The MICHELIN Guide Debuts In Boston

In a landmark moment for the city’s culinary evolution, Boston has officially joined the ranks of global gastronomic destinations recognized by the prestigious MICHELIN Guide. Announced on May 12, the city will now be featured in the newly established MICHELIN Guide Northeast Cities edition—alongside culinary capitals such as New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and the latest addition, Philadelphia.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Meet Boston

This major recognition is the result of a multi-year campaign led by Meet Boston in partnership with the Cambridge Office for Tourism. Together, they set out to showcase the city’s dynamic and diverse food scene—one that spans all 23 Boston neighborhoods, as well as Cambridge, Somerville, and beyond. The campaign highlights community-driven cuisine, with a deep appreciation for Boston’s renowned farm-to-table and sea-to-table traditions. The MICHELIN Guide’s anonymous inspectors are already in the field, making reservations and scouting for culinary gems across Greater Boston. The full list of MICHELIN-starred selections will be unveiled later this year during the official MICHELIN Guide Northeast Cities Ceremony.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Meet Boston

The MICHELIN Guide remains one of the most respected authorities in global gastronomy with inspectors evaluating restaurants based on five key criteria: quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, the chef’s personality expressed through the cuisine, and consistency over time and across dishes.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Meet Boston

At the helm of this transformative moment is Martha J. Sheridan, President & CEO of Meet Boston, whose leadership and vision helped usher the city onto the global gastronomic stage. Haute Living sat down with Sheridan to discuss the impact of the MICHELIN Guide’s arrival, what it means for Boston’s culinary creators, and what’s next for the region as a rising food destination.

Haute Living: What does the MICHELIN Guide’s arrival in Boston represent for the city’s culinary reputation on the global stage?

Martha Sheridan: The Guide is poised to shine a spotlight on our region as an essential culinary destination. It is recognized around the world, across all cultures and languages. We know that culinary tourism exists and is growing as a critical segment: there are travelers who will plan trips specifically to visit MICHELIN-starred restaurants – rather than building out an itinerary around a destination first and then selecting places to dine. This is also excellent timing because Greater Boston will be on the global stage next year with multiple large-scale events: America250 celebrations, Sail Boston 2026, and of course, FIFA World Cup 2026. As visitors plan their travel for these iconic happenings, they’ll have an added resource for planning the most exceptional dining while they’re here.

HL: How long has this recognition been in the works, and what role did Meet Boston play in bringing MICHELIN here?

MS: The MICHELIN Guide first engaged with us nearly two years ago as they identified Boston as a potential new market. Ultimately, it came to life because of the culinary talent here and the restaurant teams who embody exceptional culinary innovation. Meet Boston, together with the Cambridge Office for Tourism, developed a partnership with the MICHELIN Guide to support our broader tourism efforts and to highlight the vibrant culinary scene in not only Boston, but also Cambridge, Somerville and beyond. 

HL: In your view, why is now the right time for MICHELIN to recognize Boston?

MS: This follows Meet Boston’s own culinary initiative that launched in 2024: a multi-channel culinary campaign intended to elevate Boston as an enticinggastronomical destination for travelers, both domestically and from around the globe. The campaign showcasedvibrant, community-driven cuisine across all 23 Boston neighborhoods, plus the cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and beyond. The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide in Boston is a culmination of these efforts—along with our strengthened collaboration with the Cambridge Office for Tourism to help showcase Cambridge’s culinary 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Meet BostonHL: How would you describe the evolution of Boston’s culinary landscape over the past decade?

MS: The MICHELIN Guide’s entrance into our market illustrates that our restaurant scene has evolved significantly over the past decade and certainly over the past generation. We’ve always had incredible farm-to-table and season-to-table offerings, but we now have an expanded and diverse portfolio, both in Boston, nearby cities, and of course across the river in Cambridge. There is no cuisine that is not represented here – French, Latin, Japanese, Indian, Greek, Ethiopian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, and more. We’ve also embraced legendary concepts that may be newer to our market, or have been enhanced here in recent years, like omakase, high-end food halls, speakeasies, and more.

HL: What makes Boston’s dining scene distinct from other MICHELIN cities like New York or D.C.?

MS: Boston is a big city that sometimes has the feeling of a small town, so our dining scene reflects that sense of culinary community. All our chefs want the city to succeed and prosper, and they often collaborate to do so. We also have 23 neighborhoods – while there may be so many more than that in New York and D.C., ours all have an incredibly distinct feeling, flavor and culture, and the cuisine in each really reflects that. And as mentioned, this Guide also represents Cambridge and Somerville; our dining scene extends to these amazing neighboring cities that are not to be missed.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Meet Boston

HL: How do Boston’s diverse neighborhoods and immigrant communities influence the food scene?

MS: Boston is home to a global diaspora of communities and cultures.  The diversity of our 23 neighborhoods, alongside Cambridge and Somerville, have a major influence on our food scene. We hope that some of the smaller gems in our neighborhoods could be perfect considerations for Bib Gourmand or Recommended listings in the Guide. We have flourishing communities from every continent and corner of the globe who have all contributed to our culinary landscape at all levels – from comfort food takeout to fine dining. Many of our most well-known chefs also dine at immigrant-owned small businesses when they’re not at their own restaurants and find inspiration from those dishes.

HL: What kind of economic or tourism impact are you expecting following the Guide’s inclusion?

MS: We absolutely expect to see an impact with more visitors who also spend more here.

According to an independent Ernst & Young study, 76% of frequent travelers consider The MICHELIN Guide to be the most trustworthy reference for restaurant recommendations and 2/3 of them say they would choose a MICHELIN Guide destination over a comparable one. These travelers also tend to stay longer – 57% would extend their stay if there’s a MICHELIN selection at the destination. They also plan to spend an additional $45 or more per person per meal to get a MICHELIN Guide restaurant experience. We will likely also do our own future impact studies once the restaurants have been selected.

Photo Credit: Meet Boston

HL: How might MICHELIN recognition help elevate local chefs, restaurants, and hospitality businesses?

MS: MICHELIN is not only a trusted resource, but it’s also an amazing marketing and promotional platform for local businesses – which is exactly why we wanted to bring it here. Young chefs and growing businesses can aspire to this to get to the next level.

HL: What are you personally most excited for once the first Boston selections are revealed?

MS: Like many of our locals and visitors alike, I’m excited to try new restaurants and dining concepts! Although I have of course tried so many of our fantastic spots, there are still some that remain on my list… there are only so many days in the week! So, I am sure that I will discover something new once the selections are announced. We won’t know until everyone else does!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Meet Boston

HL: What message do you have for travelers considering Boston as a food destination for the first time?

MS: Don’t sleep on us. Of course, we have so much to offer – our cultural attractions, plethora of historical sites, live entertainment, sports and more… but our dining is not only a complement to that – it stands on its own. At Meet Boston we always recommend to travelers to not only enjoy everything in Boston proper, but also take time to explore the diverse neighborhoods, as well as to jet over to Cambridge and Somerville. You won’t want to miss it. It will really complete your trip. We have plenty of resources about our area on our website to help round out a full itinerary, including restaurant choices.

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