Florida is officially the newest state to receive a Michelin Guide in the United States. Late last week, the Michelin Guide revealed its inaugural restaurant picks for the state in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. It’s one of just a handful of areas in the US to receive the honor, and joins the four other US destinations to have a Michelin guide: New York, Illinois, DC, and California.
Photo: Elcielo Miami
The 15 Top-Rated Restaurants on Florida’s First Michelin Guide
According to a press release, 15 restaurants received stars. Fourteen received one star, while one restaurant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Miami, earned two stars. The guide praised the French restaurant’s “thrilling bites,” and specifically mentioned the seared sea scallop with toasted spices as a stand out dish.
The one star picks include a “highly stylized Korean steakhouse” at Cote Miami, “Colombian cuisine presented in a modern and dramatic manner” at Elcielo, and “cooking that sends guests on a gustatory trip” at Los Félix.
“This is a huge deal and honor not only for our restaurant group, but the city of Miami, as Michelin typically only reviews dining rooms in cities like Paris, New York, and Singapore, which are renowned for their refined culinary scene; but now Miami is finally getting recognized as an important food scene as the city continues to flourish with international tourists and residents alike,” Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos Valencia of Elcielo said in a statement. “I think South Florida’s burgeoning culinary movement with visionary chefs and restaurateurs alike, is a true reflection of the elevated direction this city is going in from tech to finance, designer retail shops, restaurants and more. We are no longer considered just a place to party, but being taken more seriously as a desirable destination to live, work, dine, and play.”
The guide also included 29 Bib Gourmand awards, which are a step down from a Michelin star but are still very much worth checking out. Bib Gourmand restaurants are usually less expensive than their Michelin-starred counterparts, and are also more accessible in terms of reservations.
“As you can see, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa have very much to offer to international food and wine enthusiasts,” Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides, said in a statement. “These talented chefs and their committed teams create culinary experiences matched only by the amazing attractions of each city.”
The total number of officially recognized Michelin Guide restaurants is 118, across 35 different types of cuisine, including Korean, Colombian, and Japanese food – leaving absolutely no shortage of upscale, inventive, and exciting dining options throughout the state for travelers and locals alike.
Michelin star restaurants in Florida
- L’Atelier de JoËl Robuchon Miami
- Ariete in Miami
- Boia De in Miami
- Cote Miami
- The Den at Sushi Azabu Miami
- Elcielo Miami
- Hiden in Miami
- Le Jardinier Miami
- Los Felix in Miami
- Stubborn Seed in Miami Beach
- The Surf Club Restaurant in Surfside
- Capa in Orlando
- Soseki in Orlando
- Kadence in Orlando
- Knife & Spoon in Orlando
