Michelin Adds Philippines

Michelin’s first Philippines guide is now in circulation, putting Manila, nearby dining hubs and Cebu into the company’s 2026 restaurant map. (michelin.com) Michelin unveiled the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2026 on October 30, 2025, at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Newport World Resorts. The debut selection covered 108 establishments: one two-star restaurant, eight one-star restaurants, 25 Bib Gourmand picks and 74 Michelin Selected addresses. (michelin.com) The Philippine Embassy in Singapore said on April 22, 2026 that a pocket guidebook for the 2026 Manila & Environs and Cebu edition had launched during Filipino Food Month, known locally as Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino. The embassy called the release “a major milestone” for the country’s culinary sector. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) Michelin’s Philippines entry is new. The company announced in 2025 that inspectors would begin covering Metro Manila, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Cavite and Cebu for the first edition. (guide.michelin.com) That geography explains the “Manila and Environs” label: the guide is not limited to the capital, but stretches into nearby food destinations that already draw domestic and foreign diners. Michelin said the selection aimed to reflect “the country’s rich and evolving gastronomic landscape.” (philippine-embassy.org.sg) At the top of the list, Helm in Makati received two Michelin stars. Eight restaurants won one star, including Toyo Eatery, Metiz, Gallery by Chele, Hapag, Labuyo Native Restaurant, Il Primo, Anzani and Atelier Crenn at NUSTAR. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin also gave Gallery by Chele a Green Star for sustainability, and handed out three special awards for young chef, service and exceptional cocktails. Bib Gourmand status, Michelin’s category for strong cooking at more moderate prices, went to 25 restaurants. (michelin.com) For Filipino restaurants, the guide brings a global rating system that has long shaped travel itineraries and fine-dining reputations in cities such as Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo. Michelin’s expansion into the Philippines adds Manila and Cebu to that same regional circuit. (guide.michelin.com) The pocket guide’s release does not create a new set of awards; it extends the reach of the 2026 selection first announced in October. The next test for Philippine restaurants is whether Michelin returns with a second edition and how many of the inaugural winners hold their place. (michelin.com)