Michelin Guide 2025: Rain of stars in Italy.

Published on 6 November 2024
Author: Antonio Galdi

After three years, the ceremony of the Guide MICHELIN returns to Emilia-Romagna and, for the first time in the city of Modena. The 70th edition of the Guide confirms a gastronomic scene full of vitality, animated by young talents who have gained experience within brigades led by chef mentors from whom to draw inspiration and, at the same time, by a growing awareness that committed and sustainable catering is not a trend but a real necessity.

To conquer the scene, and the 3 stars, -bringing the count of the highest expression of Italian cuisine according to "la rossa" to 14- was the restaurant Perbellini House – 12 Apostles led by Giancarlo Perbellini. In the historic centre of Verona, next to Piazza delle Erbe and a stone's throw from the most famous balcony in the world - that of Romeo and Juliet, of course.

The sign, not new to the magazines has made the history of the city, had seen the formation of the chef Giancarlo who today brings to the stage a concert of flavors that combine tradition and innovation in respect of seasonality and raw materials. The chef pays homage to and reinterprets Italian cuisine with modern techniques and a personal touch offering you an experience that is worth the trip. The sesame wafer with sea bass tartare with a touch of licorice is just one of the many classics that will remain in your heart.

“The 2025 selection, with 393 starred restaurants represents a photograph that confirms the excellence of Italian cuisine, made of traditions, contaminations and innovation. The 36 novelties within the firmament of the peninsula, among which the new restaurant stands out 3 stars Casa Perbellini – 12 Apostles, they testify to the liveliness of the sector that promises exciting culinary experiences, which tell of the quality of products and the incredible variety of raw materials that this exceptional peninsula can offer.” he commented Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides.

Two new entries in the category that is worth the detour, the two stars:

Villa Elena in Bergamo, led by the Chef Galtarossa, a product of the stable of the multi-starred Enrico Bartolini. The recent transfer of this young chef seems to have given him new life. Here he offers a modern cuisine that enhances the local ingredients through meticulous research and artistic presentation. Each dish is a work that satisfies both the sight and the palate and combines complex and layered flavors with meticulous attention to detail. The duck-based dish is memorable: breast, livers in ravioli with celery and a crepe of stewed leg.

Campo del Drago in Montalcino, led by Matthew Temperini. Castiglion del Bosco is not only 3 Michelin Keys for the superlative hospitality, now also a stop for which it is worth making a detour and tasting the chef's personal cuisine, which enhances Tuscany and the best that the territory can offer. Among the memorable dishes that he creates with creativity and the use of fresh and seasonal ingredients, are the gastronomic proposals with the first autumn mushrooms from the nearby woods, such as the gnocchi dell'orto with chanterelles and porcini mushrooms and the glazed veal sweetbreads with artichoke cream and roasted lemon.

Special Awards, Antonino Cannavacciulo Wins the Chef Mentor Award

A large space was dedicated to special awards, from the Young Chef Award assigned to Mattero Vergine of the Grow Restaurant in Albiate (MB) who also won his first star, to the Service Award assigned to Vanessa Melis of the Pascucci al Porticciolo restaurant, Fiumicino (RM) through to the Sommelier Award assigned to Oscar Mazzoleni of the Al Carroponte restaurant (BG) up to the heartfelt recognition as Chef Mentor Award Awarded to Antonino Cannavacciuolo who, unable to hold back his emotion, commented on the award as follows:

“I am very excited, it is an award that is making me live my dream, when thirty years ago I saw myself here. To the young people I say dream, it is beautiful to dream and to see yourself already here. Seeing these guys who are part of our great group excel today makes me happy; I dedicate it to them and to all the people who have passed through Villa Crespi in these years. You are strong! The secret is to make them feel important, to listen to them; it is ignorant not to listen to thirty twenty-year-old minds who have a fearful strength. I try to give a lot to them but they give a lot to me”

Stella Verde and Prima Stella, who enters the guide?

The Green Star, a symbol that distinguishes restaurateurs at the forefront of sustainability, has been earned by 11 new restaurants, bringing the total along the peninsula to 69. They range from Villa Maiella in Guardiagrele (CH) to the Bistrot in Forte dei Marmi (LU), passing through the Brenner Pass with Artifex, Sant'Agata dei Due Golfi with Don Alfondo 1890 and pushing beyond the “mainland” to the island of Vulcano with the restaurant Il Cappero.

In the MICHELIN Guide Italy 2025 there are 33 new MICHELIN Star hotels. Among these, many chefs have an exceptional mentor: Antonino Cannavacciuolo who receives the Star in two restaurants, Le Cattedrali by L'Aqua in Asti and Cannavacciuolo by the Lake in Pettenasco (NO), led respectively by Gianluca Renzi and Gianni Bertone. Davide Oldani sees a new star assigned to the Olmo restaurant, in San Pietro all'Olmo (MI) entrusted to Riccardo Merli, while Massimo Bottura at the Al Gatto Verde restaurant, with Jessica Rosval at the helm, conquers the star and also the Green Star. In this sky “star quilt” some names stand out such as the return to the star of the restaurant Don Alfonso 1890 in Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi (NA), the happy conquest of the chef Roberto di Pinto with his Sine by di Pinto in Milan, a face known to most for the content published on social media - about half a million followers on TikTok -, and again the fourth star conquered by the very young Ariel Agen with Saporium in Chiusdino (SI), or Alto in Fiorano Modenese (MO) by the chef Mattia Trabetti with his contaminations between East and West. Interesting is the path of the chef Salvatore Avallone of the restaurant Cetaria in Baronissi (SA), who after the special Service Award received by his wife and maître d' Federica Gatto, this year reaches the star.

It should be noted that Italy, contrary to what it may seem, is slowly starting to shake off its reputation as a “country for old men”; among the 36 newcomers, in fact, there are 14 chefs aged 35 or under, four of whom are still lowering the threshold of success at 30 or under.

Here is the complete list of new assignments:

Three Stars:

Perbellini House-12 Apostles, Verona (VR)

Two Stars:

Villa Elena, Bergamo (BG)

Dragon Field, Montalcino (SI)

One Star:

Cannavacciuolo The Cathedrals by Laqua, Asti (AT)

Cannavacciuolo by the Lake, Pettenasco (NO)

Balance, Dolcedo (IM)

Grow Restaurant, Albiate (MB)

The Little Circle, Monza (MB)