The Michelin Guide announced today that it will be releasing a Great Lakes edition, which will cover Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh — basically, every major city in the region except Chicago, which is covered by a separate Michelin Guide.
It continues the guide’s partnerships with destination marketing organizations, as Eater’s Matthew Kang recently explained. These organizations pay to gain Michelin consideration, on the grounds that Michelin recognition will help drive tourism to cities and diners to restaurants. “Our chefs and restaurateurs have been building a vibrant food scene for years, and this recognition will help attract new visitors, support local hospitality jobs, and strengthen Pittsburgh’s reputation as an exciting culinary destination for taste driven travelers,” Visit Pittsburgh President and CEO Jerad Bachar said in the statement. The guide clarified that these partnerships have no bearing over which restaurants are selected.
In 1926, the Michelin Guide began awarding stars to restaurants in France. In 2005, it expanded into North America, initially awarding stars in New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago. In recent years, the guide has expanded aggressively across the United States, most recently launching guides in the American South, Boston, Philadelphia, and the Southwest. (The South, Boston, Philadelphia received their first selections in late 2025, while the first selections for the Southwest will be announced later this year.)
According to the press release, Michelin inspectors have already begun scouting cities for the inaugural selections, which will be unveiled next year.
