Two São Paulo restaurants hit 3 stars
Michelin awarded three stars to Evvai and Tuju in São Paulo — the first time restaurants in Latin America have reached Michelin’s top three‑star rank (portaltela.com) (elle.com.br). The reports name chefs Luiz Filipe Souza and Ivan Ralston, and note Brazil’s total starred roster now sits at 24 restaurants across one‑ and two‑star listings (portaltela.com) (estadao.com.br).
Michelin gave three stars to Evvai and Tuju in São Paulo on April 13, the first time any restaurant in Latin America has reached the guide’s top rank. (guide.michelin.com) The awards were announced at the 2026 Michelin Guide Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo ceremony at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro. Michelin named Luiz Filipe Souza of Evvai and Ivan Ralston of Tuju as the chefs behind the two newly promoted restaurants. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin’s three-star label means a restaurant is judged worth a special journey, the guide’s highest tier above one star and two stars. Until this 2026 edition, Brazil had restaurants with one and two stars, but none with three. (guide.michelin.com) The 2026 Brazil selection now has 24 starred restaurants across Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo: 2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 19 with one star. Michelin said D.O.M., Lasai and Oro kept their two-star status, while Madame Olympe in Rio won its first star. (michelin.com) That reshapes the top of Michelin’s map in the region. Michelin said the 2026 edition marked the first time the guide awarded three stars anywhere in Latin America, after years of limiting its Brazil coverage to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) Evvai’s Michelin listing now describes it as a three-star restaurant in São Paulo, and Michelin’s inspectors said the kitchen blends the city’s Italian heritage with Brazilian ingredients and references. Michelin identified Souza’s menu as “Oriundi,” a term tied to Italian diaspora roots. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) Tuju’s Michelin listing also now shows three stars, and Michelin’s inspectors said Ivan Ralston built the meal as a progressive experience across different spaces in the restaurant. The guide said the cooking draws on Brazilian produce and a research-heavy approach to seasonality. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) Brazil’s Michelin guide still covers only Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, not the whole country. Michelin said the 2026 ceremony was held in partnership with Rio’s City Hall and presented as the Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo edition, not a national guide. (guide.michelin.com) (michelin.com) For São Paulo, the result is simple: two dining rooms in one city now hold Michelin’s highest grade, and Latin America’s first three-star milestone belongs to Brazil. (guide.michelin.com)
