9 Budget Michelin Restaurants To Dine At

Treat yourself to a Michelin-starred meal with plenty of holiday funds to spare.

A Michelin experience is a lot like travelling. It requires scrimping and saving but will cause serious regret if you choose the wrong destination. But never fear. If you want to collect stars from around the world, there are ways of getting around the supposed high cost. Some Michelin restaurants can leave you with a bill of thousands. But you can actually get a delectable meal for as low as $5.

Put on your comfy pants and scrounge up some change. These are the best low-cost Michelin restaurants around the world.

1. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, Singapore

Let’s start with probably the most famous budget Michelin-starred establishment. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle in Singapore has been attracting customers for almost a century and there’s no sign of it slowing down just yet.

Awarded a Michelin star in 2016, the street food joint still serves bowls of bak chor mee with egg noodles, minced pork, wontons, black vinegar and chilli.

people ordering food outside Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle — Come for a bowl of bak chor mee at Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle.

Cost: $6.60 – $11.

2. Taquería El Califa de León, Mexico City, Mexico

From the first Michelin-starred street food stall to one of the latest to receive a star, Mexico has Michelin-starred food all around. Taquería El Califa de León might be considered a hole-in-the-wall destination, with just four items on the menu. But with business going back to the sixties, it has perfected all of them.

the exterior view of Taquería El Califa de León at night — Taquería El Califa de León is a Michelin-starred hole-in-the-wall.

The taqueria is best known for its beef tacos, flavoured with a squeeze of lime juice, and folded into a freshly baked corn tortilla, salsa verde or roja.

a hand pouring sauce over beef tacos at Taquería El Califa de León — Taquería El Califa de León has just four items on the menu.

Cost: $5.

3. Borkonyha Winekitchen, Budapest, Hungary

Europe might not be your first guess when asked to pick where you might find the cheapest Michelin food. But in the Hungarian capital, you will find one exception: Borkonyha Winekitchen.

the front exterior of Borkonyha Winekitchen at night — Find excellent fare at this casual hangout in Budapest.

As well as a wine list representing a ton of Hungarian vineyards, this wine bar has an enviable menu of modern Hungarian cuisine, including trout with cucumber and dill, smoked fish soup and saddle of lamb. Degustation is also available.

a Hungarian dish at Borkonyha Winekitchen — Borkonyha Winekitchen has an enviable menu of modern Hungarian cuisine.

Cost: $60 and up for dinner, $200 for degustation.

4. JG Melon, New York City, USA

Swap the Big Apple for the big melon at this popular American diner. Operating for 50 years, JG Melon offers cost-effective US favourites, like its famous burgers, cottage fries and spicy Bloody Marys, along with key lime pie, roast beef sandwiches and chilli bowls.

neon lights and signage at JG Melon, New York City, USA — JG Melon has been a popular American diner for 50 years.

A jukebox, chequered tablecloths and occasional celebrity sightings complete the scene at this Upper East Side institution.

people dining outside JG Melon, New York City, USA — JG Melon offers cost-effective US favourites.

Cost: A burger will set you back $20.

5. Kam’s Roast Goose, Hong Kong

Get stuck into Cantonese cuisine at Kam’s Roast Goose, a restaurant best known for its crispy-skinned, perfectly spiced goose. Small in size (30 seats) but mighty in taste, this relatively new Hong Kong restaurant attracts long queues, and rightly so.

the entrance of Kam's Roast Goose restaurant in Hong Kong — Make a beeline for Cantonese cuisine at Kam’s Roast Goose.

Alongside their famous goose, you can enjoy Char Siu roasted pork, roast duck, noodles in goose fat, cured Chinese sausage, and suckling pig. But make sure to get in early, particularly if you want to get a plate of the goose.

crispy-skinned goose on display at Kam's Roast Goose, Hong Kong — Kam’s Roast Goose is renowned for its crispy-skinned, perfectly spiced goose.

Cost: Around $30.

6. L’Antic Molí, Ulldecona, Spain

While not as cheap as some of the other options on this list, €120 ($200) is nothing to scoff at for a Michelin-starred tasting menu at L’Antic Molí’s Espacio Mans restaurant in Spain.

an old flour mill turned into a restaurant at L'Antic Molí, Spain — L’Antic Molí is housed in an old flour mill.

Built in an old flour mill, the restaurant is best known for its inventive delicacies such as artichoke with almond and wasabi, Swiss chard with squid and caviar, lemon, sea nettle and jalapeño chilli, and leek and crayfish.

fresh and natural ingredients at L'Antic Molí — L’Antic Molí is best known for its inventive delicacies.

Cost: $180 or $300 with paired wines.

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7. Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta, Toshima City, Tokyo

Leaving Japan without having ramen is like visiting France without having a croissant. And what better place to go for a bowl than Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta?

The Tokyo restaurant’s specialty is Shoyu (soy-based) Soba ramen with chicken and seafood stock, flavoured with black truffle oil and cedar cask-aged soy sauce. It is for this dish that Tsuta is beloved among critics, locals and tourists alike. You can expect big queues for this small establishment, but bookings are available.

Indulge in a bowl of ramen at Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta.

Cost: $30.

8. Bun Cha Ta Hanoi, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Bún chả, sometimes known as the ubiquitous Vietnamese salad in Australia, consists of grilled pork patties, white rice noodles, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables and spicy, sweet and salty fish, vinegar and chilli sauce.

a table-top view of Vietnamese cuisine at Bun Cha Ta Hanoi — Don’t pass up the chance to try bún chả when you’re in Hanoi.

Today, you can get bún chả all over Vietnam, but it is the northern city of Hanoi that is the most obsessed with this fresh dish. Bun Cha Ta Hanoi is considered one of the best restaurants to try it. Don’t forget to order crab Nem Ran (fried spring rolls) and a Vietnamese coffee to fortify you for a long day of exploring.

the roadside view and exterior of Bun Cha Ta Hanoi — Bun Cha Ta Hanoi is considered one of the best restaurants to have bún chả.

Cost: $7.

9. Varoulko Seaside, Athens, Greece

Head down to the Mikrolimano Marina in Athens and dine at Varoulko Seaside for some exquisite helpings of traditional Greek flavours, with out-there twists on catch of the day.

waterfront dining at Varoulko Seaside — Varoulko Seaside offers exceptional waterfront dining.

Sip on Greek wines as you try tomato gazpacho with strawberry, basil and crayfish tartar, octopus carpaccio, sautéed scallops with chorizo crust and mango pickle, cuttlefish risotto and much more.

a Greek dish at Varoulko Seaside — Dine at Varoulko Seaside for some exquisite Greek cuisine.

Finish with an unforgettable dessert: a glass of ouzo at sunset, while looking over the bobbing boats in the harbour.

a chocolate mushroom dessert at Varoulko Seaside — Finish your meal with a mind-blowing chocolate mushroom.

Cost: $80.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The 9 best budget Michelin restaurants around the world