Michelin recommends Jacksonville, Northeast Florida

Michelin expanded its Florida coverage statewide for 2026 and, for the first time, added Jacksonville and other Northeast Florida restaurants to the guide, according to Michelin’s May 28 Florida ceremony announcement and local reports. The move brought the region into Michelin’s formal Florida footprint after earlier editions focused on Greater Miami, Orlando and Tampa, with Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches and St. (guide.michelin.com) Pete-Clearwater added in 2025. Michelin’s website now lists Jacksonville restaurants in the guide, though no Northeast Florida restaurant received a star in this cycle. (actionnewsjax.com) The initial Northeast Florida class totaled eight restaurants across Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, Amelia Island and St. Augustine, according to Action News Jax and Jacksonville Today. (guide.michelin.com) Two St. Augustine restaurants, Bar Citra and Sunday, received Bib Gourmand recognition, which Michelin describes as an award for high-quality food at good value. ### Which Northeast Florida restaurants were added? Action News Jax listed eight Northeast Florida restaurants included in the 2026 guide: Salt on Amelia Island; Eggboy in Atlantic Beach; Rue Saint-Marc and The Bearded Pig in Jacksonville; and Bar Citra, Sunday, Lotus Noodle Bar and Asado Life in St. Augustine. Jacksonville Today separately reported the same regional rollout and identified the Jacksonville additions as Rue St. Marc and The Bearded Pig in San Marco. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin’s Jacksonville page currently shows two restaurants in the city: Rue Saint Marc, listed as French, and The Bearded Pig, listed as American. The page does not show a Jacksonville star or Bib Gourmand designation in the material available today. (actionnewsjax.com) ### Did Michelin award any stars in Jacksonville or Northeast Florida? Michelin did not award a star to any Northeast Florida restaurant in the 2026 Florida selection, according to Jacksonville Today’s report on the regional additions. Michelin’s statewide 2026 roundup said Florida had 26 starred restaurants overall, with the newcomers to the starred selection located elsewhere in the state. Action News Jax reported that locally selected restaurants that did not receive stars were still deemed by Michelin inspectors to provide a dining experience that “fully merit” inclusion in the guide. (actionnewsjax.com) The station also cited Michelin as saying guide selection can put a restaurant on inspectors’ radar for future promotion to Bib Gourmand or star status. (guide.michelin.com) ### Why is this the first time the region is included? Michelin said in its Florida 2026 ceremony notice that the guide “will cover the entire state” in 2026. The company said the Florida guide originally covered Greater Miami, Orlando and Tampa, then expanded in 2025 to Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches and St. Pete-Clearwater before going statewide this year. (jaxtoday.org) Jacksonville Today reported that all of Florida’s starred restaurants had previously been in Central or South Florida because those were the markets Michelin had focused on before the 2026 expansion. The statewide move opened the door for Jacksonville and the broader Northeast Florida region to enter the guide for the first time. (actionnewsjax.com) ### What did local restaurants say about making the guide? Eggboy owner Nick Presti told Jacksonville Today, “Mayport is on the map!” after the restaurant was added. Chef Raymond Johnston told the outlet the recognition was “huge” and said the staff were emotional when they learned the restaurant had made the guide. Scott Alters, owner and chef of Rue Saint-Marc, told Jacksonville Today that the addition was good not only for his restaurant but also for Jacksonville. (guide.michelin.com) His comments came as Michelin’s site began carrying Jacksonville listings alongside the broader 2026 Florida selection. ### What comes next for Northeast Florida in the guide? Michelin’s May 28 ceremony marked the formal release of the 2026 Florida selections, including stars, Bib Gourmands and recommended restaurants statewide. (jaxtoday.org) Michelin said restaurants already in the guide can be promoted in subsequent years, and Jacksonville’s current listings on Michelin’s site provide the starting point for that next round of consideration. (guide.michelin.com)