Palm Beach County’s dining scene just earned its most prestigious nod yet.
The Michelin Guide has unveiled its first-ever statewide Florida selections, and among the county’s culinary standouts, one restaurant rose above the rest: Emelina in West Palm Beach.
Opened just four months ago by Chef Osmel González, Emelina captured a coveted Michelin Star, making it the only Palm Beach County restaurant to earn the honor this year. The intimate 16-seat chef’s counter offers a 10-course tasting experience that reimagines Cuban cuisine through a modern South Florida lens.
For Michelin’s anonymous inspectors, the restaurant’s appeal lies in its ability to elevate familiar flavors into something entirely new. Dishes such as poached Sebastian oysters with yucca foam, Redland cherry tomatoes with Cuban oregano chimichurri, and dry-aged Florida beef with green mango mojo showcase both technical precision and a deep connection to local ingredients.
The recognition is particularly notable because Michelin stars are rarely awarded to restaurants centered on Cuban cuisine.
Palm Beach County also welcomed a new Michelin Recommended restaurant: Ela Curry & Cocktails in West Palm Beach, led by acclaimed chef Pushkar Marathe.
In total, 10 Palm Beach County restaurants earned recognition from Michelin this year:
One Michelin Star
• Emelina (West Palm Beach)
Bib Gourmand
• Aioli (West Palm Beach)
• Palm Beach Meats (West Palm Beach)
Recommended
• Būccan (Palm Beach)
• The Butcher’s Club (Palm Beach Gardens)
• Coolinary and The Parched Pig (Palm Beach Gardens)
• Ela Curry & Cocktails (West Palm Beach)
• Moody Tongue Sushi (West Palm Beach)
• Nicholson Muir (Boynton Beach)
• Stage Kitchen & Bar (West Palm Beach)
“What began just a few years ago has grown into something truly remarkable,” Michelin Guide International Director Gwendal Poullennec said, praising Florida’s rapidly evolving culinary landscape.
For Palm Beach County diners, the message is clear: some of Florida’s most exciting meals are no longer found exclusively in Miami. Increasingly, they’re being served right here at home.
