Chicago’s fine dining beacon Alinea has lost a Michelin star — and the restaurant announced it before the official guide is even out.
Grant Achatz shared in an Instagram post that Alinea has been demoted to two stars in the 2025 Michelin Guide, which will announce this year’s Chicago winners at a ceremony in Philadelphia on Tuesday, November 18.
“We were disappointed to learn of our @michelinguide demotion to two stars. For 20 years, Alinea has been devoted to pushing creativity, rigor, and the pursuit of perfection in our craft. That commitment remains as unwavering today as it was on day one, and will continue until the back door of 1723 locks for the last time,” the post reads.
In a statement that followed, the Michelin Guide confirmed the news, adding that the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia and New York’s Masa also received similar downgrades.
“Ahead of this year’s Northeast Cities ceremony, the Michelin Guide has announced Alinea, the Inn at Little Washington, and Masa will receive two Michelin stars in the 2025 selection. The chefs and teams at these restaurants have been informed ahead of the ceremony.”
Alinea has long been a symbol of three-star Michelin excellence, holding that status every year since the guide’s Chicago debut in 2011, and remains one of the city’s most iconic restaurants. The change marks a dramatic shift for the local fine dining landscape. The announcement is also a rare moment of preemptive disclosure from a restaurant, though Michelin star news seems to be escaping like air from a leaky tire in 2025: In early November, winners of the Michelin Guide South were revealed hours ahead of the awards ceremony in Greenville, South Carolina, sending the industry and reporters scrambling and leaving some wondering if certain attendees would even show up to the event.
This leaves Smyth as Chicago’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant, and all eyes in the culinary world will be watching to see if any others join its ranks when the full list is released next week.
Update: November 12, 2025, 4:53 p.m.: Michelin has issued a statement confirming the news. The story has been updated to include those details.
