Michelin lands in Philippines

Michelin has published its first Philippines guide, covering Manila and nearby dining hubs as well as Cebu in the 2026 edition. (michelin.com) The inaugural selection was unveiled on October 30, 2025, at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Newport World Resorts, according to Michelin. The company said the 2026 guide includes 108 establishments: 1 restaurant with two Michelin stars, 8 with one star, 25 Bib Gourmand picks, and 74 Michelin Selected addresses. (michelin.com) Michelin’s own list says the guide spans Manila and its environs plus Cebu, with 90 restaurants in Manila and surrounding areas and 18 in Cebu. Michelin also added 1 Green Star for sustainability and 3 special awards covering young chef, service, and cocktails. (guide.michelin.com) The Michelin Guide is a restaurant rating system that uses anonymous inspectors and awards stars for cooking, while Bib Gourmand highlights places Michelin considers good value. Michelin said its inspectors evaluated restaurants in Metro Manila cities including Makati, Manila, Pasay, Quezon City, Taguig, and San Juan, along with Pampanga, Tagaytay, Cavite, and Cebu. (guide.michelin.com) (spot.ph) The launch gives the Philippines a place on Michelin’s Asia map alongside guide-covered cities such as Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur. Michelin said the new edition was meant to spotlight the country’s “vibrant gastronomic identity” and regional range. (guide.michelin.com) (michelin.com) The Philippine Embassy in Singapore marked the rollout this week with a pocket guidebook launch and called the Michelin debut a “major milestone” for Philippine gastronomy. The embassy tied the event to Filipino Food Month and said the guide supports tourism promotion and cultural diplomacy. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) The starred list gave the country 9 Michelin-starred restaurants in its first year, with one earning two stars and eight earning one star. Michelin’s published selection page and follow-up coverage both frame that as the Philippines’ first formal entry into the guide. (guide.michelin.com) (asiafoodjournal.com) For diners, the guide is now both digital and physical: Michelin and the Philippine Embassy said an accompanying pocket guidebook is meant for travelers and food-focused visitors moving through key destinations in Manila and Cebu. The practical effect is that restaurants once known mainly through local reputation now sit inside Michelin’s global booking and discovery system. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) (guide.michelin.com)