The Michelin Guide Ceremony for Nordic Countries recently celebrated its most updated roster of gastronomic delights in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

The event took place at the Savoy Theatre in Helsinki, Finland. The award ceremony resulted in two restaurants now touting Three Michelin Stars — Denmark’s Jordnær and Norway’s RE-NAA. Two restaurants also leveled up to Two Michelin Star status — Norway’s Kontrast and Sweden’s VYN.

While all the awards are exciting, a riveting four restaurants were awarded One Michelin Star for the first time. The winners in this category were Denmark’s Restaurant Aure, Finland’s Tapio, Norway’s Bar Amour, and Sweden’s Celeste. Another five restaurants also took home One Michelin Star during this year’s Nordic ceremony, just not for the first time. Two out of the five were in Norway — Hermetikken and Iris. Another two were in Sweden — Dashi and Seafood Gastro. The other One Michelin Star restaurant was The ROOM by Kozeen Shiwan in Finland.

Interestingly, no places in Iceland were recognized with stars at this year’s ceremony. Regardless, the country has three One Michelin Star-rated restaurants on the authority’s overall list of highly rated culinary establishments.

The Nordic region also celebrated culinary wins in sustainability and value this award cycle. Four restaurants received the distinction of being a Michelin Green Star establishment — and only one of those had received the honor before. The authority notes that the Michelin Green Star “was introduced in 2021 to highlight restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices.”

Eight Nordic restaurants also received the Bib Gourmand award for “offering great quality, great value cooking.” Three of those eight were newly named in that category.

How Does Michelin Award Its Stars?

Michelin awards stars to culinary establishments around the world based on five universal criteria. The restaurants are judged by the authority’s inspectors on the quality of the ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, consistency, and how well the chef’s personality is expressed through their cuisine.

Three Michelin Stars, the highest award, is given when all the qualities are present, the chef is at their peak, and “some of their dishes are destined to become classics.”

Michelin inspectors don’t consider a restaurant’s decoration and style. Surprisingly to some, an establishment’s service doesn’t impact its ability to receive a star. Neither does its prices, or whether it’s a fine dining spot.

It’s also important to note that just because a restaurant is featured in Michelin’s guide doesn’t mean that the eatery is starred.