Latin America gets 3‑stars
For the first time, two São Paulo restaurants have been awarded three Michelin stars — a landmark for Latin America, with reports noting tasting menus around €250. (elespanol.com).
Two São Paulo restaurants, Evvai and Tuju, have become the first in Latin America to win three Michelin stars. (michelin.com) Michelin announced the awards in its 2026 Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo guide after a ceremony on April 13 at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro. The guide said 149 establishments were selected this year, with 12 new additions. (guide.michelin.com) Evvai is led by chef Luiz Filipe Souza, and Tuju is led by chef Ivan Ralston. Both restaurants were previously at two stars and moved up to Michelin’s top tier in the 2026 edition. (uol.com.br) Michelin uses three stars for what it calls “exceptional cuisine,” above two stars for “excellent cooking” and one star for “high-quality cooking.” In Brazil’s 2026 guide, three restaurants kept two stars: D.O.M., Lasai and Oro. (exame.com) The awards put Brazil, not Mexico City, Lima or Buenos Aires, at the top end of Michelin’s Latin American map. Michelin said this is the first time any restaurant in the region has reached three stars. (michelin.com) The result also reflects Michelin’s narrow footprint in South America. The company’s Brazil guide covers only Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, so the rating system still leaves much of the region’s restaurant scene outside formal Michelin judging. (guide.michelin.com) At Evvai, the menu is built around “Oriundi,” Souza’s Italian-Brazilian tasting format. Michelin’s inspectors said the restaurant ties São Paulo’s Italian heritage to Brazilian ingredients and now lists it as a three-star restaurant in the 2026 guide. (guide.michelin.com) At Tuju, Michelin’s inspectors described a three-floor meal designed as a “progressive journey,” with a seasonal menu shaped by rainfall cycles and local sourcing. Tuju’s reservation page lists a 10-course tasting menu at R$1,500 before drinks and service. (guide.michelin.com) (exploretock.com) Brazil’s new top tier does not make these meals cheap. Globo’s food site reported Evvai’s 13-course tasting menu at R$1,150 and Tuju’s 10-course menu at R$1,500, putting both around the price point cited in European coverage once converted to euros. (receitas.globo.com) The rest of the 2026 guide filled out below them. Rio restaurant Madame Olympe won one star, bringing the one-star total to 19, while Michelin added six new Bib Gourmand picks for lower-priced dining. (michelin.com)
