Michelin hits São Paulo

Michelin has awarded three stars to two São Paulo restaurants, making Brazil the first country in Latin America with top-ranked tables in the guide. (guide.michelin.com) The two restaurants are Evvai, led by chef Luiz Filipe Souza, and Tuju, led by chef Ivan Ralston. Michelin announced the ratings on April 13 at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro during the launch of the Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo 2026 guide. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin uses three stars for restaurants it says are “worth a special journey,” its highest restaurant distinction. Until this 2026 edition, no restaurant in Brazil or elsewhere in Latin America had reached that level in the guide. (guide.michelin.com) The 2026 Brazil selection covers Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the only two Brazilian cities Michelin currently rates in the country. Michelin said the new edition also added one new one-star restaurant, Rio’s Madame Olympe, and kept five two-star restaurants on the list. (guide.michelin.com) Evvai’s menu mixes Italian technique with Brazilian ingredients, a style Souza calls “Oriundi,” a reference to Italians who emigrated to Brazil and their descendants. Michelin’s inspectors said the restaurant pairs “Brazilian identity” with São Paulo’s Italian heritage. (guide.michelin.com) Tuju reopened in a new format in 2023 with a multi-floor tasting-menu experience centered on Brazilian produce and a research-driven kitchen. Michelin said the restaurant now offers a “360-degree culinary adventure” built around seasonality, design and service. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin returned to Brazil in 2024 after a four-year pause, restoring annual guides for Rio and São Paulo after the pandemic-era suspension. The 2026 results extend that relaunch from recognition into the guide’s top tier. (guide.michelin.com)