Michelin Guide Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo 2026: The Definitive List — Page 2

Tuju holds a Michelin two-star rating and a World's 50 Best #70 ranking; and booking difficulty matches that pedigree. Chef Ivan Ralston Bielawski's seasonal creative menu and one of South America's most serious wine programs (910 selections, Star Wine List #1 2026) make this the strongest argument for a special-occasion dinner in São Paulo. Reserve months ahead.

Tordesilhas is one of São Paulo's strongest value cases for serious Brazilian regional cooking; Michelin Bib Gourmand two years running and ranked #49 in South America by OAD, at a $ price point that makes it accessible without compromising on credibility. Weekend lunch is the format to book. Chef Mara Salas keeps the focus on Brazilian ingredients and technique, making this a key stop for anyone building a regional-cooking itinerary through the city.

Bicol Korean Cuisine in São Paulo's Liberdade neighbourhood holds two consecutive Michelin Plate awards (2024 and 2025) and; all at a accessible $$ price point. It is the strongest case for Korean dining in the city, easy to book, genuinely worth the visit for first-timers and returning guests alike.

Mocotó is one of São Paulo's strongest value propositions in serious dining: Michelin Bib Gourmand, ranked #17 on the 2025 OAD South America list, priced at a single dollar sign. Chef Rodrigo Oliveira's Brazilian Northeastern cooking in Vila Medeiros rewards a visit at any time, but Saturday or Sunday lunch is the optimal version. Booking is easy relative to the city's tighter-door restaurants.

Jacó is the practical Pinheiros pick for contemporary cooking with a Michelin Bib Gourmand value signal. Book it for a date, small celebration, or repeat São Paulo dinner when you want a composed meal without moving into a higher-spend room like Sal Gastronomia.

Kotori holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2024 and 2025; two consecutive years; and charges $$ for it. That makes it one of the clearest value plays in São Paulo's Japanese dining scene. The yōshoku and grilled skewer format sets it apart from straight sushi counters; for pure sushi precision at a higher price, Jun Sakamoto is the alternative. For everything else, book Kotori.

Chez Claude is Rio de Janeiro's clearest case for Michelin-recognised Modern French cooking at the $$$ price tier; two consecutive Michelin Plate awards (2024 and 2025) and confirm consistent execution. In Leblon, it sits between the neighbourhood bistros and the city's $$$$-tier tasting rooms, making it the practical pick for a special occasion dinner that needs to be genuinely good without demanding a full progression menu.

A Michelin Plate seafood restaurant (2024 and 2025) in Vila Madalena, São Paulo's most food-aware residential neighbourhood. At $$$, it sits in a practical middle tier; more considered than casual, less expensive than the city's tasting-menu circuit. Book one to two weeks out for weekends.

A Michelin Plate grill specialist in Itaim Bibi with back-to-back recognition in 2024 and 2025, a 4.6 rating from nearly 1,000 reviews, a wine program worth engaging seriously. At the $$$ tier, El Tranvia outperforms most competitors in this category on consistency. Book a week ahead for weekends; mid-week is easier to secure.

De Segunda has earned back-to-back Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) while staying firmly in the $$ price tier; a combination that makes it one of the cleaner value cases in São Paulo's mid-range Brazilian dining scene.

Più Higienópolis holds back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand awards (2024 and 2025), making it the strongest Italian option in São Paulo's $$ tier. The mall location inside Shopping Pátio Higienópolis undersells what's inside: Chef Marcelo Laskani runs a kitchen that punches well above its price point. Easy to book, worth a return visit if your first was too cautious.

A Michelin Plate seafood restaurant in Leblon; recognised in both 2024 and 2025; at a $$ price point that makes it one of Rio's better-value credentialled dinners. Chef Gerônimo Athuel's kitchen. Book here when you want quality-backed seafood without the tasting-menu commitment of Rio's $$$$ fine dining rooms.

Amadeus is a Michelin Plate-recognised seafood restaurant in São Paulo's Cerqueira César, awarded consecutively in 2024 and 2025. Book one to two weeks out for weekend seats.

Aya Japanese Cuisine holds back-to-back Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) and in Pinheiros, São Paulo's most competitive dining neighbourhood. At the $$$ tier, it delivers Michelin-recognised Japanese cooking without the commitment of a full omakase price tag. Book ahead for weekends; this is a regular's restaurant with a local following that fills the room.

Fame Osteria holds a Michelin star for the second consecutive year under chef Marco Renzetti, making it the most tightly focused Italian-contemporary table in São Paulo at the $$$$ tier. With a hard-to-book room on Oscar Freire, this is a considered commitment; and one that rewards returning guests who know the format.

A Michelin Plate-recognised Italian enoteca in Pinheiros, Vinheria Percussi delivers consistent, wine-led cooking at an accessible $$ price point. With back-to-back Michelin recognition in 2024 and 2025, it is the right call when you want a serious Italian meal in São Paulo without the $$$$-tier spend.

Kinoshita holds back-to-back Michelin stars (2024 and 2025) and; the most consistent signal in São Paulo for serious Japanese fine dining at the $$$$ tier. Booking is hard and the price is high, but for a counter-seat Japanese meal in Brazil, there is no stronger confirmed option. Reserve weeks in advance.

Shin Zushi is São Paulo's most credentialled Japanese restaurant at the $$$$ tier, holding a Michelin Plate (2025), La Liste recognition, a 4.5 rating across more than 1,200 reviews. Chef Edson Yamashita's seasonal, precision-led menu in an intimate Paraíso room is the right call when Japanese cooking is your priority. Book three to five weeks ahead; this is a hard reservation.

Oseille is Rio de Janeiro's tightest reservation and, since earning a Michelin star in 2025, arguably its most technically focused tasting menu. Chef Thomas Troisgros runs a 16-seat counter in Ipanema where French technique meets Brazilian ingredients; the format suits couples and solo diners over groups. Book four to six weeks out, minimum.

Nosso holds consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) and sits at the $$ price tier in Ipanema; making it one of the most credentialed and accessible contemporary restaurants in Rio. with from over 1,300 diners and easy booking, it's the right call when Oteque or Lasai feel like too much commitment for the evening.

Ecully holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2024 and 2025, making it one of the most reliably validated mid-price international tables in São Paulo. Chef Philippe Girardon runs the kitchen in Pompeia at $$ pricing. Booking is easy, the value case is clear, it works particularly well for a date or low-key celebration.

Metzi earns consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) by taking both Mexican technique and Brazilian ingredients seriously rather than trading on novelty. At $$$, it is the most creative option in its price tier in Pinheiros and one of the better choices for a date or small celebration. Former Cosme chefs Eduardo Ortiz and Luana Sabino keep the kitchen consistent; a 4.1 rating across 481 reviews backs that up.

Two Michelin stars, a World's 50 Best ranking, just 10 seats at an L-shaped chef's counter: Lasai is Rio de Janeiro's hardest reservation and its most compelling fine dining argument. The 15-course vegetable-forward tasting menu, served Tuesday through Saturday evenings, is best suited to diners who want full immersion over ambient elegance. Book months ahead.

TARAZ earns its Michelin Plate (2025) with South American cooking anchored by an open grill and Felipe Bronze's menu signature, inside the Rosewood São Paulo. At $$$, it sits in a competitive tier alongside Maní and above A Casa do Porco, delivers most value when you book the terrace for dinner. A strong return-visit restaurant with genuine range to work through.

A 2025 Michelin Plate recipient inside Bela Vista's historic Maternidade Filomena Matarazzo building, Blaise pairs classical French technique with Brazilian ingredients under chef Fernando Bouzan. The room; volcanic stone, timber panelling, amber lighting; is one of the most distinctive in São Paulo. At $$$$, it earns its price for diners who want French rigour with local produce; those seeking modern Brazilian creativity should look elsewhere.

Cantaloup holds back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition (2024 and 2025) and; strong signals for a reliable $$$-tier international restaurant in Itaim Bibi. The room suits special occasions and business dinners equally well. Book ahead for weekends; this is not a walk-in venue at its price point.