California leads the United States in the number of restaurants awarded Michelin Green Stars, with 17 establishments recognized for their commitment to sustainability. The Michelin Green Star, introduced in 2020, honors restaurants that demonstrate high standards in environmental and ethical practices alongside culinary excellence. Of the 287 Green Star recipients worldwide, 35 are located in the U.S., and California’s share is the largest by a significant margin.
To receive a Green Star, restaurants must prioritize local and seasonal ingredients, collaborate with eco-conscious suppliers, manage waste responsibly, and support both employee well-being and community welfare. Many awardees also maintain their own organic gardens or work closely with sustainable farms.
Kyle Connaughton, chef and co-owner of SingleThread in Healdsburg—which holds both a Green Star and three Michelin stars—said: “California has really been a leader in creating more sustainable practices in our restaurants, better relationships with local farmers, cooking seasonally, and reducing waste in our kitchens.”
Katina Connaughton, SingleThread’s co-owner who manages its organic farm, added: “What makes the Green Star so special is that it recognizes the hard work of our farm team and their commitment to biodiversity and regenerative agriculture, as well as the strides the entire restaurant makes to approach our work with a sustainability mindset.”
Matt Kammerer, chef at Harbor House Inn in Elk—a two-star Michelin restaurant—emphasized the broader impact chefs can have on food culture: “Restaurants and hospitality have the ability to show their guests that eating locally and sustainably from your surroundings is the direction we need to go in as our food culture continues to evolve,” Kammerer said.
Notable California recipients include Chi Spacca and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles; Atelier Crenn and Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn in San Francisco; Quince in San Francisco; Chez Panisse in Berkeley; The French Laundry in Yountville; SingleThread in Healdsburg; Harbor House Inn in Elk; among others. These restaurants implement various sustainability initiatives such as sourcing ingredients within close proximity, using whole animals to reduce waste, employing energy-saving measures, composting food scraps for partner farms, operating carbon-neutral businesses, transforming facilities for lower environmental impact, adhering to strict seafood protocols, supporting local fisheries’ conservation efforts, collaborating with local artisans for tableware, growing produce onsite or nearby organically, seeking out sustainable seafood sources—and more.
The full list of California’s 2025 Michelin Green Star recipients includes Atelier Crenn (San Francisco), Caruso’s (Montecito), Chez Panisse (Berkeley), Chi Spacca (Los Angeles), Enclos (Sonoma), The French Laundry (Yountville), Harbor House (Elk), Heritage (Long Beach), Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn (San Francisco), Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles), Pomet (Oakland), Providence (Hollywood), Quince (San Francisco), The Restaurant at Justin (Paso Robles), SingleThread (Healdsburg), Sons & Daughters (San Francisco) and Vespertine (San Francisco).
