Michelin Guide expands to Philadelphia region
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Philadelphia is a newly minted Michelin city.
Why it matters: The Michelin Guide is considered by some the gold standard of dining, a signal to the world that a city's restaurant scene has arrived.
Driving the news: The Philly region will be included in the Michelin Guide Northeast Cities edition alongside Boston, the only other freshman member.
- The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau revealed its partnership with France-based Michelin on Monday.
Zoom out: Philly and Boston join the ranks of Chicago, New York City and D.C., which have been included in the guide for years.
How it works: The company is best known for issuing its coveted stars, which range from one to three.
- Anonymous inspectors visit local restaurants, unannounced, to determine which deserve the accolade.
- Restaurants that receive stars are often lauded as among the best in the world.
Flashback: In 2023, Michelin added Philly to its Green Guides, which highlight attractions, restaurants and hotels.
The intrigue: Bringing the pay-to-play Michelin Guide to town typically comes with a heavy price tag.
- Visitors Bureau spokesperson Robin Bloom declined to reveal how much its partnership with Michelin costs, telling Axios the terms of the agreement are not public.
- But state and local tourism boards in Miami, Tampa and Orlando, Florida, agreed in 2022 to shell out $1.5 million to Michelin over three years to get in the guide.
- Atlanta is paying out $1 million, while Texas and five of its metros landed a guide for $900,000.
Meanwhile, some areas have declined to participate due to costs, like Virginia.
The big picture: Philly's restaurants and chefs have been in a league of their own in recent years — winning national recognition, big awards, opening hip spots and setting the standard for outstanding dining.
- "Our chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality professionals have been steadily building our city into an internationally acclaimed foodie destination," Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the Philly visitors bureau, said in a statement.
What's next: Philly tourism and elected officials, as well as Gov. Josh Shapiro, will join Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, Tuesday at the Barnes Foundation for a news conference about the partnership.
What we're watching: Michelin will reveal its restaurant selections for its 2025 Northeast cities guide later this year during its annual ceremony.