From BLACKPINK to Michelin-Starred Chefs, Why In-House Restaurants are the Next Big Thing?

The MICHELIN Guide 2025, which was successfully held in Da Nang, has honored numerous eateries in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang across three main categories: Michelin Selected, Bib Gourmand, and Michelin Star. However, the Michelin Star list has raised some eyebrows due to the striking similarities among the recognized establishments. Notably, a significant number of the starred restaurants are located within large hotels.

This observation has sparked questions among discerning diners about whether restaurants in larger hotels have an advantage when it comes to attaining Michelin stars. Is there a particular trait or set of criteria that makes these hotels’ F&B outlets stand out? Let’s delve into this intriguing inquiry in the following article.

Hotel Reputation as a Quality Assurance for Restaurants

In the realm of premium services, brand reputation serves not only as a means of recognition but also as an implicit guarantee of quality. When it comes to renowned names such as Marriott International or Capella Hanoi, the public, especially the elite and international guests, inherently possess a tacit frame of reference regarding the meticulousness, subtlety, and class associated with all aspects of the experience. This establishes a solid foundation that facilitates the recognition of restaurants within these hotels and propels them closer to the prestigious Michelin accolade.

This year’s MICHELIN Guide testament to this, featuring three restaurants within the Marriott International chain and another three from Capella Hanoi. With nearly 9,500 hotels under more than 30 leading brands in 144 countries and territories, Marriott International’s brand reputation is undisputed. Consequently, it was an honor for Marriott International to have three of its restaurants included in the prestigious guide.

These include the fine dining restaurant Akuna at Le Méridien Saigon, which was awarded a Michelin star, along with French Grill by Jean-François Nulli at JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi and Hemispheres at Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, both of which were included in the Selected list of the MICHELIN Guide this year.

As for Capella Hanoi, this luxurious hotel, located in the heart of Hanoi, recently received the Forbes Travel Guide 5-star rating for 2025. Notably, three of its restaurants were recognized by the MICHELIN Guide: Hibana by Koki retained its Michelin star, while Izakaya by Koki and Backstage were included in the Michelin Selected list.

Hotel Decor and Its Impact on Diners’ Emotions

La Maison 1888 is another exceptional case, having been honored with a Michelin star for two consecutive years. Notably, this restaurant is located within the InterContinental Danang, which also hosted the MICHELIN Guide 2025 event.

In 2024, a Michelin inspector visited La Maison 1888 for a meal and was immediately captivated by the surroundings of the InterContinental Danang: “When I arrived at the resort’s main lobby, I had to check in with the restaurant staff. They directed me to a waiting area. From there, I looked down the slope and was utterly astonished by the view before me. It resembled a roller coaster track disappearing into the mist. An unexpected sight, it heightened the anticipation for the dinner even further.”

Additionally, the fine dining restaurant Akuna impressed with its distinctive decor. With its artistic space at Le Méridien Saigon, featuring over 1,100 Murano glass lamps suspended like a golden stream at sunset, diners are treated to a multi-sensory experience that delights both their visual and culinary senses.

It is evident that hotels with impressive decor can easily evoke emotions in diners before they even begin their meal. This reinforces the notion that in the world of haute cuisine, the experience transcends mere “good food” and becomes a journey that awakens all the senses, including sight, hearing, and emotions.

Investing in the ambiance is not merely an aesthetic choice but a strategic move to craft an emotional backdrop, making the dining experience more memorable and likely to resonate with diners’ hearts. This is yet another reason why restaurants within large hotels often find themselves on the Michelin list.

Foreign Guests as Natural Influencers

The Michelin Guide caters not only to locals but also to a global community of discerning diners. Restaurants within upscale hotels often demonstrate a keen understanding of international culinary preferences, offering bilingual menus, a professional service team, fine dining-standard wine selections, and a welcoming atmosphere for foreign guests. These factors contribute to a consistent and impressive experience, earning them recognition from Michelin.

A striking example of this influence is Capella Hanoi, which gained prominence as the accommodation choice for the global sensation Blackpink during their 2023 performance in Vietnam. Firstly, the fact that an international group chose to stay at the hotel garnered public interest. Additionally, when the group’s members shared their dining experience at Backstage and even finished their bowls of pho, it sparked a massive wave of online searches and buzz across social media and travel platforms.

Backstage, a restaurant that primarily served hotel guests, quickly gained widespread recognition as a “must-try” destination for fans and international travelers. This publicity led to a surge in online searches and the convenience of dining within the hotel for guests. Similarly, international travelers tend to opt for in-house restaurants when they don’t venture out for meals, potentially creating a natural media buzz as they share their delightful experiences in Vietnam with their international network.

It is, therefore, understandable why restaurants within upscale hotels often find themselves on the Michelin radar. From the ambiance to the service and the overall experience, these establishments offer a well-rounded and easily accessible package for a diverse range of international diners, making them stand out and earn their place in the esteemed Michelin Guide.