MICHELIN selects 12 New Mexico restaurants

MICHELIN added 12 New Mexico restaurants to its inaugural 2026 Southwest guide at an Aug. 26 ceremony at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, extending the guide’s U.S. footprint beyond its usual large-city markets. The new Southwest edition covers Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, and MICHELIN said the full selection totals 64 restaurants across 24 cuisine types. (michelinmedia.com) New Mexico did not receive a starred restaurant in the first edition, but restaurants in Santa Fe and Albuquerque appeared in Bib Gourmand and Recommended categories. (krqe.com) For New Mexico, the result is less about stars than about entry into the guide itself. KOB reported that 10 Santa Fe restaurants and two Albuquerque restaurants were recognized, with Frontier and Campo at Los Poblanos the two Albuquerque honorees. (theadventuristmagazine.com) KRQE and KOB both reported that four New Mexico restaurants received Bib Gourmand recognition, while the rest were listed as Recommended. ### Which New Mexico restaurants made the guide? KOB and KRQE listed 12 New Mexico restaurants in the inaugural Southwest selection. The Bib Gourmand group included Frontier in Albuquerque and Santa Fe’s Paper Dosa, La Choza, Jambo Café and Tia Sophia’s, according to KRQE’s list; KOB’s report also identified Frontier, Paper Dosa, La Choza, Jambo Café and Tia Sophia’s among the state’s honorees. (michelinmedia.com) Because both local reports say New Mexico had 12 total restaurants and describe four Bib Gourmands, the category counts appear to be four Bib Gourmands and eight Recommended restaurants, though KRQE’s item lists five New Mexico names under the Bib Gourmand section. (kob.com) KOB’s list of Santa Fe honorees also included Restaurant Martin, Market Steer, Joseph’s Culinary Pub, Paloma, Arroyo Vino and Izanami, alongside the Bib Gourmand recipients. Campo at Los Poblanos rounded out the state’s selections from Albuquerque. ### Why was Las Vegas central to this rollout? MICHELIN announced in May that Las Vegas would host the first Southwest ceremony on the evening of Aug. 26 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The company later said the guide’s “return to Las Vegas” helped frame the launch of the new regional edition. The same ceremony also produced the region’s only stars. (krqe.com) MICHELIN said Restaurant de Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand received two stars, while é by José Andrés, Guy Savoy Las Vegas, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Las Vegas and Monte in South Salt Lake each received one star. (kob.com) ### Did any New Mexico restaurants get other MICHELIN recognition? KRQE reported that Campo at Los Poblanos was tied to additional MICHELIN recognition beyond the restaurant list. The station said Joseph Simonson of Campo received the MICHELIN Exceptional Cocktails Award, while chef Christopher Bethoney was highlighted through MICHELIN’s “Mindful Voices” editorial platform. (michelinmedia.com) KRQE also said Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm received two MICHELIN Keys in the hotels category. KOB quoted Los Poblanos Executive Director Matthew Rembe welcoming MICHELIN’s regional approach. “I really love that Michelin is now rating different regions around the U.S., so it’s not just the big cities anymore,” Rembe said. (michelin.com) He also said New Mexico should be “nationally recognized, internationally recognized for what makes our cuisine unique.” ### What does the first Southwest guide include beyond New Mexico? MICHELIN said the inaugural Southwest selection spans 64 restaurants across four states and 24 cuisine types. The company’s press release said the selection included starred restaurants, Bib Gourmands, Recommended restaurants and four special awards. (krqe.com) The next geographic expansion already has a date. Reporting on MICHELIN’s international rollout said South Australia’s first selection is scheduled to be revealed on Oct. 14, 2026, in Adelaide. (theadventuristmagazine.com) (michelin.com) (kob.com)