عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Michelin Guide 2021 to Launch Ratings of Russian Restaurants

The Michelin guide book at a restaurant in Washington, DC, its first edition for the US capital. Photo: AFP
The Michelin guide book at a restaurant in Washington, DC, its first edition for the US capital. Photo: AFP
    Moscow, London – Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
TT

Michelin Guide 2021 to Launch Ratings of Russian Restaurants

The Michelin guide book at a restaurant in Washington, DC, its first edition for the US capital. Photo: AFP
The Michelin guide book at a restaurant in Washington, DC, its first edition for the US capital. Photo: AFP

France's prestigious Michelin Guide 2021 will launch its first ratings of a collection of selected restaurants that saw a remarkable evolution in recent years in Moscow, according to AFP.

The famous "red guide" announced in a statement "it will launch its first ratings of Moscow restaurants in 2021." Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides, who visited the Russian capital on Monday, said: "This mysterious and timeless capital city is a culinary gem that showcases not only local Russian products, but also the wonderful diversity of world cuisine."

"The Russian culinary scene has seen some new trends emerge over the past 30 years, embodied by talented chefs who are devoted to highlighting the quality of local products such as Vladivostok king crab, Borodinsky bread, halibut from Murmansk, and smetana, in addition to the two popular soups rassolnik and borscht," the Michelin press release wrote.

"Gastronomy in Moscow has become a point of attraction for tourists in recent years. A variety of formats, cuisines, and styles can be found here today in the Russian capital, and Moscow's restaurants rank among the best in the major world listings," said Sergey Sobyanin, mayor of Moscow.

The guide said that Moscow would be its latest destination after recently expanding to Beijing, Slovenia, and California.

"Gout Mieux," another prominent restaurant guide launched a Russian version in 2018. Its first rating was topped by Chef Vladimir Mukhin's White Rabbit restaurant, which ranked 13th among the top 50 restaurants around the world in 2019. The Gout Mieux guide rights were bought by Russian investors in 2019.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Saudi Arabia, Syria Underline Depth of their Cultural Ties

Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)
Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia, Syria Underline Depth of their Cultural Ties

Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)
Syrian President al-Sharaa receives the Saudi minister of culture and the accompanying delegation at the Conference Palace in Damascus on Thursday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Syria underlined the strength of their cultural relationship during high-level meetings held in Damascus on Thursday, on the sidelines of the opening of the Damascus International Book Fair 2026, where the Kingdom is participating as guest of honor.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa received Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan at the Conference Palace in the capital.

Earlier the same day, Prince Badr met with his Syrian counterpart, Minister of Culture Mohammad Yassin Saleh, during an official visit to attend the fair. T

he Saudi minister congratulated Syria on hosting the exhibition and expressed his wishes for continued prosperity, progress, and stability for the Syrian government and people.

Both meetings highlighted the depth of cultural relations between the two countries, the importance of expanding joint cultural cooperation across various fields, and the alignment of positions on issues of mutual interest in a way that serves both nations.

The Saudi delegation included senior officials and advisers, among them representatives from the Royal Court, the Ministry of Culture, and the King Abdulaziz Public Library, reflecting broad institutional engagement in the visit.

In the evening, Prince Badr attended the opening ceremony of the fair’s special session, held under the patronage and in the presence of al-Sharaa. The event drew wide official and cultural participation, including Arab ministers, political and intellectual figures, and a distinguished group of writers and cultural figures.

In a post on the X platform, Prince Badr thanked “our brothers in Syria for their generous hospitality and their efforts in organizing the Damascus International Book Fair.”

The minister also inaugurated the Kingdom’s pavilion at the fair in the presence of the Syrian minister of culture and the Qatari minister of culture.

Saudi Arabia’s guest-of-honor participation continues until Feb. 16 and reflects its growing prominence and leadership in the Arab and global cultural landscape.

This participation aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which places culture at the heart of national development, viewing it as a space for dialogue, a bridge for civilizational communication, and a tool for strengthening ties among Arab peoples.

The Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is leading the Kingdom’s participation, highlighting the development of the cultural sector and reaffirming the central role of books as carriers of knowledge and awareness.

The Saudi pavilion boasts a comprehensive cultural program featuring intellectual seminars, poetry evenings, a manuscript exhibition, traditional Saudi fashion displays, hospitality corners, archaeological replicas, and performing arts that express the depth of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

On the sidelines of the visit, Prince Badr, accompanied by Minister Saleh, toured the National Museum of Damascus, which houses rare artifacts spanning prehistoric eras, ancient Syrian civilizations, classical and Islamic periods, as well as traditional and modern art.

Culture

UNESCO Honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as Thousands Flock to Al-Ahsa Festival

Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA
Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA
TT
TT

UNESCO Honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as Thousands Flock to Al-Ahsa Festival

Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA
Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige - SPA

The third edition of Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival is drawing thousands of regional and international visitors to Ibrahim Palace in historic Al-Hofuf.

Organized by the Heritage Commission, this year’s festival celebrates the inscription of the Bisht on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The event showcases Al-Ahsa’s centuries-old tradition of hand-weaving and gold embroidery, a craft passed down through generations of local families, SPA reported.

Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige.

With UNESCO's participation and representatives from six countries, the festival has evolved into a global platform for cultural dialogue, cementing the Bisht’s status as a world-class cultural treasure.

Culture

Saudi, Syrian Culture Ministers Tour National Museum of Damascus

The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA
The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA
TT
TT

Saudi, Syrian Culture Ministers Tour National Museum of Damascus

The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA
The ministers observed the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art. SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his Syrian counterpart, Mohammed Yassin Saleh, have toured the National Museum of Damascus during the Kingdom’s participation as guest of honor at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair.

The ministers observed on Thursday the museum’s extensive collections spanning prehistoric eras to modern art.

A particular focus was placed on the Arab-Islamic wing, featuring significant artifacts from the Umayyad period.

The Kingdom's participation as guest of honor at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair, which runs until February 16, stems from the role culture plays within Saudi Vision 2030.