During the reveal of the new Michelin Guide Portugal 2026, ten restaurants throughout the country received their first Michelin star, while one got promoted to two stars. This brings the total in Portugal to 53 Michelin-starred restaurants. “Portuguese gastronomy is undergoing a remarkable transformation, rapidly ascending to new heights of excellence.”
While Portugal has always been a great destination for those who like to get a taste of authentic cuisine, over the last few years, the country has been transforming into a sought-after fine-dining hotspot.
This was once again proven during the yearly Michelin award show in Funchal, where no less than ten new restaurants were added to the Portuguese selection. Portugal now boasts 44 1-starred restaurants. According to the organisation, “Portuguese gastronomy is undergoing a remarkable transformation, rapidly ascending to new heights of excellence.”
Ten new 1-starred restaurants
- Alameda (Rui Sequeira, Faro)
- A Cozinha do Paço (Afonso Dantas, Évora)
- MAPA (David Jesus, Montemor-o-Novo)
- Kappo (Tiago Penão, Cascais)
- Largo do Paço (Francisco Quintas, Amarante)
- dop (Rui Paula/ Sandro Teixeira, Porto)
- Éon (Tiago Bonito, Porto)
- Gastro by Elemento (Ricardo Dias Ferreira, Porto)
- In Diferente (Angélica Salvador, Porto)
- Schistó (Vítor Matos/Vítor Gomes, Peso da Régua)
“This progress is driven by a deep respect for local ingredients, celebrated for their authenticity and seasonality; a culinary identity that is becoming increasingly defined; and a generation of chefs committed to innovation while honouring Portugal’s rich culinary traditions. While many renowned establishments have upheld their standards and retained their Stars, the newly awarded restaurants deserve special recognition for their contributions to shaping the current gastronomic landscape”, Michelin writes.
Other awards
Moreover, restaurant Fifty Seconds in Lisbon, masterfully directed by chef Rui Silvestre, managed to secure a second star, bringing the total within the category to nine. The name was derived from the number of seconds it takes to reach the restaurant situated at the top of the Vasco da Gama Tower by elevator.
Next, two new restaurants were awarded with a Bib Gourmand distinction, highlighting their good value for money: Mesa15 (Petr Kiss, Leiria) and Taberna Sakra (Hugo China Ferreira, Alverca do Ribatejo). 1-starred newcomer A Cozinha do Paço also received a green star for its efforts in sustainability.
Finally, Francisco Quintas from Largo do Paço in Amarante won the Young Chef award, while the service-honouring Room award went to Adácio Ribeiro from Vila Foz in Porto. Carlos Monteiro from Casa de Chá da Boa Nova in Leça da Palmeira received the Sommelier Award, and last but not least, the JNcQUOI Table restaurant by Filipe Carvalho in Lisbon was designated as the Opening of the Year, a first for Portugal.
