Miami has been added to the Michelin list of the most exciting food destinations on the planet. The sunny South Florida city is already home to 64 Michelin restaurants, with six recent additions. The diverse culinary scene in Miami has earned the city its place on the coveted list, alongside more surprising factors, such as Miami serving as the inspirational location behind Rockstar’s forthcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 video game.
The Announcement from the Michelin Guide
In January 2025, the Michelin Guide announced a list of the most exciting food destinations in the world, with Miami making its debut in the listing of U.S.-based destinations, as reported by Time Out. As a city, Miami boasts many established culinary traditions. Its addition to the listing should grant it further draw for traveling foodies.
Miami has maintained a strong track record of Michelin-awarded restaurants. As of 2025, Miami boasts 64 Michelin restaurants, including 17 best-value picks.
The multicultural appeal of Miami’s food offerings was heralded by Michelin editors in the guide released on the Michelin website. The statement reads, “Whether you’re at a food truck, beachfront café, or fine dining restaurant like the One-Star Colombian-rooted Elcielo or Stubborn Seed, which mixes Latin American and Asian influences, Miami’s multicultural food scene celebrates evolving culinary traditions, blending diverse ingredients and cooking styles.”
The Michelin Restaurant Offerings of Miami
Today, the Michelin website features a variety of Miami restaurants. One standout restaurant is Tam Tam, located just down the road from the HistoryMiami Museum. Run by the husband team Tam Pham and Harrison Ramhofer, the Vietnamese restaurant began as a downtown supper club. Today, it serves appealing dishes such as wings marinated in fish sauce caramel and smoked lamb with lettuce wraps and banh hoi noodles.
Miami’s array of Michelin restaurant offerings also features laid-back and budget-friendly dining options. One listed example is Zak the Baker, a bakery that operates all day in Wynwood.
Although the founder, Zak Stern, is a Miami native, he apprenticed at a number of organic farms in Sweden, France, and Israel, showcasing the global nature of Miami’s eats. The kosher bakery produces a variety of sandwiches and pastries, such as the flourless dark chocolate cookie with whole toasted almonds.
The Reasons for Miami’s Michelin Recognition
When including Miami in the listing of the planet’s most exciting eating destinations, the Michelin Guide cited two key reasons, one of which might come as a surprise to some culinary enthusiasts.
The diversity of Miami’s restaurants was the primary factor. Restaurants such as Tam Tam and Zak the Baker highlight the international influences on Miami’s culinary scene. As a metropolitan hub and vacation destination, travelers and chefs from across the world have come to Miami to make their homes and build their restaurant dreams.
The Michelin Guide’s second cited factor is less conventional: the release of the long-anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). Rockstar, the game’s publisher, announced the next installment in the popular franchise at the tail-end of 2023, according to Tech Radar. Along with the announcement was a reveal that Miami would serve as the inspiration for the game’s location.
The Anticipated Influence of GTA 6
Video games may not be the first thing on the minds of diners, but the Michelin Guide maintains that excitement over the game, which is scheduled to be released this year, will give the Magic City a whole new appeal.A statement by the Michelin editors reads, “While our focus is on food rather than video games, the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in the fall, slated to be the entertainment sector’s biggest launch of all time, surpassing any Hollywood production, will take place in the state of Florida, including Miami, a city renowned for its fusion of Latin American, Caribbean, and Southern flavors.”
