Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Chef & Hotel Profile

Two Latin American restaurants earn multiple Michelin stars making Sao Paulo the place to be for exquisite French cuisine

The Michelin Guide Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo 2026 produced star recognition for two exquisite French restaurants Evvai and TUJU, located in Sao Paulo. Brazil’s signature plates are now represented in ultra-high gastronimique with three Michelin stars making Brazil a world-renowned center of fabulous dining.

Evvai and Tuju, both located in São Paulo, in April became the first establishments in Latin America to be awarded three Michelin stars. Celebrated at the launch ceremony of the guide’s ninth Brazilian edition, the historic double achievement is a significant moment for the country’s gastronomy, with both restaurants recognized for reaching the very highest level of culinary excellence. Three Michelin stars represent the guide’s most prestigious distinction, awarded to fewer than 160 restaurants worldwide. Past recipients have included chefs Paul Bocuse, Michel Guérard and Alain Ducasse.

Evvai is led by chef Luiz Filipe Souza, who has been developing its culinary identity for nearly a decade around the concept of Oriundi, which draws on the history of Italian immigration to Brazil, combining classical technique with regional ingredients. The restaurant received its first Michelin star in 2018. The following year, Souza represented Brazil in the Bocuse d’Or final, after which he returned to the restaurant with a sharpened focus on his gastronomic vision. His restaurant was awarded its second Michelin star in 2024, and in the same year, individual members of the team began receiving wider recognition: pastry chef Bianca Mirabili was named Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef in 2025 by Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, while sommelier Marcelo Fonseca received the Michelin Sommelier Award. Evvai has also featured in international rankings, reaching number 20 on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2025, number 95 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and being listed in the world’s top ten by La Liste.

Meanwhile, Tuju is helmed by chef Ivan Ralston and is notable for housing Brazil’s first and only in-house research institute. Its menu is built around a seasonal approach guided by natural cycles rather than fixed calendar dates, with phases titled Humidity, Rain, Wind and Drought. The selection evolves according to when ingredients reach their peak, with overlapping dishes and components reflecting transitional periods between seasons. The restaurant is currently ranked at number eight on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 and holds a Michelin Green Star in recognition of its commitment to sustainable practices.

There were also additional notable achievements at the awards, cementing Brazil’s status as a gastronomic destination. Two stars were retained by Lasai (by Rafa Costa e Silva), Oro (by Felipe Bronze) and DOM (led by Alex Atala) – the only establishment to have held two Michelin stars since the guide’s Brazilian debut in 2015. Madame Olympe, by Claude Troisgros, was awarded its first star. In total, 19 restaurants received a star in this edition.

Three years after opening, Thai restaurant Ping Yang, led by chef Maurício Santi – who has spent more than two decades researching the distinctive cuisine – made its debut with a Bib Gourmand designation, which highlights restaurants offering strong value for money. Five other establishments also received the distinction for the first time, joining a grand total of 41 Bib Gourmand restaurants in Brazil. Additional recommendations in the 2026 guide, included Taiwanese restaurant Aîô, seafood specialists Amadeus and Cais, and Mexican restaurant Metzi.

Also from DOM, Anderson Oliveira received the Exceptional Cocktail award, and Mani’s Robério de Souza Queiroz was named Sommelier of the Year. Leading Young Chef honors went to Pedro Coronha from Koral.

Souza took to the stage, accompanied by pastry chef Bianca Mirabili, and said: “This is one of the most beautiful moments in gastronomy. I never imagined we would see two restaurants awarded three stars at the same time in Brazil.”

Ivan Ralston dedicated Tuju’s third star to his team and suppliers, and particularly to Katherina Cordás, partner and director of the restaurant’s Research and Creativity Center, who said, “This award shows that Brazil can, and should, go as far as it aspires to”.

The Michelin Guide’s ninth Brazilian edition was launched on 13^th April 2026.