Apple brings expert ratings to Maps with MICHELIN Guide integration

Apple has launched a significant update to its Maps application, integrating expert ratings and insights from respected industry sources. The enhancement, announced 1 day ago, allows users to view and search for establishments with prestigious MICHELIN Guide distinctions directly within the Apple Maps interface.

The integration marks a strategic shift for Apple as it positions Maps as a more comprehensive discovery platform beyond basic navigation. With this update, users can now easily identify restaurants and hotels that have received notable accolades, providing valuable context when deciding where to dine or stay.

The new feature introduces MICHELIN-starred, Green Star, and Bib Gourmand restaurant designations—along with MICHELIN Key hotel rankings—to the Maps user interface. Apple confirmed that additional international regions will gain these features in the future, though specific timelines weren't disclosed.

The company also revealed that rankings and insights from The Infatuation and Golf Digest will soon be added to the platform, with more expert sources planned for subsequent updates. This expansion represents a strategic pivot toward becoming a more comprehensive discovery tool that competes more directly with specialized services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Maps.

"MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest are leading industry experts that consumers rely on for finding the best restaurants, hotels, and golf courses, and we're excited to bring their valuable insights and accolades to our users in Apple Maps," said David Dorn, Apple's senior director of Internet Software and Services Product.

What is the MICHELIN Guide?

The MICHELIN Guide, established in 1900 by the French tire company Michelin, began as a resource to encourage car travel and subsequently increase tire sales. Today, it stands as one of the world's most prestigious culinary rating systems, awarding up to three stars to restaurants of exceptional quality. According to the MICHELIN Guide's criteria, one star indicates "a very good restaurant in its category," two stars represent "excellent cooking, worth a detour," and the coveted three stars recognize "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."

Beyond the star system, MICHELIN also awards Green Stars to restaurants committed to sustainable gastronomy and Bib Gourmand designations to establishments offering "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." In 2024, the guide expanded to include "MICHELIN Key" awards for hotels, evaluating properties based on architecture, service quality, character, value, and contribution to their surroundings.

The guide's reputation for rigorous, anonymous inspections has established it as a globally respected authority in fine dining, with expansion into 40 countries and regions as of 2024.

The company also revealed that rankings and insights from The Infatuation and Golf Digest will soon be added to the platform, with more expert sources planned for subsequent updates. This expansion represents a strategic pivot toward becoming a more comprehensive discovery tool that competes more directly with specialized services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Maps.

What is The Infatuation?

The Infatuation, founded in 2009 by former music industry executives Chris Stang and Andrew Steinthal, has emerged as an influential voice in restaurant recommendations through its conversational reviews, city guides, and distinctive social media presence. According to The Infatuation's operational model, their reviewers visit restaurants anonymously and do not accept free meals, prioritizing authenticity and reader trust.

The company gained wider recognition for creating the popular #EEEEEATS hashtag, which has accumulated over 10 million tags on Instagram, cultivating a dedicated food community. In 2018, The Infatuation acquired the venerable Zagat restaurant guide from Google, maintaining both as separate brands with distinct approaches to food criticism. The Infatuation was itself acquired by JPMorgan Chase in September 2021, signaling its strategic value in the lifestyle and dining recommendation space.

Known for its approachable tone and decisive verdicts, The Infatuation has expanded to cover multiple American cities and operates specialized content channels focused on specific food categories.

"MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest are leading industry experts that consumers rely on for finding the best restaurants, hotels, and golf courses, and we're excited to bring their valuable insights and accolades to our users in Apple Maps," said David Dorn, Apple's senior director of Internet Software and Services Product.

What is Golf Digest?

Golf Digest, established in 1950, has evolved into one of the most influential publications in the golfing world, with a monthly circulation exceeding 1.65 million readers as of 2024. According to its publishing history, the magazine was founded by John F. Barnett in Chicago, changed ownership several times, and is currently owned by Warner Bros. Discovery through its TNT Sports unit.

The publication is primarily known for its authoritative biennial rankings of golf courses, including the prestigious "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses" list, which has been produced since 1965. Golf Digest's evaluation system employs a panel of several hundred golf experts who assess courses based on carefully developed criteria. Beyond course rankings, the magazine offers instruction, equipment reviews, and coverage of both men's and women's competitive golf.

In May 2019, Discovery, Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery) acquired Golf Digest from Condé Nast to integrate it with their GolfTV platform, creating a comprehensive golf content ecosystem. The publication's course rankings have significant influence within the golf industry, affecting everything from greens fees to real estate values surrounding highly-ranked facilities.

Enhanced user interface and direct booking capabilities

The update significantly enhances the Maps interface by displaying expert distinctions, descriptions, and images on place cards for relevant establishments. This contextual information appears alongside traditional details like hours, contact information, and user reviews.

In addition to improved discovery features, Apple has implemented direct booking functionality for select hotels, allowing users to make reservations without leaving the app. Future updates will expand this capability to include restaurant reservations through MICHELIN and golf tee times through Supreme Golf.

Greater accessibility to expert recommendations

For the culinary world, this integration represents a substantial step toward democratizing access to expert restaurant recommendations that were traditionally confined to specialized guides and publications.

Gwendal Poullennec, MICHELIN Guide's international director, emphasized the significance of the partnership: "By bringing MICHELIN Guide's restaurant and hotel distinctions into the Apple Maps app, we are providing travelers and food enthusiasts with easy and convenient access to MICHELIN's curated recommendations and insights for their next memorable experience."

The addition of The Infatuation—known for its conversational and approachable restaurant reviews—will likely appeal to a broader demographic when it rolls out in the coming months.

"Apple and The Infatuation share a commitment to high-quality content—and we are thrilled to soon bring our authentic, relatable, and curated restaurant recommendations to Apple Maps," noted Paul Needham, CEO of The Infatuation. "It's important for us to meet users where they are, and we know Apple Maps is a key part of their daily lives, making this integration a natural fit."

This development carries significant implications for the marketing community, particularly those in the hospitality and dining sectors. Businesses with MICHELIN distinctions now gain additional visibility through one of the most widely used navigation platforms globally. This expanded reach potentially introduces these establishments to new audiences who might not actively seek out specialized guides.

For marketing professionals, the Apple Maps integration creates a new high-value placement opportunity that connects their clients directly with consumers at the crucial moment when they're searching for dining or accommodation options. Restaurants and hotels without these prestigious designations may need to reconsider their quality and sustainability initiatives to remain competitive in this increasingly visible rating ecosystem.

The integration also represents a broader trend of consolidation in the digital discovery landscape, where traditional walled gardens between specialized content providers and general utility apps are breaking down in favor of more integrated user experiences.

From a user experience perspective, Apple has incorporated these expert ratings in a way that enhances rather than complicates the Maps interface. The implementation allows users to leverage search filters to specifically find places with particular distinctions, creating a streamlined discovery process.

For users seeking more comprehensive information, Apple has also added curated guides from MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest directly within Maps. This provides deeper content without requiring users to download additional applications or visit multiple websites.

The update reflects Apple's continuing efforts to transform Maps from a basic navigation tool into a comprehensive discovery platform. By integrating trusted third-party content rather than attempting to build its own rating system, Apple leverages established expertise while avoiding the challenges of creating a new review ecosystem from scratch.

This approach differentiates Apple from competitors like Google, which has developed its own review and recommendation systems. By partnering with respected, specialized content providers, Apple positions itself as a curator of expert opinions rather than trying to replace those experts.

While the initial rollout focuses on the United States, the planned international expansion will likely increase pressure on restaurants and hotels worldwide to pursue prestigious distinctions as they gain prominence in everyday consumer search tools.

The future integration of Golf Digest rankings similarly stands to impact how golf courses market themselves and prioritize improvements. As Meredith Bausback, Golf Digest's vice president of Marketing & Audience Development, explained: "This integration will soon empower golfers to discover and choose courses with the confidence that comes from decades of expert evaluation."

For marketing professionals, these developments underscore the growing importance of securing third-party validations from respected industry authorities, as these endorsements increasingly factor into consumers' discovery and decision-making processes across integrated digital platforms.

The Apple Maps update represents a significant evolution in how specialized expert content reaches mainstream consumers, potentially reshaping how hospitality businesses prioritize industry recognition in their broader marketing strategies.