Michelin 2026 shakeup — Les Morainières
France’s Michelin Guide 2026 named Les Morainières (chef Michaël Arnoult) the only new three‑star — a fresh triple‑star for Savoie that the guide hailed as a top expression of regional gastronomy . Paris saw 12 new starred places including Hakuba at Cheval Blanc, while L’Ambroisie was notably downgraded from three to two stars; nationally 54 restaurants gained their first star and France now totals 668 Michelin‑starred addresses [](https://www.lemonde.fr/m-styles/article/2026/03/16/palmares-du-guide-michelin-2026-des-laureats-issus-du-serail-et-de-rares-surprises_6671463_4497319.html).
Michaël Arnoult first opened Les Morainières in 2005, after formative stints that included working with Emmanuel Renaut, according to a local profile of the chef. (jongieux.fr) The house had been holding two Michelin stars for years — listed as a two‑star table since 2012 in multiple reviews — before its latest recognition. (arts-et-gastronomie.com) Les Morainières sits on the Marestel coteau above Jongieux with panoramic views over the Rhône valley and nearby Lac du Bourget, and the restaurant operates a small on‑site hospitality offering including six guestrooms. (les-morainieres.com) Gault&Millau’s 2026 notes put the tasting‑menu price bracket at roughly €170–€240 per person, and the team at the restaurant was described in recent profiles as numbering about 20–25 staff. (fr.gaultmillau.com) Michelin published the 2026 selection and ceremony details from Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum on March 16, 2026, and its release gives the national breakdown as 31 Three‑Star, 84 Two‑Star and 553 One‑Star listings. (michelin.com) The Guide’s earlier downgrades — notably L’Ambroisie’s fall from three to two stars — followed a 2025 handover after Bernard Pacaud’s departure, per reporting on the reassignments that preceded the March ceremony. (lemonde.fr)
