What’s New in the Palm Beaches
Emelina
In Palm Beach County, two restaurants have entered the Michelin fold. Emelina, the bold new fine dining concept from chefs Osmel González and Camila Salazar, received one Michelin Star. Not only is it the sole restaurant in the Palm Beaches with a Michelin Star, it’s also the first Cuban restaurant in the world to earn such an honor. But the category of “Cuban” doesn’t fully capture what transpires at Emelina. Across a multicourse tasting menu, the culinary team presents a meal inspired by the “Cuba they dare to dream,” indebted to childhood memories and classic Cuban dishes but reimagined to spotlight the chefs’ professional journeys and South Florida ingredients. The result is cuisine that is deeply personal yet instantly familiar, like an abuela’s hug.
Ela Curry & Cocktails
The other PBC addition is Ela Curry & Cocktails in Palm Beach Gardens, which is now Michelin Recommended (a designation for notable restaurants that, while not yet awarded a star, are home to talented chefs who are using quality ingredients). It is the second Michelin recommendation for chef Pushkar Marathe, whose Stage Kitchen & Bar earned the nod last year. He co-operates both concepts, as well as the fast-casual Mango Mercado, with his business partner, Andy Dugard. Ela is Marathe’s love letter to his childhood in Nagpur, India, expressed through creative regional dishes and upscale chaat (Indian street food snacks). Order the thali tasting menu to savor a little bit of everything.
What Has Stayed the Same
Florida now boasts 45 Bib Gourmand establishments—defined as offering good quality food at a moderate price—including West Palm Beach’s Aioli and Palm Beach Meats, both of which earned the designation in 2025 (michelin’s first year in the palm beaches). Also retaining Michelin Recommended status are Buccan on Palm Beach, The Butcher’s Club inside PGA National Resort, Coolinary and the Parched Pig in Palm Beach Gardens, Moody Tongue Sushi inside the Hilton West Palm Beach, Nicholson Muir in Boynton Beach, and Stage Kitchen & Bar in Palm Beach Gardens.
What Else Stands Out
For the first time, the Michelin Guide now covers the entire state, with 200 restaurants across 41 types of cuisine. Mutra in Miami—which was one of the first Floridian cities to welcome Michelin in 2022—is the only other new restaurant in the state to receive a Michelin Star this year, while Tampa’s Fat Beet Farm Kitchen and Bakery was awarded a Green Star, a signifier of its leadership in mindful gastronomy.
With the recognition now statewide, several new cities exist in the Michelin universe. Bib Gourmand standouts include St. Augustine’s Bar Citra, a coffeehouse–meets–wine bar with a robust sourdough program; Bonita Springs’ Canary Club, specializing in Middle Eastern fare and sourdough pizzas; Sarasota’s Lucky 8, where modern takes on New Orleans staples are on tap; and Key West’s Moondog Café & Bakery, serving island-tinged breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, plus a killer key lime pie.
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