets with Top Chefs to Discuss Michelin Potential
Ottawa Tourism recently held a closed-door conversation with a group of leading Ottawa chefs to discuss how the city can better position itself for future consideration by the Michelin Guide.
Chefs from North & Navy were in attendance, along with representatives from several other well-known restaurants in the city. While no official statement has been released from Ottawa Tourism, multiple chefs who were present confirmed that the discussion focused on:
This marks the first known instance of formal dialogue between Ottawa Tourism and the city's culinary leaders specifically about Michelin readiness — a significant milestone for a city not yet on the Guide's radar.
Vancouver has just been unveiled, bringing the city's total to 12 One-Star restaurants, up from ten last year. Inspectors added a few new names while reaffirming the strength of Vancouver's existing stars, along with several fresh Bib Gourmand selections that broaden the city's culinary map.
Ottawa, however, remains off Michelin's list — at least for now.
Toronto & Region's 2025 Michelin awards brought some big wins — Pearl Morissette elevated to Two Stars, aKin earned its first Star, and Sundays picked up a Green Star, among other additions. Meanwhile, Ottawa still has no restaurants with Michelin Stars — for now — but with the growing spotlight on Canadian cities like Québec and Vancouver, many in Ottawa are hopeful its food scene might soon get its chance in the Guide.
Ottawa Michelin Watch is live.
We'll be tracking which restaurants in Ottawa are most likely to earn Michelin stars (or Bib Gourmands) if and when the Guide arrives. This list will be updated regularly — check back for predictions, new contenders, and local dining news.