The MICHELIN Guide Heads to Philadelphia

Today, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) announced a partnership with the MICHELIN Guide, ensuring Philadelphia’s restaurants and chefs will be considered for inclusion in the renowned global dining guidebook. A full press conference will be held at the Barnes Foundation on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. with Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide; Josh Shapiro, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Cherelle L. Parker, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and Gregg Caren, President & CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. Poullennec will answer questions about the MICHELIN Guide’s decision to explore Philadelphia’s culinary landscape and about the independent process for evaluation.

Photo credits: Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau

This is the first time Poullennec will be attending a U.S. destination’s MICHELIN Guide debut announcement in person. The PHLCVB is hosting him on a familiarization (FAM) trip from May 12 through May 14 and this trip will also mark the International Director’s first visit to Philadelphia. In addition to the press conference, he will explore iconic Philadelphia attractions, including the Reading Terminal Market, Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall. He will dine with media and local officials at three acclaimed women-led Philadelphia restaurants: Kalaya, Her Place Supper Club, and Casa Mexico. These visits are not necessarily part of MICHELIN’s evaluation and were planned to showcase the different cuisines, neighborhoods, and culinary styles that make up Philadelphia’s dining scene.

“In recent years, Philadelphia has become as renowned for its chef-driven food scene as it is for the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and its passionate sports fans," said Gregg Caren, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Our chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality professionals have been steadily building our city into an internationally acclaimed foodie destination. This announcement that the MICHELIN Guide will be exploring the Philadelphia region to experience our restaurants is an acknowledgement of years of hard work, collaboration, and extraordinary culinary innovation."

“Philadelphia has a really special food scene, full of incredibly talented chefs who put immense thought and care into preparing some of the most delicious meals you’ll find anywhere in the world – and I’m proud to announce that Michelin is coming to Philadelphia,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Our incredible chefs and restaurateurs – and the amazing farmers who supply so many of the foods that they put on tables all across Philadelphia – deserve this recognition and with the help of the MICHELIN guide, more people from across the country and around the world will have the opportunity to explore Philadelphia’s food scene. All eyes will be on Pennsylvania next year as our nation celebrates America’s 250th birthday – and this is one more incredible tool that visitors can use to begin to explore all that Philadelphia and our Commonwealth have to offer.”

“Philadelphia has long been a city that tells its story through food—rich in history, culture, and innovation. The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide is more than a stamp of culinary prestige; it's recognition of the extraordinary talent, diversity, and passion that define our restaurants and chefs,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “This is a moment of pride for our city and a powerful opportunity to share our food scene with the world.”

Philadelphia will be included in the newly minted MICHELIN Guide Northeast Cities edition, along with New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston and Chicago. 

“We are thrilled for Philadelphia to join the MICHELIN Guide Northeast Cities as it is a premier destination for gourmets to experience a rich diversity of cuisine and culinary history,” said Poullennec. “The local passion, talent and camaraderie in Philadelphia is evident in its restaurant community and the anonymous Inspectors look forward to spotlighting the unique experiences available here.”

The MICHELIN Guide is constantly observing the evolution of culinary destinations around the world. The Guide’s selection process is determined by anonymous Inspectors and remains completely independent. The MICHELIN Guide is working with the PHLCVB on marketing and promotional activities only. The MICHELIN Guide’s anonymous Inspectors are already in the field, making dining reservations and scouting for culinary gems throughout Philadelphia. The full 2025 restaurant selections will be revealed at a later date during the annual MICHELIN Guide Northeast Cities Ceremony.

History and methodology

The upcoming restaurant selection will follow Michelin’s historical methodology, based on five universal criteria, to ensure each destination’s selection equity: 1) quality products; 2) the harmony of flavors; 3) the mastery of cooking techniques; 4) the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; 5) consistency between each visit and throughout the menu (each restaurant is inspected several times a year).

The MICHELIN Guide remains a reliable companion for any traveler seeking a great meal. The Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage tire sales by giving practical advice to French motorists. Michelin’s Inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by Inspectors in the very beginning, now applied in destinations around the world.

Michelin announced its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York. Guides have also been added in Chicago (2011); Washington, D.C. (2017); California (San Francisco in 2007, statewide 2019); Florida (Greater Miami, Orlando and Tampa in 2022, adding Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches and St. Pete-Clearwater in 2025, statewide in 2026); Toronto (2022); Vancouver (2022); Colorado (2023); Atlanta (2023), Mexico (2024), Texas (2024), Quebec (2024), the American South (2025) and today, Boston and Philadelphia (2025).