Today is the day. A day of excitement, fear and reckoning, only amplified by the rollercoaster that has been 2020 so far. Rocked hard by the coronavirus, the F&B industry across the globe has seen giants fall and newcomers rise from the ashes. More than anything, the industry has banded together, proving a resilience that has afforded a select few reward in the form of a Michelin star.

At a press conference this morning at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Michelin announced its 2021 picks for the fifth installment of its guide in the great culinary city that is Shanghai. With prestige and influence that can propel a restaurant to the top of the ranks, the Michelin Guide identifies the very best in regional dining, breaking down their picks into seven categories (including two new ones) this year: Three Star, Two Star, One Star, Bib Gourmand, Michelin Plate, Young Chef and Service Award.

Last year's list afforded Paul Pairet's Ultraviolet a third Michelin star, with Ji Pin Court and Taian Table making the jump to two stars, bringing the number of two star restaurants to eight. After a big jump from 30 to 40 total Michelin star restaurants in Shanghai between the 2019 and 2020 guide, we are left wondering if 2021 can see that same force or plateau off into oblivion.

Let's get on with the good stuff. We present to you the full list of winners: 

Three Stars

"A restaurant worth a special journey, indicating exceptional cuisine where diners eat extremely well, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients."

• Ultraviolet

Two Stars
 

"A restaurant worth a detour, indicating excellent cuisine, skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality."

• 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
• Bao Li Xuan (promotion)
• Canton 8
• Da Vittorio (promotion)
• Imperial Treasure
• Ji Pin Court
• L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
• Taian Table
• Xin Rong Ji (Nanyang Lu)
• Yongfoo Elite

One Star
 

"A good place to stop on your journey, indicating a very good restaurant in its category, offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard."

• Amazing Chinese Cuisine
• Bao Li Xuan
• Canton Table (new)
• Cheng Long Hang (Huangpu)
• Da Dong (Xuhui & Jing'an)
• Da Vittorio
• Fu He Hui
• Il Ristorante - Niko Romito
• Jade Mansion
• Jean Georges
• Jin Xuan
• Lao Zheng Xing
• Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire
• Le Patio & La Famille (Sichuan Zhong Lu)
• Lei Garden (Xuhui & Pudong)
• Maison Lameloise
• Meet the Bund (new)
• Ming Court
• Moose (Changning)
• Moose (Pudong)
• PHENIX
• Ren He Guan (new)
• Seventh Son (Jing'an)
• Shang-High Cuisine
• Sir Elly's
• T’ang Court
• Tea Culture (new)
• Xin Rong Ji (Xuhui)
• Yi Long Court
• Yong Fu (Maoming Lu)
• Yong Yi Ting
• Yu Zhi Lan

Young Chef Award

“Recognizes their personality and the identity of their culinary creations.”

• Ian Chen from Meet the Bund
   

Service Award

“Making the restaurant visit a true experience.”

• Jim Wang from Ji Pin Court

Michelin Plate 

"Restaurants where the inspectors have discovered quality food."

• Arva
• Atto Primo on the Bund
• Beef & Liberty (Jing'an)
• Canton 8
• Char
• Coquille
• Cuivre
• De Xing Guan (Guandong Road)
• Ding Te Le Zhou Mian Guan
• Épices & Foie Gras
• Frasca
• Fu1015
• Fu1039
• Fu1088
• Ginza Onodera
• Hang Yuen Hin
• Hai Wei Guan
• Ho Hung Kee
• Jade on 36
• Jardin de Jade
• Kanpai Classic
• La Scala
• Le Bistrot de Racine
• Le Patio & La Famille
• Legend Taste (Jing'an)
• Madam Zhu's Kitchen
• Maison de L'Hui
• Mercato
• Mr & Mrs Bund
• Nashi Xinjiang Wusun
• 1515 West Chophouse
• Parco della Majela
• Pelham's
• Phat Duck (Changning)
• Pop
• Prego
• River Drunk
• Royal China Club
• Scarpetta
• Seventh Son (Pudong)
• Shan Shi Liu
• Shanghai
• Shanghai Club
• Shanghai Tavern
• Stonesal
• Sui Tang Li
• Summer Palace
• The Commune Social
• The Cut
• The Meat
• The Peacock Room
• Villa Le Bec - Bistro 321
• Wei Jing Ge
• Wei Xiang Zhai
• Wisca (Jing'an)
• Xin Yuan Lou
• Xindalu - China Kitchen
• Ye Shanghai
• Yong Xing
• Zan
• Zifu Hui

Bib Gourmand Restaurants
 

"Fantastic cooking at prices under RMB200 per person." 

• A Niang Mian
• Da Hu Chun (Sichuan Lu)
• Four Seasons
• Gong De Lin (West Nanjing Lu)
• Hai Jin Zi (Jinxian Lu)
• Hao Sheng
• Jesse
• Lan Ting
• Lan Xin
• Lu Bo Lang
• Mao Long
• Mi Thai
• Nanxiang Steam Bun (City of God Temple)
• Polux
• Rong Cuisine (Huangpu)
• Rong Shu Noodle Soup with Yellow Croaker
• Tandoor
• Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop
• Yangzhou Fan Dian
• Ye Olde Station
• Yong Fu Mini