To ensure its inspectors can highlight a wide range of culinary offerings, MICHELIN has expanded its reach well beyond the traditional white linen dining experience their guides have touted for more than a century. This is particularly important for Minneapolis which has culinary experiences from Indigenous excellence to Midwestern seasonality and from French-infused American to Somali, Hmong, Latino, Southeast Asian cuisine and more. This diversity is propelled by deep cultural pride and purpose. MICHELIN noted all these factors as part of the new American Great Lakes edition, and this collaboration will be a solid pillar of our long-term recovery and growth as a destination.

MICHELIN reports that “the famously anonymous inspectors are always out in the field, looking for exciting culinary destinations to highlight on a long-term basis.” In the six cities comprising the American Great Lakes edition, inspectors found “a certain level of maturity … both in the culinary offer and the dynamism of the industry making the culinary scene here worthy of being the newest MICHELIN Guide destination in North America.”

And while Minneapolis, and especially our restaurant and hospitality community, has faced enormous challenges this year, this MICHELIN partnership provides an additional foundation for future growth as a more marketable destination. Operation Metro Surge (OMS) was one of the latest challenges. Our post-COVID travel and tourism recovery had initially lagged other parts of the country, and OMS brought our slow and steady momentum to a halt. Being part of the MICHELIN Guide creates long-term opportunity. That resilience, passion and commitment to community is part of the story we are proud to share with the world through this new partnership.

This opportunity reflects the kind of alignment and momentum made possible through our Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District (MTID), which is helping us elevate our city in meaningful ways. Just as the MTID was designed to do, it allows new and previously unattainable initiatives to come to life.

Our partners in economic development rely on quality-of-life attributes for talent attraction. We can compete more effectively when we have regional assets such as quality affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, and a vibrant dining and entertainment scene, strengthening our marketability as a destination to live, work and play.

The economic impact of a MICHELIN Guide in a city goes well beyond the notoriety and prestige. A 2025 Ernst & Young study found that 74% of travelers consider the presence of a MICHELIN Guide as a decisive criterion when choosing a destination and 76% of those surveyed are prepared to extend their stay. Longer stays create more opportunities for hospitality and tourism businesses to benefit.

For more details on the announcement and what it means for our city, I encourage you to read our full news release and visit our MICHELIN Guide landing page.

Visitors do not pay attention to city limits or even state lines when it comes to experiencing a region. So, while this initiative is designed for Minneapolis as a part of this six-city consortium, we know that our entire region will benefit from the increased level of promotion and attention we will all receive.

Over the coming year, MICHELIN Guide inspectors will be dining throughout the six cities. There are no guarantees as to which restaurants will be identified with Stars, a Bib Gourmand designation, or as a MICHELIN Recommended restaurant. Those announcements will come in 2027.

The level of new attention will enhance our credibility as a culinary destination—but the real story is the resilience, creativity and pride of the community behind it.

That’s what we’re excited for the world to discover.