The Michelin Guide Gives Three Houston Hotels Michelin Keys

The Michelin Guide announced on Thursday, September 12, its first full Michelin Key selection — its guide to some of the most outstanding hotels in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada — and Houston and Galveston both made the cut.

The guide officially announced its arrival in Texas in July, noting that inspectors were already on the ground surveying restaurants in Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. Since then, diners, restaurant owners, and chefs have speculated about which restaurants would receive the star recognition and how the guide coming to Houston could affect the local dining scene. Houston First, the city’s department, has invested $270,000 of its budget to bring the guide to the city, which could be worth it considering that many restaurants, including Tatemo, BCN, and Le Jardinier, have reported an uptick in their reservations since the guide’s announcement.

In this first Michelin Key round, the guide gave Uptown’s Post Oak Hotel and both locations of Hotel Zaza one key, indicating “a very special stay,” according to a release. The guide referred to the Post Oak Hotel as one of the “swankiest” hotels in town, highlighting its Frank Stella Swarovski crystal chandelier and its spacious rooms, each equipped with large, lavish bathrooms and a set of dumbbells. The onsite amenities, including its spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, and dining establishments, also got a shoutout.

Hotel Zaza’s themed luxury suites, both in the Museum District and Memorial City, seemed to leave a lasting impression. Inspectors highlighted Zaza Museum District’s plush furniture and thoughtful decor, its on-staff planners, who coordinate large events, among other things, and the onsite lounge and restaurant Monarch. At Memorial, the distinct art, decor, proximity to shopping, and “in-room comforts,” including onsite spa services by the ZaSpa, as well as its Tipping Point Restaurant and Terrace played into its recognition.

Galveston’s Carr Mansion, an adults-only bed and breakfast housed in a restored 19th-century Greek Revival mansion, received one key. Inspectors praised it for its novel and unique furnishing and decor, which contribute to the hotel’s overall unique personality.

Still, while Michelin praises Houston’s boutique hotel scene, the guide noted, somewhat needlessly, that Space City might have more distance to close before it reaches the caliber of other major cities. “Given Houston’s status as America’s fourth-largest city, it’s perhaps a bit surprising that there isn’t a boutique hotel scene quite on the scale of those in places like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. But it’s certainly not for lack of effort on the part of Texas’s small but faithful contingent of boutique hoteliers,” inspectors wrote.

The hotels were a part of Michelin’s recognition of 412 hotels throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, which include more than 160 new additions in the U.S. alone. Like Michelin’s restaurant guide, hired anonymous inspectors chose hotels based on specific criteria. According to the guide, one Michelin Key indicates “a very special stay,” offering something different and service that “always goes the extra mile.” Two keys indicate an “exceptional stay” and a guaranteed memorable experience at a hotel with distinct character, personality, and charm. Three keys equate to an “extraordinary stay” — a hotel that serves as a destination and promises comfort, excellent service, style, and elegance. Architecture is also taken into consideration. (Only five locations in the U.S. have received three keys, according to the guide.)