On Thursday, November 5, at the “Palladium” concert hall, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) hosted a Latvian restaurant awards ceremony to honor the restaurants featured in the latest “MICHELIN Guide Latvia 2027,” their chefs, and professionals in the gastronomy sector were honored. The new selection includes 35 Latvian restaurants, including 12 newcomers. Tax payments by companies associated with MICHELIN-recognized restaurants reached 19.06 million euros in 2025—a 22.8% increase compared to 2023, when Latvia was first included in the international gastronomy guide.
Comparing the latest MICHELIN guide selections in the Baltics announced in 2026, based on data compiled so far, Latvia has the most new entries in a single year among the Baltic countries—12 restaurants, compared to ten in Lithuania and seven in Estonia.
“Three years ago, I had the honor of participating in the first MICHELIN awards ceremony in Latvia. At that time, the guide featured 26 restaurants, and Latvia received its first MICHELIN star. Today, we already have 35 restaurants, two stars, and the most newcomers in the Baltics. This demonstrates just how much can be achieved when we set high goals and consistently work toward them. I am convinced that the MICHELIN awards ceremony in Latvia should become a lasting tradition. It’s not just a one-night celebration—it’s an annual opportunity to assess the growth of our gastronomy and set ever-higher ambitions. Latvia must be a country where excellence becomes the standard, not the exception,” emphasizes Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
Both MICHELIN stars have been retained, and the number of Bib Gourmand recognitions has increased
The Riga restaurants “JOHN Chef’s Hall” and “Max Cekot Kitchen” have retained their one MICHELIN star. Meanwhile, seven restaurants have received the Bib Gourmand distinction for their good value for money – two more than in the previous selection. The new recipients are “Baltā Kaza” and “Café Mimosa,” while “H.E. Vanadziņš,” “Milda,” “SMØR Bistro,” “Shōyu,” and “Snatch” have retained their previous ratings.
The event also paid special tribute to the four recipients of individual MICHELIN awards. The Young Chef Award went to Dmitro Vološins of the restaurant “Māsa,” the Service Award went to Maksims Cekots from “Kice,” the Sommelier Award went to Juris Semjonovs from “Pavāru māja” in Līgatne, and the Opening of the Year Award went to Veko Cukišvili from the restaurant “Sakhli.”
“While MICHELIN recognizes restaurants, anyone throughout Latvia can benefit. A culinary traveler doesn’t just have a meal here – they stay overnight, shop, visit cultural sites, and explore our regions. Businesses associated with restaurants featured in the MICHELIN Guide paid more than 19 million euros in taxes in 2025. “The LIAA’s mission is to ensure that international recognition translates into ever-increasing tourism exports and revenue for Latvian businesses – not only in Riga, but also in the regions,” emphasizes LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.
Nine MICHELIN-starred restaurants outside Riga – new opportunities for regional tourism
In the new MICHELIN Guide, nine restaurants are located outside Riga, compared to seven in the previous edition. Among the newcomers are “DUNA Taproom & Kitchen” in Kuldīga, “Faces” in Jūrmala, and “Vistiņas Karbonādes Steiki” in Baltezers.
International recognition helps promote Latvia’s culinary offerings even outside the capital. Attracting culinary travelers opens up opportunities for local food producers, lodging providers, and cultural and nature tourism service providers. Of particular importance is the development of offerings in which a restaurant visit becomes part of a broader travel experience.
This year, Ēriks Dreibants, head chef at “Pavāru mājas,” has also gained additional international recognition after being included in the new MICHELIN initiative, Mindful Voices. The initiative highlights gastronomy and hospitality professionals whose work places a strong emphasis on local products, sustainability, and responsible management.
“The success of Latvian restaurants is particularly significant, given the circumstances under which the industry has been operating for several years now. The pandemic was followed by Russia’s war in Ukraine and rising energy and food prices, while the flow of foreign tourists has still not returned to pre-crisis levels. Under these circumstances, keeping a restaurant open, retaining a team, and simultaneously ensuring world-class quality is a tremendous achievement. The MICHELIN recognitions also send a strong signal to young professionals—it is possible to build a career and achieve international excellence in Latvia’s hospitality industry. We already have two restaurants that have managed to retain their MICHELIN star. The next goal is for a Latvian restaurant to earn its first two stars. We have the talent and ambition—now it’s important to create the conditions for the industry to continue growing,” emphasizes Jānis Jenzis, a member of the board of the Latvian Restaurant Association and a member of the Saeima.
Tax payments by companies associated with MICHELIN restaurants exceed 19 million euros
Data compiled by the LIAA from “Lursoft” confirms the economic significance of companies associated with restaurants listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Tax payments by the 32 legal entities analyzed reached 19.06 million euros in 2025, which is 3.54 million euros, or 22.8%, more than in 2023.
Meanwhile, for the 27 companies for which 2025 financial statements are available, revenue increased by 24.3% over the two-year period, reaching 70.51 million euros. These figures reflect the overall economic activity of these legal entities, which in some cases also includes other food service or lodging services. Therefore, the increase in revenue and tax payments cannot be entirely attributed to the impact of the MICHELIN partnership.
The restaurants themselves have also previously confirmed the positive impact of international recognition on their operations. In a survey conducted by LIAA in 2024, 87% of respondents indicated that MICHELIN recognition had a positive impact on their restaurant’s revenue. Following this year’s awards ceremony, the survey is scheduled to be repeated to gather more up-to-date information on the businesses’ experiences.
International Recognition – An Opportunity to Grow Tourism Exports
Gastronomic tourism is one of the key areas for the development of Latvia’s tourism exports. In 2025, spending by foreign travelers in Latvia reached 1.39 billion euros, exceeding the previous year’s level by 9.9%. These are the overall results for Latvia’s tourism sector, not just the revenue generated by the partnership with MICHELIN.
MICHELIN’s international recognition helps reach travelers for whom the gastronomic experience is a significant factor in choosing a destination. Latvia’s opportunity lies in converting this interest into actual trips, overnight stays, and higher spending, while simultaneously promoting regional tourism development and reducing seasonality.
The LIAA is the MICHELIN Guide’s partner in Latvia. The current partnership agreement runs through 2028 and aims to promote Latvia’s culinary offerings through international communication channels. MICHELIN inspectors evaluate restaurants independently and anonymously.