Brazil’s Michelin Milestone

Latin America has its first three-star Michelin restaurants after the 2026 guide awarded the top rating to Evvai and Tuju in São Paulo. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin announced the results on April 13 at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, where the Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026 guide was unveiled. The same ceremony also added one star for Madame Olympe in Rio. (guide.michelin.com) (g1.globo.com) Evvai is led by chef Luiz Filipe Souza, and Tuju is led by chef Ivan Ralston. Michelin said both restaurants became the first in São Paulo, Brazil, and Latin America to reach three stars. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) Michelin stars are the guide’s ranking for restaurant cooking, with three stars reserved for places inspectors consider worth a special journey. Until this edition, the Brazil guide had recognized local restaurants with one and two stars, but not three. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) The 2026 list kept three Brazilian restaurants at two stars: D.O.M. in São Paulo, plus Lasai and Oro in Rio de Janeiro. G1 reported that no restaurant in Rio or São Paulo lost stars in this cycle. (g1.globo.com) (exame.com) Madame Olympe’s new star brought the 2026 one-star total to 19 restaurants, according to Michelin coverage of the selection. Michelin’s restaurant listing identifies the Rio restaurant as a French creative kitchen in Leblon. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) Brazilian coverage treated the awards as a marker for the country’s fine-dining scene because Michelin’s Latin America footprint remains narrow: this guide covers only Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Michelin announced in January that Rio would host the 2026 ceremony in partnership with City Hall. (gq.globo.com) (guide.michelin.com) For now, the headline is concentrated in São Paulo: two restaurants, two chefs, and the first three-star ratings Michelin has ever awarded anywhere in Latin America. (guide.michelin.com)