Florida chefs whose restaurants won star ratings celebrate during the Michelin Guide restaurants star ratings reveal at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, in Orlando on June 9, 2022. [Photo by Ivy Ceballo/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire]
The Michelin Guide is expanding in Florida, adding restaurants in greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches and St. Pete-Clearwater this year to its coverage of Miami, Orlando and Tampa. The guide will go statewide in 2026.
The Michelin Guide’s anonymous inspectors are on the ground in the new regions, evaluating restaurants, making reservations and seeking out exceptional culinary experiences. Their assessments ensure that only the most outstanding establishments earn recognition. Michelin will unveil the full selection of restaurants during a Florida ceremony later in 2025.
Just this month, 14 new South Florida restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide.
“Florida continues to raise the bar with its emerging culinary talent, international influences and the palpable passion of its local restaurant communities,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guides. “Over the past three years, we’ve seen the Florida selection grow and strengthen as our inspectors shined a spotlight on their discoveries. We look forward to exploring these new destinations and highlighting the excellence of their local restaurant scene.”
The Michelin Guide monitors the growth and transformation of culinary scenes worldwide. Its selection process is carried out by anonymous inspectors and is entirely independent. State tourism agency Visit Florida pays for Michelin to send the inspectors and collaborates on marketing and promotional efforts, but the partnership does not influence the restaurant selection process.
“The Michelin Guide’s expansion into three additional Florida destinations in 2025 and statewide in 2026 further cements the state as a premier culinary destination for both locals and visitors,” Visit Florida President and CEO Dana Young said. “Florida’s rich and diverse culinary scene has long been a cornerstone of the vacation experience, and we are thrilled that more talented chefs and exceptional restaurants across the state will now receive the recognition they deserve.”
The restaurant selection in Florida will adhere to Michelin’s rigorous methodology, ensuring equity across all destinations. Five criteria guide the inspectors:
• Quality of products — sourcing and using exceptional ingredients.
• Harmony of flavors — skillfully balancing and interplaying tastes and textures.
• Mastery of cooking techniques — demonstrating precision and expertise in culinary execution.
• Chef’s personality — reflecting the unique voice and vision of the chef in the cuisine.
• Consistency — Maintaining high standards across multiple visits and throughout the entire menu.
This time-honored approach, initially designed by the Michelin tire company to assist French motorists, has become a global standard for discerning diners.
