09 March 2026
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Impressing a MICHELIN Inspector is no small feat. They roam near and far in search of the best restaurants and hotels. They spend their waking hours scouting the world’s most compelling eateries, from beloved street food carts to opulent tables within historic palaces. They spend nights at destination-worthy hotels, with amenities that offer a distinct sense of place.
Every day, our Inspectors have been hard at work. We asked them to report back on the experiences that surprised and delighted them most. Read on to discover what they said.
A MICHELIN Star After a Vaporetto Ride at Venissa, Mazzorbo, Venice Lagoon
One-Star Venissa sits on the tiny island of Mazzorbo in the Venice Lagoon. Arriving at the restaurant begins with a journey in its own right.
Traveling by vaporetto, or water bus, set the tone for what felt like a storied visit. We glided across the lagoon’s quiet, silvery expanse toward an estate framed by a walled vineyard and manicured gardens. The restaurant offers one of the lagoon’s most distinctive culinary identities, rooted in hyperlocal ingredients, including the rare Dorona grape grown on site. Chefs [Chiara] Pavan and [Francesco] Brutto craft refined dishes that marry modern, sophisticated technique with a deep sense of place. After the meal, I lingered in the lagoon with a short walk to the neighboring island of Burano, famous for its rainbow-hued homes.
From Belle Époque Opulence to 3D-Printed Plates at Paco Roncero, Madrid
In the heart of central Madrid, Chef Paco Roncero’s eponymous Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant is tucked into the attic of a majestic 1910 landmark with French and Baroque influences — now home to the NH Collection Real Casino de Madrid.
During a recent lunch, we passed through a lobby lined with classic red carpets and stepped into an elevator fitted with mirrors, an elegant red upholstered bench and double swing doors. Reaching the top floor, the contrast in atmosphere was striking: The designers preserved the building’s historic essence while introducing colorful geometric touches. The result felt contemporary without clashing with the setting.
Beyond the delicious cuisine, rooted in traditional Madrid flavors and paying tribute to different neighborhoods and informal traditional dishes of the capital, some dishes were presented on tableware produced with a 3D printer inside the restaurant. The menu concluded with a unique and well-executed finale: an assortment of chocolates dedicated to Madrid’s multiculturalism. They were presented on specially designed tableware featuring the names of neighborhoods and different spices around the edge, with a central figure of the famous “Oso y el Madroño,” the city’s historic emblem.
The entire experience — from the opulent entrance to the sleek, modern dining room — was surprising, to say the least.
The Most Memorable Pour of the Afternoon at RAUSCH, Frankfurt
Chef Jochim Busch earned acclaim leading the erstwhile Two-MICHELIN-Starred restaurant Gustav. His latest venture, RAUSCH, occupies the same building but delivers a completely fresh experience: Busch’s signature bold cuisine punctuated with unexpected touches.
During my lunch at RAUSCH, I discovered one of the biggest surprises in the most unlikely place: the restroom. A small display holds two bottles of schnapps and a few tiny glasses. Curious, I asked the owner whether it was a Frankfurt tradition or unique to their restaurant. He explained it had become a habit, a way to spark convivial moments at the sink — or simply to chat quietly, away from one’s table or with friends (and strangers) seated elsewhere. It was a creative way to further the communal aspect of the dining experience.
A Century-Old Mollusk at Sushi Anaba, Copenhagen
In Copenhagen, One-Starred Sushi Anaba is set inside Nordhavn’s Customs House, a historic building overlooking the harbor. It was deconstructed one limestone block at a time and painstakingly reassembled in 2024, paying heed to the original 1916 design.
The 15-seat restaurant charms with its setting alone, yet the menu impresses even more. At lunch recently, I had the chance to taste the oldest thing I’ve ever eaten: a century-old mahogany clam, the shucked meat slapped on the countertop to tenderize it; dense, sweet and squeaky under the teeth. Deliciously surprising and surprisingly delicious.
A Hot Air Balloon Ride Without Leaving the Lobby at The Yeatman, Porto
The One-Key Yeatman is hands-down one of the most elegant hotels in the Porto region. It features a Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant and a luxurious spa with Roman-style baths — a recipe for an indulgent stay.
During a recent visit, one of its lesser-known quirks caught me off guard: One of the elevators is fashioned after a hot air balloon. Inside, every detail is carefully recreated, from the ballast bags to the ropes, meant to evoke taking off in a hot air balloon — a nod, perhaps, to those that launch during the summer São João Festival.
A Whimsical Secret Door at The Largo, Porto
In Porto’s historic center, The Largo is a boutique hotel that unites five heritage buildings into a single property, infused with understated Nordic sensibility by Space Copenhagen. From the main entrance, several facades are immediately visible, hinting at the many spaces waiting to be discovered.
During my last stay, I discovered that to access the additional buildings at the rear, where some of the guestrooms and part of the restaurant are located, I had to pass through a tunnel carved directly into the stone. This tunnel connects two buildings on one side with three on the other. At the end of it, an elevator is discreetly hidden behind a solid stone wall.
Here comes the surprise: Access to both the elevator and the tunnel is through a secret door. I watched a staff member swipe her magnetic key card, and seeing that massive stone door silently and automatically open felt almost surreal — like stepping into a Harry Potter scene or a science-fiction film.
Look Up: The Pool Floats Above You at The Hubertus, Valdaora
Nestled amid the Dolomites, views are one of the major selling points of Hotel Hubertus in Valdaora, Italy. But postcard vistas are just the beginning.
When I arrived for a recent stay, I lifted my head as I headed toward Reception and noticed a pair of legs kicking playfully above me. On closer inspection, I was looking through the glass of an outdoor pool. And “glass-bottomed pool” only begins to describe the Sky Pool. While they’re not unheard of at flashy hotels around the world, this one, floating above the winter scene, with its panoramic views of the snowy mountains and steam rising from the water in sub-zero temperatures, is one of the most unexpected I’ve ever encountered. A mix of awe and zen to go with a dip.
Related articles:
- Best Fine Dining Tips - Our Inspectors help you make the most of a gastronomic experience.
- Top Tips for Solo Dining - How to simply enjoy a solo experience, with advice from our Inspectors.
- 7 Big Food Trends of 2026 - New types of cuisine or well-established trends: Inspectors share their on-the-ground perspective.
Hero Image: ©Debora Szpilman
