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Michelin Guide Florida’s Expansion Set to Boost Culinary Scene

Michelin-rated restaurants in Florida come together to celebrate culinary excellence.

News Summary

The Michelin Guide Florida’s three-year contract with Visit Orlando aims to enhance Florida’s culinary reputation with annual assessments funded by $150,000. The 2025 edition, recently unveiled, added three new regions and featured 31 starred restaurants, including Sorekara in Orlando with a two-star rating. As Florida continues to invest in its dining scene, the Michelin Guide is an essential driver for tourism and economic growth.

Orlando, Florida – The Michelin Guide Florida has recently garnered renewed attention with the announcement of a three-year contract between Michelin North America and Visit Orlando. This contract, initially signed in 2021, has come under scrutiny due to a May 1, 2025, blog post by food columnist Carlos Frias, which highlighted the economic implications of the Michelin Guide’s presence in Florida.

The contract, backed by an annual funding of $150,000 from Visit Florida to the Michelin Guide for restaurant assessments, aims to bolster Florida’s reputation as a premier culinary destination. The details regarding the financial aspects of the contract and its benefits for the local economy were brought to light through Frias’ provocative commentary, which featured an image of the Michelin Man with dollar signs in his eyes.

The 2025 Michelin Guide Florida ceremony took place on April 17, 2025, at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. This year’s guide marks the expansion of the Michelin footprint to include three new locations: Greater Fort Lauderdale, the Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater, complementing existing areas such as Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.

The guide recognized a total of 31 starred restaurants across Florida, with a notable achievement where no restaurants faced downgrades from the previous year. Among the 11 newly acknowledged restaurants, Sorekara in Orlando received a prestigious two-star rating, making waves with its tasting menu that celebrates the micro-seasons of Japanese cuisine. Other newly awarded one-star restaurants include Ômo by Jônt in Orlando, Itamae Ao in Miami, and the Chef’s Counter at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale.

The Michelin Guide’s influence is markedly supported by Florida’s tourism boards, which are committed to promoting the state’s culinary scene through ongoing investments. Beyond showcasing fine dining, the Michelin Guide serves a pivotal business strategy, having been originally designed to stimulate travel and, consequently, boost tire sales for Michelin’s main operations.

The 2025 edition also highlights a variety of dining options available in Florida, with several restaurants receiving Bib Gourmand statuses, which signifies good quality food at moderate prices. Among the notable names highlighted in this category is Bánh Mì Boy, which specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, along with a diverse range of establishments offering Japanese, Chinese, and French-Vietnamese dishes.

Michelin rates its recognized restaurants based on several criteria, including the quality of ingredients, the harmony of flavors, mastery of cooking techniques, the chef’s personal touch in the dishes, and overall consistency in their offerings. This rigorous assessment process helps to ensure that diners are reliably informed when seeking out exceptional culinary experiences.

Looking ahead, there is an expectation that Michelin’s coverage across all of Florida will continue to expand, aiming for broader inclusion of restaurants in its evaluations by 2026. This anticipated growth is likely to further enhance Florida’s appeal as a go-to destination for food enthusiasts and tourists alike.

As the Michelin Guide continues to evolve, it remains an integral component of Florida’s gastronomic landscape, highlighting the state’s rich and diverse culinary offerings while indicating significant potential for economic growth through sustained tourism and dining ventures.