The prestigious Michelin Guide continues its North American expansion, adding three Florida destinations to its 2025 roster. Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County, and Pinellas County (home to Clearwater and St. Petersburg) join the existing Florida selections of Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Furthering this growth, the Guide aims for a comprehensive statewide selection by 2026.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, praised Florida's burgeoning culinary scene, highlighting the talent, global influences, and enthusiasm within its restaurant communities. He expressed anticipation for exploring these new locations and showcasing their culinary excellence.

This expansion marks a significant milestone for the Michelin Guide in North America. Since its New York debut in 2005, the Guide has steadily grown, with 14 additions, particularly in the post-pandemic era. This includes San Francisco (2007), Chicago (2011), Washington, D.C. (2017), California (2019), and several regions in Florida and Canada (2022). Colorado and Atlanta joined in 2023, followed by Texas, Mexico, and Quebec in 2024.

Michelin spokesperson Carly Grieff explained the Guide's meticulous process. Before establishing a new guide, inspectors conduct a thorough assessment of the region, evaluating key culinary hotspots. This long-term approach often leads to expanded coverage within a country, region, or state, as exemplified by the Florida expansion.

This development presents an exciting opportunity for restaurants in these Florida areas to earn the highly coveted Michelin stars. These stars represent a pinnacle of culinary achievement, alongside Zagat ratings, with three stars being the highest accolade.

Michelin inspectors maintain anonymity during restaurant visits, judging based on specific criteria: ingredient quality, flavor mastery, cooking techniques, the chef's distinct style, value, and consistency. Inspectors are already actively exploring and dining in the newly added territories.

While the Michelin Guide continually seeks new expansion opportunities, Grieff stated that there are no immediate announcements regarding further North American destinations at this time.