Michelin-star-worthy Phoenix restaurants? Vote on who should win

Up until now, Arizona did not have any Michelin-starred restaurants to boast of, because there was no Michelin Guide in our state or region. But that could soon change.

Michelin Guide announced a time and place for its inaugural Southwest ceremony, where Arizonans could, for the first time, see local names earn stars of their own. The ceremony will be held on Aug. 26 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which has a Michelin Key.

Michelin's reviewers are shrouded in secrecy. Their identities are kept confidential so that chefs and restaurant staff are not tempted to offer preferential treatment. 

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While we must wait just a bit longer to find out which Phoenix restaurants will earn the distinguished recognition, we certainly have some guesses of our own, and we know you do too. We want to hear which Phoenix restaurants you think are the most deserving of a spot in the Michelin Guide.

What Arizona restaurant do you think deserves a Michelin star?

Voting is open until Sunday, July 26, at 9 p.m. at azcentral.com/things-to-do/food-dining.

While you ponder, meet the contenders.

Anhelo 

It came as a shock when chef Ivan Jacobo first closed his iconic downtown Phoenix restaurant and replaced it with Flour & Thyme. But Anhelo reopened a few months later in a brand-new space in Scottsdale, and it is still offering the same high-quality prix fixe multicourse menu that guests came to know and love. Jacobo told The Republic in 2024, "I never thought Anhelo would become the restaurant that it is. It made me grow personally and professionally."

Details: 7007 E. First Ave., Scottsdale. 602-596-7745, anhelorestaurant.com.

Atlas Bistro

Atlas Bistro is one of Scottsdale's most rewarding secrets to discover. Tucked inside Atlas Wine Shop, patrons can purchase bottles to pair with chef Jabari Corbin's seasonal five-course prix fixe menu. Hailing from Barbados, Corbin's knack for diverse flavors and techniques has placed Atlas Bistro among the greats when it comes to fine dining in metro Phoenix.

Details: 2515 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-990-2433, atlasbistro.wpcomstaging.com.

Bacanora

Bacanora is often the answer when visitors ask for a single must-visit restaurant in Phoenix. The intimate downtown spot showcases mesquite-grilled Sonoran cuisine from James Beard Award-winning chef Rene Andrade. The menu works just as well for a casual meal at the counter overlooking Grand Avenue as it does for a group dinner built around shared plates. A standout starter is the elote, topped with spicy limon crema, chiltepin peppers and a generous shower of cotija cheese, delivering a balance of sweetness, heat, acidity and savory richness. The menu is anchored by Andrade’s wood-fired cooking, and there’s usually something new worth trying. Reservations can be difficult to secure, so planning is recommended.

Details: 1301 NW Grand Ave., Unit 1, Phoenix. 602-612-4018, bacanoraphx.com.

Cafe Monarch

Cafe Monarch has consistently earned rave online reviews from guests, landing the restaurant on countless "best of" lists from the likes of Yelp and OpenTable, from most romantic restaurant to best brunch. The Old Town Scottsdale restaurant offers contemporary American fare in the form of four- and eight-course tasting menus. It is also known for its elegant architecture and the staff's fine attention to detail. The romantic mood is completed with tufted white King Louis chairs, ornate gold-framed mirrors, candelabras and glittering chandeliers.

Details: 6939 E. First Ave., Scottsdale. 480-970-7682, cafemonarch.com.

Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion  

This is a classical French training meets modern presentation kind of fine dining establishment. Christopher Gross has wowed many critics with his creations, and he has the accolades to prove it. From a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 1995 to 18 points from Gayot to this year's Antonin Careme Medal, which places him among the greats like Julia Child and Walter Roth. Dining at Christopher’s is an opulent experience, from the glass-enclosed space with a view of the city to the excellence in preparation to the creative presentations, especially when it comes to the eight-course tasting menu. But one is not limited to the larger tasting menu. Christopher’s also offers a three-course menu as well as petits plates and an à la carte counter dining option for those who may be heading to an event. No matter what you eat, the sommelier can recommend a wine to match.  

Details: 2501 E. Telawa Trail, Phoenix. 602-522-2344, wrigleymansion.com/christophers. 

Course

Course is a fine dining restaurant in Scottsdale that has been praised numerous times for its food. It was a USA Today 2025 Restaurant of the Year, a 2025 James Beard semifinalist for chef Cory Oppold as Best Chef Southwest and sous chef Luis Soto was on The Republic's Chefs to Watch 2026 list. In May 2026, the restaurant also won a pin for its excellent cocktail program. Aesthetics, surprising flavors and a hint of playfulness are what this fine dining restaurant is all about. As the name implies, menus are offered as five courses on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; eight courses on Friday and Saturday; a 90-minute bar experience as well as pop-up menus for special occasions like Valentine's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas.

Details: 7366 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 106, Scottsdale. 480-687-0491, courserestaurantaz.com. 

Durant's 

Durant's is one of Phoenix's oldest and most storied restaurants, with a legacy of over 75 years in the heart of central Phoenix. Since Jack Durant and Jack R. McElroy opened it in 1950, Durant's has become one of the most iconic fine dining restaurants in Phoenix and part of the city's fabric, welcoming politicians, celebrities, athletes, as well as locals and tourists celebrating special occasions. The restaurant was sold in 2025 and reopened under the new ownership of Prime Steak Concepts, the owners behind Dominick’s Steakhouse, Steak 44 and Ocean 44 in metro Phoenix. But the new owners have kept the spirit of Durant's alive.

Details: 2611 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-264-5967, durantsaz.com.

FnB

If FnB were to earn a Michelin star, it would not be chef and co-owner Charleen Badman's first time in the culinary spotlight. The Scottsdale restaurant earned her a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2019. Badman was also a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef in 2026. At FnB, she champions vegetables with a focus on using local produce; the menu changes frequently depending on what is in season. The restaurant has also been lauded for its exceptional wine program.

Details: 7125 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale. 480-284-4777, fnbrestaurant.com.

Kai

Chef Drew Anderson uses Native American ingredients with global accents to create a menu that tells the story of Tohono O'odham and Pee Posh people. Its seven-course menu changes seasonally. Kai excels in hospitality and was a James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality in 2025.

Details: 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. 602-385-5777, kairestaurant.com.

Le Âme

Le Âme Parisian steakhouse is one of five restaurants inside Sam Fox's popular Global Ambassador Hotel. The most upscale option, Fox told The Republic before it opened, that he saw it as a destination restaurant for celebrating special occasions. The menu includes steak and lobster frites, wagyu bolognese, and steak and seafood from the grill. The restaurant also earned the Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence for its wine list.

Details:  4360 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 480-800-2211, globalambassadorhotel.com.

Lom Wong

Lom Wong, the Thai restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Yotaka Martin, remains one of Phoenix’s top recommendations for visitors seeking exceptional Thai food. A standout way to begin the meal is with the yam mamuang boran, a green mango salad layered with hand-torn shrimp, crispy shallot, toasted coconut and peanuts, all dressed with coconut cream, lime and fish sauce. Another must-order is the naem khao tawt, a vibrant mix of crispy rice, cured pork sausage, ginger, shallot, peanut, cilantro and lime. For everything else, diners can confidently lean on the staff, whose deep knowledge of the menu makes navigating Lom Wong’s regional Thai specialties easy.

Details: 218 E. Portland St., Phoenix. 602-675-0522, lomwongaz.com.

Save the date: When Michelin will award Arizona restaurants' 1st stars

Quiessence 

Quiessence at the Farm at South Mountain offers a unique dining experience in the Valley, characterized by endless greenery and flora in a romantic farmhouse setting. Many of the ingredients used in the restaurant's dishes are harvested right on the property, with others coming from other local sources. In addition to the elegant views and farm-fresh food, Quiessence is renowned for its wine program.

Details: 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix. 602-276-0601, qatthefarm.com.

Tratto

Tratto, by James Beard Award-winning Outstanding Restaurateur Chris Bianco, has quickly become a neighborhood favorite, the kind of place that suits a spontaneous night out as much as a planned dinner. A pasta dish and a glass of wine are essential orders. The rigatoni, coated in tomato ragu, and the bucatini, glossed with pecorino and black pepper sauce, both deliver the gentle chew that great pasta should. Inside, wine bottle candles and warm lighting soften the intimate, off-white dining room, creating a setting that feels equally well-suited for a first date or a celebration with a longtime partner.

Details: 4743 N. 20th St., Phoenix. 602-296-7761, trattophx.com. 

Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @ERFontanez on Instagram.

Reach the restaurant critic at [email protected]. Follow @baharcreative on Instagram.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Michelin-star-worthy Phoenix restaurants? Vote on who should win