Emelina earns Palm Beach County Michelin star

Emelina is now the only restaurant in Palm Beach County with a Michelin star, according to Michelin’s 2026 Florida guide and local reporting published Aug. 5. The restaurant is a 16-seat tasting-menu counter in West Palm Beach’s Flamingo Park neighborhood. (michelinmedia.com) Michelin announced the 2026 Florida selection on May 28, when Emelina was named one of two new one-star additions in the state. ### When did Emelina get the star? Michelin announced the 2026 Florida guide on May 28 and said Emelina in West Palm Beach joined the selection with one Michelin star. (wptv.com) Michelin said the 2026 edition was the first time its Florida guide covered the entire state rather than selected metro areas. (guide.michelin.com) WFLX’s Aug. 5 report, republished by WPTV, said Emelina was Palm Beach County’s only starred restaurant in the 2026 guide. The same report said 10 Palm Beach County restaurants received Michelin honors overall. ### What kind of restaurant is Emelina? (michelinmedia.com) Emelina operates as a small-format tasting-menu restaurant with counter dining, according to Michelin’s restaurant listing. Michelin’s page identifies it as a one-star restaurant in West Palm Beach and lists counter dining among its features. Local coverage described Emelina as a 16-seat restaurant in Flamingo Park. (michelinmedia.com) Boca Magazine reported that the restaurant opened in February 2026 and serves a 10-course tasting menu at its chef’s counter. ### Who is behind the restaurant? (wptv.com) Boca Magazine identified chef Osmel González as the founder of Emelina and said he previously worked at Michelin-starred EntreNos in Miami Shores. A June 9 press release said González and Camila Salazar are husband-and-wife chefs behind the restaurant. The June 9 release said Emelina became the first Cuban restaurant in North America to earn a Michelin star. (guide.michelin.com) That claim came from the restaurant’s own announcement and was echoed in later trade coverage. ### How broad was Palm Beach County’s Michelin showing? (wptv.com) Palm Beach County had 10 Michelin-recognized restaurants in the 2026 guide, according to WFLX and local tourism coverage. Discover The Palm Beaches held a plaque presentation on Aug. 3 for chefs and teams from the county’s 10 Michelin-recognized restaurants. (bocamag.com) Michelin’s statewide Florida announcement said the full 2026 selection totaled 200 eateries across 41 cuisine types. In that statewide list, Emelina was one of two new one-star restaurants added for 2026. ### Where does this leave diners looking for the official listing? (prnewswire.com) Michelin’s official guide page for Emelina lists the restaurant as “One Star: High quality cooking” in West Palm Beach. The listing is the current reference point for the 2026 designation. Palm Beach County tourism officials have already turned the guide results into local promotion. Their Aug. 3 plaque event gathered the 10 recognized restaurants, while Michelin’s official Florida guide continues to host Emelina’s 2026 listing online. (wptv.com) (thewhetpalette.com) (guide.michelin.com) (michelinmedia.com)