On October 22, Latvia's best restaurants included in the 2026 Michelin Guide will be announced, as well as the restaurants that will receive Michelin stars. The award ceremony will take place at the Kokaru Hall in Mežaparks at 4:00 p.m. The event is organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in cooperation with representatives of the MICHELIN Guide.
The aim of the ceremony is not only to honor outstanding achievements in the culinary field, but also to strengthen Latvia's position in the international gastronomy and tourism sector, confirming its adherence to the highest global standards.
"The fact that Latvian restaurants have been included in the MICHELIN Guide for the second year in a row confirms the competitiveness of our hospitality sector in the international arena. MICHELIN recognition is not just a star on a restaurant door, it is a mark of trust for the entire tourism industry, which at the same time helps to promote Latvia as a tourist destination," says Ieva Jāgere, Director of the LIAA.
Third year in the MICHELIN guide
In the first MICHELIN guide, announced in 2024, Latvia included 26 restaurants — 19 in Riga and 7 outside the capital. Of these, 1 restaurant received one star, 3 restaurants received Bib Gourmand recognition, and 1 restaurant received a Green Star for sustainable practices. The 2025 MICHELIN Guide includes 31 Latvian restaurants. Among them: 2 restaurants with one MICHELIN star, 3 with Bib Gourmand recognition, and 1 with a Green Star.
The 2025 MICHELIN Guide selection of Latvian restaurants: JOHN Chef’s Hall (Michelin star), Max Cekot Kitchen (Michelin star), Milda (Bib Gourmand award), Shōyu (Bib Gourmand award), Snatch (Bib Gourmand award), 3 Chefs, 36.Line, Akustika, B7, BABO, Barents, Barents Cocktail & Seafood Bar, Chef's Corner, COD, Entresol, Ferma, H.E. Vanadziņš, JOHN, Kest, Le Dome, LOWINE, MO, Neiburgs, Pavāru māja (Green Star), Riviera, Seasons, Stage 22, Tails, TAURO, Whitehouse and ZOLTNERS.
It is predicted that this year's selection will expand and be supplemented by other restaurants.
Restaurant representatives view participation in the MICHELIN guide positively
Inese Vīcupa, manager of the Whitehouse restaurant, acknowledges that Michelin's presence in Latvia is a significant contribution to the development of restaurants. "We often meet guests who have come specifically to evaluate the restaurant's performance and then everything else that Latvia has to offer to foreign visitors. Participation in MICHELIN provides international recognition and promotes higher quality standards, motivating local restaurants to continuously improve their performance. The MICHELIN rating also increases the confidence of foreign customers, strengthening the reputation of Latvian cuisine," says I. Vīcupa.
Uģis Bormanis, manager of the Valmiera restaurant Akustika, emphasizes that being included in the Michelin guide is the dream of every self-respecting restaurant team and is the highest award in hospitality. "A few years ago, there was no belief that Latvia would ever appear in the Michelin Guide. The unbelievable happened, and finally the Baltic countries are represented in this prestigious club. Speaking of Akustika, when we received the first letter from Michelin, it was an indescribable feeling of euphoria, and until the ceremony, we couldn't believe that it was really happening to us. Getting on the list of recommended restaurants seemed like a new beginning for the whole team. For us as a restaurant in the region, it was valuable because we saw an influx of tourists in the first year. The number of foreign guests increased by 70%. This is a benefit not only for us as a restaurant, but for the city as a whole, because the number of food tourists is only growing, and many use this guide not only to enjoy the capital's delights, but also to get to know Latvia as a whole, combining a tasty meal with other tourist activities," says U. Bormanis.
MICHELIN's impact on the tourism industry
MICHELIN's recognition promotes the reputation of the catering and hospitality industry, stimulating investment in quality, service development and innovation. Gastronomic tourism is becoming an increasingly important segment — visitors who travel to enjoy high-end cuisine significantly increase the length of their stay and their spending at their destination.
As a result, obtaining MICHELIN stars and recognition promotes economic growth, boosts employment, and creates a positive image of Latvia around the world.
MICHELIN also enters the hotel segment
This year, for the first time in the Baltic States, including Latvia, MICHELIN expanded its recognition to the hotel sector by including a selection of MICHELIN Key Hotels.
This allows travelers to experience the highest quality service, creating synergy between gastronomy and hospitality, which strengthens the region's position as a destination for outstanding experiences.
Latvian hotels included in the MICHELIN Key list are A22 Hotel, Dome Hotel&Spa, and Grand Poet Hotel&SPA by Semarah.
The inclusion of Latvian hotels in this selection confirms the growing professionalism and international competitiveness of our hospitality industry.