There’s nothing better than a night of fine dining where candlelit tables enhance overall ambiance, food melts in your mouth, desserts are covered in gold dust or smoked chocolate, and wine pairings somehow make everything taste better. No doubt, a Michelin-starred restaurant can turn a simple dinner into a full-on experience.
The issue is that most Michelin-starred restaurants are located in basement lounges, upper-level lofts, or converted townhouses with tight doorways, narrow hallways, and steps at every turn. But that doesn’t mean fine dining is off the table for anyone using a wheelchair or any other mobility device.
In this article, we’ve shared the best accessible Michelin-starred restaurants across the U.S. that combine award-winning food with thoughtful layout.
Understanding Accessibility in Fine Dining
When looking for a Michelin-starred restaurant, accessibility plays a huge part in whether the experience is enjoyable or even possible. Here are some tips to keep in mind while making a reservation:
- A restaurant should have ramps, elevators, automatic doors, and restrooms with grab bars and enough space to maneuver.
- While physical accessibility is important, sensory accessibility counts too. Some restaurants have moody lighting, loud playlists, or chaotic open kitchens that are great for vibes, but may not suit everyone’s comfort. Ideally, your chosen restaurant should have dim lighting, manageable noise levels, and menus in large print, Braille, or digital formats.
- Whether you’re vegan, allergic to shellfish, or just really can’t do cilantro, check if they offer a flexible menu. A good Michelin spot should be able to accommodate without any issues.
- When finding an accessible restaurant, go to the Michelin Guide website. Under the “Services & Facilities” section, select “Wheelchair access.” You’ll find over 5,500 wheelchair-friendly gourmet eateries. Alternatively, you can try AccessNow, Wheelmap, or WheelchairTravel.org. to narrow down your research.
- A simple “Accessible Michelin Star Restaurants Near Me” Google search can be surprisingly helpful. Also, don’t sleep on Instagram stories and TikTok to get a glimpse of the entrances, table spacing, and even restroom setups that the official site may have left out.
- When in doubt, call ahead and ask questions like “Do you have step-free access from the street to the table?”, “Do you have an accessible restroom?”, “Is your patio accessible too?” This two-minute phone call will save you a world of frustration.
Most Accessible Michelin Restaurants in Key U.S. Cities
The following are some of the best accessible Michelin-starred restaurants in top U.S. cities:
New York City’s Accessible Fine Dining
If you’re looking for a gourmet dining experience in New York City, we recommend Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernardin, and Per Se.
Eleven Madison Park
Located at 11 Madison Avenue, Eleven Madison Park is a three-Michelin-starred eatery that offers a 100% plant-based menu, including delicately crisped vegan rolls, “caviar” made from tonburi and horseradish cream, and braised seitan wrapped in spinach. The frozen cherry blossom and rose dessert? That’s your Instagram moment.
With multiple tasting menu options (from the $225 bar tasting to the $365 8–9 course full experience), you can choose your level of indulgence. This Michelin-starred restaurant has a modern, airy layout with wide-open space, step-free entry, and accessible restrooms.
Le Bernardin
Le Bernardin serves pristine French seafood under the direction of Chef Eric Ripert. The tasting menus are precise, poetic, and plated like they belong in a gallery. From lightly poached lobster to raw scallops that practically melt, this is the kind of place where you whisper “wow” before the first bite.
The space features an elegant and refined layout with enough room to navigate easily, plus well-designed accessible restrooms and an overall calming vibe that works for people with sensory issues. For reservations, call (212) 554-1515.
Per Se
Located in Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Circle, Per Se is a Manhattan-based three-Michelin-starred restaurant that brings French-American cuisine to a whole new level. Chef Thomas Keller crafts two nine-course tasting menus each day (one chef’s special and one vegetable-focused). What makes it even more special is that no ingredient is repeated, so each dish is a fresh surprise.
While one portion of this restaurant has stair access, expect elevator access, plush seating, and spacious layout to accommodate wheelchair users.
San Francisco’s Inclusive Michelin Experiences
When planning a night of unforgettable bites and inclusive vibes in San Francisco, start with 3-star Michelin restaurants, Atelier Crenn and Quince.
Atelier Crenn
At Atelier Crenn, Chef Dominique Crenn offers a pescatarian tasting menu that’s delicious, imaginative, and completely dairy-free — perfect for those with dietary restrictions. Unlike other eateries, the menu is written as a poem. Each course is plated with the kind of precision you usually only see in galleries. It’s creative without being over-the-top.
The space itself is cozy and minimalist, with soft lighting, a calm atmosphere, and an ADA-compliant layout. It’s easy to navigate, service is warm without being overbearing, and the whole experience feels personal. Call (415) 492-9440 for reservations.
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Quince
Located in the Jackson Square neighborhood, Quince is a three-star restaurant that’s all about celebrating the season. Its ten-course tasting menu is a journey through California’s finest farms and flavors.
If you’re not in the mood for the full tasting, you can drop into the Quince Bar and Salon for a four-course menu, à la carte dishes, or just a killer cocktail. The space blends modern elegance with earthy tones, wooded walkways, plush seating, and wide corridors that make moving through the space easy for everyone. For reservations or private dining options, call (415) 775-8500.
Chicago’s Welcoming Michelin Star Dining
Whether you’re in the mood for something mind-bendingly creative or just really, really good, the city’s Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Alinea and Ever, are two can’t-miss spots.
Alinea
Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Alinea is a three–Michelin-star restaurant offering edible balloons, smoky surprise courses, and flavors you didn’t know could exist in one bite. Depending on which part of the restaurant you book, your experience shifts. The Kitchen Table offers an intimate experience, while The Gallery and The Salon offer a multi-sensory menu that’ll have you saying, “wait, what was that?”
Here you can enjoy scallop noodles with Thai curry sauce and dried scallop tuile, beef Rossini, hoja santa ice cream with tamarind meringue, grilled pineapple, and white chocolate crumble. This restaurant has accessible seating arrangements, so you can enjoy the food without any issues.
Ever
Tucked in the stylish Fulton Market District, Ever is a two-star eatery that delivers an 8- to 10-course tasting menu. Chef Curtis Duffy creates plates that look like modern art and taste even better. He uses proteins from land and sea, seasonal vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, and grains that change throughout the year, so no two visits are the same. The entire restaurant is ADA-accessible, including the parking garage.
Washington, D.C.’s Accessible Culinary Gems
Washington D.C. might be best known for politics, but its Michelin-starred food scene is just as powerful. When in the capital, consider visiting The Inn at Little Washington and minibar by José Andrés.
The Inn at Little Washington
When it comes to ambiance, the Inn at Little Washington is equally whimsical and fancy. This three-star Michelin restaurant features plush fabrics, fringed lampshades, patterned wallpaper, and thick yet velvety carpeted floors that don’t get in the way of your wheelchair.
There are two seasonal tasting menus, including The Gastronaut’s Menu and The Good Earth Menu. Dinner usually kicks off with a fun amuse bouche and wraps up with a pear dessert that’s whimsical and gorgeous. Bonus? There’s an on-site spot called Patty O’s Bakery, where you can grab buttery breakfast pastries, creative cookies, muffins, fresh-baked breads, and sip on custom-blended teas or single-origin coffee while soaking in the small-town charm.
minibar by José Andrés
Boasting two stars, minibar by José Andrés is tiny in size but massive in imagination. The tasting menu constantly evolves, so don’t be surprised if you’re handed something like a watermelon margarita bubble or a fried ice cream donut that vanishes in a puff of sweetness. Each bite is unexpected, artistic, and super interactive. The intimate arrangement features just a dozen or so seats, which means you’ll be up close with the chefs, who explain everything as it’s plated.
Los Angeles’s Accessible Fine Dining Destinations
If you are after a fine dining experience that’s both thoughtful and inviting, n/naka should be at the top of your list. Chef Niki Nakayama’s cuisine is a blend of traditional Japanese techniques and California ingredients. Every dish is plated like art and served in a perfectly timed rhythm that feels almost meditative.
Expect dishes such as aromatic broth, grilled fish, uni pasta topped with lobster and creamy sauce, and delicate sashimi that melts in your mouth. The meal unfolds in around 13 seafood-forward courses, moving from light and delicate to bold and rich, ending with seasonal desserts that are as beautiful as they are tasty. n/naka is also wheelchair accessible, with step-free entry, spacious table layouts, and ADA-compliant restrooms.
Book an Accessible Culinary Adventure with Wheelchair Getaways
With availability in over 200 locations across the U.S., Wheelchair Getaways makes it easy to skip the travel stress and focus on the food.
Our wheelchair-accessible vehicles feature lowered floors, wide-entry ramps, secure tie-downs, and hand controls (upon request). We offer daily, weekly, and long-term rental options to fit your travel style — whether it’s a spontaneous getaway or a full-on dining tour.
Since fine dining can get a little pricey, we offer different deals and discounts to help keep things budget-friendly. For more details, call us at 1-866-224-1750 or fill out our online form to get a free rental quote today.