Berlin Restaurant Earns Vegan Michelin Star
Bonvivant in Berlin has become the city's first 100% vegan restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star. The establishment is now one of only six such venues worldwide to hold the distinction. The award highlights Berlin's culinary innovation and the growing prominence of plant-based fine dining on the global stage.
- The restaurant, Bonvivant Cocktail Bistro, first opened in Berlin's Schöneberg district in 2019 as a high-end vegetarian spot before making its dinner menu fully plant-based in January 2025 and, more recently, its brunch menu. - Head Chef Nikodemus Berger, who has been a vegetarian since childhood, focuses on culinary innovation with plant-based ingredients rather than creating imitation-meat dishes. His techniques include making mayonnaise from aquafaba (chickpea water) and meringues from potato proteins. - Owner Jules Winnfield describes the move to an all-vegan menu as a "forward-looking form of culinary culture," aiming to fill a gap in the market with high-quality, sustainable cuisine. - Earning a single Michelin star can increase a restaurant's business by approximately 20% and allows for an average price increase of about 14.8%. The award typically attracts a global clientele willing to spend more on a high-caliber dining experience. - While prestigious, the star also introduces new business pressures, including rising costs associated with suppliers, staffing, and landlord negotiations. A 2024 University College London study indicated that Michelin-starred restaurants in New York had a higher closure rate than other highly-rated restaurants without stars. - The award comes as the plant-based food market grows, particularly in Europe. Germany has become a leader in the shift toward plant-based eating, with an estimated 1.3 million vegans. - Globally, Bonvivant joins an exclusive but growing list of vegan restaurants with Michelin stars, including the three-star Eleven Madison Park in New York and the two-star De Nieuwe Winkel in the Netherlands.
