From chef to restaurateur, businessman, and global culinary powerhouse, Alain Ducasse has shaped and directed over 60 restaurants, consulted on countless others, managed an entire hotel chain, and launched 42 chocolate, coffee, biscuit, and ice cream boutiques. And yet, he never stops. The 18 Michelin stars currently under his belt? Not nearly enough.
Attempts to structure his career have been made, with the most comprehensive reference so far being Oscar Caballero’s Una Historia de la Nouvelle Cuisine (2021). But to truly make sense of it all, we present below a complete chronology—every restaurant he has opened (and closed), his most significant haute cuisine publications, his factories, training centres, and more.
We’ve also included a summary of every restaurant he has launched since 1981, along with their Michelin Guide distinctions.
Chronology | ||||||||||
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1956 | Alain Ducasse is born in Orthez and grows up near Castel-Sarrazin, in the Landes region of France. | |||||||||
Early Career | ||||||||||
1972 | He works at Pavillon Landais Inn in Soustons before enrolling at the hospitality school in Talence. | |||||||||
1975 | Ducasse works at Michel Guérard’s restaurant in Eugénie-les-Bains. During the quiet winter season, he undertakes internships in Gaston Lenôtre’s workshop in Paris. | |||||||||
1976 | Spends two months working for Guérard at Régines in New York during the winter. | |||||||||
1977 | A short stint at Le Moulin de Mougins under Roger Vergé. | |||||||||
1978 | Ducasse joins Alain Chapel‘s restaurant, where his talent is quickly recognised. Within two years, he rises to the position of sous-chef. | |||||||||
1980 | He spends two weeks as sous-chef in the Bell Inn at Aston Clinton, England, but dislikes the experience. Luckily, Roger Vergé soon offers him his first head chef role at his bistro in Mougins, L’Amandier. | |||||||||
1981 |
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1984 |
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1986 | Finally receives his third toque from Gault et Millau. | |||||||||
Road to Success | ||||||||||
1987 |
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1990 | Le Louis XV earns three Michelin stars, just 33 months after opening. | |||||||||
1991 | Gault et Millau grants Le Louis XV four toques and 19/20. | |||||||||
1992 | He publishes his first book, La Riviera d’Alain Ducasse: Recettes au fil du temps. | |||||||||
1994 | Steps back from managing hotel restaurants to focus entirely on Le Louis XV. | |||||||||
1995 | Opens La Bastide de Moustiers, a luxury countryside retreat with seven rooms in the heart of Provence. | |||||||||
1996 |
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1997 |
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1998 |
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1999 |
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The Great Business Expansion | ||||||||||
2000 |
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2001 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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2005 |
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2006 | L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de La Celle earns its first Michelin star. | |||||||||
2007 |
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2008 |
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2009 |
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2010 |
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2011 |
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2012 |
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2013 |
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La Naturalité | ||||||||||
2014 |
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2015 |
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2016 |
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2017 |
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2018 |
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2019 |
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2020 |
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2021 |
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2022 |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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List of Alain Ducasse’s restaurants through time
(Excluding restaurants that are bundled with hotels, such as Le Grill, Le Relais du Parc, La Terrasse du Parc, Le Relais Plaza, La Cour Jardin, and Le Dalí, as well as those linked to museums like Les Ombres or MUSIAM)
La Terrasse, Juan-les-Pins (1981-1987) – ⭐⭐ (1984-1987)
Le Louis XV, Monte Carlo (1987-Present) – ⭐⭐⭐ (two stars in 1996 and 2001-2002)
La Bastide de Moustiers (1995-Present) – ⭐ (since 2002)
Restaurant Alain Ducasse at 59 Raymond Poincaré, Paris (1996-2000) – ⭐⭐⭐
Il Cortile, Paris (1997-2005) – ⭐ (1998-2005)
Restaurant Alain Ducasse at Plaza Athénée, Paris (2000-2013, 2016-2021) – ⭐⭐⭐
Spoon, Food & Wine, Paris (1998-2011)
Spoon des Îles, Mauritius (1999-2012)
L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de La Celle (1999-Present) – ⭐ (2006-2023)
59 Poincaré, Paris (2000-2008) then named Le Relais du Parc (2008-2020)
Bar & Bœuf, Monte Carlo (1999-2010) – ⭐ (2000-2010). Then transformed into La Trattoria (2010-2017)
Bar & Bœuf, Monte Carlo (1999-2010) – ⭐ (2000-2010)
Spoon+ London (2000-2007)
Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, New York (2000-2007) – ⭐⭐⭐ (2005-2007)
L’Esprit Bistrot, Paris (2002-?)
Aux Lyonnais, Paris (2002-Present)
Spoon Byblos, Saint-Tropez (2002-2013) then Rivea Byblos (2013-2019). Finally Cucina Byblos, Saint-Tropez (2019-2024)
Auberge Iparla, Bidarray (2003-2009)
Ostapé, Bidarray (2003-2009)
miX New York (2003-2005)
Spoon, Hong Kong (2003-2017). Then transformed into Rech (2017-2020) – ⭐ (2017-2020)
Spoon des Neiges, Gstaad (2003-2007)
Le Tamaris, Beirut (2004-2006)
Spoon Carthage, Tunisia (2004-2006)
La Andana, Tuscany (2004-2016) – ⭐ (2007-2016, as Trattoria Toscana)
miX Las Vegas (2004-2015) – ⭐ (2007-2009). Transformed into Rivea Las Vegas (2015-Present)
Beige, Tokyo (2004-Present) – ⭐⭐ (2016-2024). ⭐ (2025).
Benoît, Paris (2005-Present) – ⭐ (since 2005)
Benoît, Tokyo (2005-Present) – ⭐ (2016-2020)
Domaine des Andéols, Luberon (2005-2010)
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London (2007-Present) – ⭐⭐⭐ (since 2010)
Adour, New York (2008-2012) – ⭐⭐ (2009), ⭐ (2010-2012)
Adour, Washington D.C. (2008-2013)
Benoît, New York (2008-Present)
Le Jules Verne, Eiffel Tower, Paris (2007-2018) – ⭐ (2009-2018)
La Trattoria Sporting Monte-Carlo (2010-2017)
miX on the Beach, Puerto Rico (2010-2013)
IDAM, Doha (2012-Present) – ⭐ (since 2025)
Le Meurice – Alain Ducasse, Paris (2013-Present) – ⭐⭐⭐ (2014-2016), ⭐⭐ (2016-Present)
Rivea Byblos, Saint-Tropez (2013-2019)
Allard, Paris (2013-Present)
Rivea London (2014-2018)
Rivea Las Vegas (2015-Present)
Ore, Versailles (2016-Present)
Champeaux, Paris (2016-2024)
Rech, Hong Kong (2017-2020) – ⭐ (2017-2020)
Spoon, Paris (2017-2024)
Bistrot Benoît, Louvre, Paris (2018-Present)
Alain Ducasse at Morpheus, Macau (2018-Present) – ⭐⭐ (since 2018)
Voyages by Alain Ducasse, Macau (2018-Present)
Bar & Billiard Room, Singapore (2018-2023)
Cucina Mutualité, Paris (2018-Present)
Ducasse-sur-Seine, Paris (2018-Present)
Bib & Guss, Paris (2018-2022)
miX Dubai (2018-2021)
ÔMER, Monte Carlo (2019-2022)
Adjugé, Paris (2019-2021)
Esterre, Tokyo (2019-Present) – ⭐ (since 2020)
Jiwan, Doha (2019-Present)
Blue by Alain Ducasse, Bangkok (2019-Present) – ⭐ (since 2020)
Muni Alain Ducasse, Kyoto (2020-Present) – ⭐ (since 2021)
Muni La Terrasse, Kyoto (2020-Present) – ⭐ (2021-2023)
Adour, Meudon (2020-Present)
Le Grand Contrôle, Versailles (2021-Present) – ⭐ (since 2022)
Sapid, Paris (2021-Present)
ADMO, Paris (Nov 2021 – March 2022)
Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse at ROMEO Napoli (2024-Present)
Alain Ducasse Baccarat, Paris (2024-Present)
Midi Minuit, Paris (2024-Present)