Michelin Enters Philippines

Michelin has formally entered the Philippines with a 2026 guide covering Manila and nearby provinces, plus Cebu. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin announced in 2024 that its first Philippine selection would focus on Metro Manila, Cebu, and Manila’s surrounding areas, including Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite. The inaugural 2026 selection was then unveiled on October 30, 2025, at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Newport World Resorts. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) The Philippine Embassy in Singapore said this week that a Manila & Environs and Cebu pocket guidebook had been launched alongside the digital guide. The embassy tied the launch to Filipino Food Month and said the book was aimed at travelers and food enthusiasts visiting the country’s main dining destinations. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) The first Philippine guide gave the country one two-star restaurant and eight one-star restaurants, according to Michelin’s official 2026 selection. Michelin also published Bib Gourmand and Selected lists, extending recognition beyond fine dining. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) That put the Philippines into Michelin’s small group of covered markets, where the company sends anonymous inspectors and publishes city or regional editions rather than trying to rate every food destination at once. Michelin said its inspectors were already exploring the Philippines before the debut, using the same criteria it applies elsewhere. (guide.michelin.com) (travel.yahoo.com) Michelin’s 2026 expansion in the United States shows how selective that rollout remains. The company said on April 8, 2026 that a new American Great Lakes edition would cover Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh starting in 2027. (travel.yahoo.com 1) (travel.yahoo.com 2) Cincinnati was left out of that Great Lakes list, and local officials there told Yahoo Travel they were trying to persuade Michelin to reconsider. The contrast underlines how inclusion depends on Michelin’s own market choices, not just on a city’s restaurant reputation. (travel.yahoo.com) For the Philippines, the immediate result is narrower but concrete: Michelin now has a dedicated Philippines section on its site, with listings for Metro Manila and the national restaurant selection. The red guide’s arrival gives Manila, Cebu, Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite a place inside Michelin’s global map of destinations it actively reviews. (guide.michelin.com) (guide.michelin.com)