Emelina earns Palm Beach Michelin star

Michelin’s 2026 Florida guide gave Palm Beach County 10 recognized restaurants and awarded one star to Emelina in West Palm Beach, according to Michelin’s official listings and local reports. Emelina is listed by Michelin as a one-star restaurant in the 2026 guide, and WFLX reported it was the county’s only starred restaurant this year. Michelin Media said the 2026 selection was the first to cover the entire state of Florida, expanding beyond the earlier focus on Miami, Orlando and Tampa. ### Which Palm Beach County restaurant got the star? Emelina, a 16-seat restaurant in West Palm Beach, received one Michelin star in the 2026 guide. Michelin’s restaurant page lists Emelina as a one-star destination in West Palm Beach, and WFLX said the restaurant made local history with the award. The station, citing Discover The Palm Beaches, reported that Emelina also became the first Cuban restaurant in the world to receive a Michelin star. (guide.michelin.com) WFLX reported that Palm Beach County now has 10 Michelin-honored restaurants across the star, Bib Gourmand and recommended categories. Michelin’s Florida directory separately shows the broader statewide roster of starred, Bib Gourmand and selected restaurants. ### Why is this year different for Florida diners? Michelin Media said the 2026 selection marked the first statewide Florida guide. (guide.michelin.com) The company said the full selection totals 200 eateries spanning 41 cuisine types and includes two new one-star restaurants: Emelina in West Palm Beach and Mutra in Miami. Michelin International Director Gwendal Poullennec said in the announcement that what began “just a few years ago” in Florida had grown into a broader statewide selection. (wflx.com) The statewide expansion helps explain why cities outside Florida’s original Michelin markets appeared in this year’s guide. Jacksonville outlets reported that local restaurants there received Michelin recognition for the first time. ### Which Jacksonville restaurants were recognized? Eggboy, Rue Saint Marc and The Bearded Pig were among the Jacksonville restaurants recognized in the 2026 Michelin Guide, according to News4Jax and First Coast News. (michelinmedia.com) Action News Jax reported that the three restaurants were honored during a Wednesday ceremony at Jacksonville City Hall and described them as the city’s first-ever Michelin-recognized restaurants. Mayor Donna Deegan and Visit Jacksonville presented plaques to the Jacksonville restaurants on Wednesday, The Adventurist Magazine reported. That ceremony came after Michelin’s statewide rollout added North Florida restaurants to the guide for the first time, the magazine said. ### What does Michelin’s official guide say about Emelina? (news4jax.com) Michelin’s listing describes Emelina as a one-star restaurant in West Palm Beach and identifies it as serving Cuban cuisine. The guide page also shows the restaurant in Michelin’s 2026 U.S. selection and notes its counter-dining format. Local coverage added more detail on the concept. WFLX said Emelina operates in West Palm Beach’s Flamingo Park neighborhood, while other local reporting described it as a chef’s-counter restaurant built around a tasting menu. (theadventuristmagazine.com) ### Where can readers check the full list? Michelin’s official Florida restaurant directory now carries the 2026 statewide list, including starred, Bib Gourmand and selected restaurants. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin Media’s 2026 Florida announcement also outlines the statewide totals and names the new one-star additions, while local outlets in Palm Beach County and Jacksonville have published area-by-area breakdowns. (wflx.com) Wednesday’s recognitions are already reflected in those public listings. For Palm Beach County readers, that means Emelina and the county’s other Michelin-honored restaurants can be checked in Michelin’s Florida guide, and Jacksonville readers can find Eggboy, Rue Saint Marc and The Bearded Pig in local coverage of the city’s first Michelin recognition. (guide.michelin.com)