By Kate Cohen
Over the past few years, Orlando has received quite a bit of attention as one of the best foodie cities in the country. The diversity and quality of our restaurants is a source of pride for locals and a huge draw for tourists.
While we’re home to an assortment of acclaimed street food, food trucks, casual eateries, and food halls, Orlando is also a great place to find Central Florida’s best fine dining.
Michelin-rated restaurants are acknowledged for offering some of the most innovative, stylish, and flavorful food. Here in Orlando, you’ll find several incredible restaurants that have become popular in part due to their recent star status.
Ready to indulge? Here are five of the amazing Orlando Michelin-star restaurants that should be at the top of your “must-try” list.
What is a Michelin Star Restaurant?
The Michelin Guide is a rating of the best restaurants in the world.
Its origins are far humbler than its current reputation, however. Created by brothers and tire entrepreneurs Andre and Edouard Michelin (yes, those Michelin tires), it was intended to incentivize French motorists to plan road trips, thereby increasing demand for car and tire sales.
Today, the Michelin Guide awards one, two, or three stars to the finest restaurants around the world.
Teams of anonymous Michelin inspectors, all of whom are former restaurant and hospitality specialists, will dine at a restaurant and collaborate to make a final decision regarding awards.
Restaurants are awarded on food alone; ambiance, service, and décor, while critical to the overall dining experience, have no effect on Michelin scores.
While Orlando isn’t home to any restaurants with three Michelin stars just yet, there are several that have been awarded one prestigious star.
If you’re looking for an elite meal that ranks with some of the best in the world, check out these five Michelin Star restaurants in Orlando.
Natsu Omakase
777 N Orange Ave, Suite C, Orlando FL 32832
Natsu Omakase in downtown Orlando is a sleek, modern love letter to Japanese cuisine.
In Japanese, Omakase translates to “I leave it up to you.” Omakase dining eliminates the need for a menu, allowing the chef to create a custom menu using the freshest ingredients, masterful skills, and inspirational originality.
At Natsu Omakase, guests dine communally at a stylish modern bar overlooking the chef’s prep space. Your meal becomes an interactive experience as you get a front row seat to the chef’s skillful preparation of each dish.
Chef Stone is an expert in Japanese cuisine who shares his passion for sushi and traditional flavors with every dish he creates.
To ensure the authenticity and freshness of his ingredients, most of them are air-freighted directly from Japan.
The dishes at Natsu Omakase are elegant and innovative, prepared with precision and rooted in traditional Japanese culinary culture.
Papa Llama
2840 Curry Ford Road, Orlando FL 32806
Set amidst a vape shop and a gym in a strip mall on Curry Ford Rd., Papa Llama is an unassuming Michelin-starred restaurant.
Inside is a vibrant and colorful environment with glittery disco balls, live greenery, and Peruvian-inspired décor. The open kitchen gives diners a fantastic view of the chefs showcasing their skills with live fire cooking and other old-world techniques.
What began as a pop-up almost a decade ago has found its brick-and-mortar home where it’s serving up a Michelin-worthy “kaleidoscopic tapestry” of Peruvian food.
Maria and Kevin Ruiz have worked hard from humble beginnings to create an eatery with an avid foodie following. Their three-course menu is served family style and features a variety of fresh takes on traditional Peruvian cuisine.
Their dishes are bold and flavorful, using fresh and colorful ingredients that make an impact on the eyes and the taste buds.
Papa Llama is also known for their selection of natural wines made from organic and hand-harvested grapes. Trying a wine pairing with your tasting menu is a highly recommended experience that will take your meal to the next level.
Kadence
1809 E Winter Park Rd, Orlando FL 32803
In an unassuming building just outside of Baldwin Park is Kadence, another award-winning Omakase restaurant.
Kadence serves 16 people per night with seatings at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Over the course of three hours, diners embark on a sensory journey that feels more like sitting at the bar with old friends than a stuffy fine dining experience.
Kadence’s chef/owners, Jennifer and Mark Berdin, have found a masterful balance of high-end sushi and playful hospitality. Years of industry experience in the Philippines, New York City, London, and Orlando have helped them curate a culinary adventure worthy of a Michelin star.
Sitting at the Omakase bar, you’ll get to watch as each dish is artfully crafted and plated with the finest and freshest seafood and seasonal ingredients. Their sushi is transcendent, a true demonstration of their dedication to the delicate craft.
Both Berdins are also Certified Advanced Sake Professionals and have curated a sake menu that appeals to beginners and experts alike.
Camille
4962 New Broad St, Orlando FL 32814
At Camille, diners can experience a truly innovative take on classic Vietnamese food.
Chef Tung Phan vision for a Euro-Vietnamese dining experience began in Domu Lab’s East End Market incubator hub a few years ago and has recently found a permanent home in the neighborhood of Baldwin Park.
Every dish served in their 7- or 10-course tasting menu is a work of art, created with a keen eye and a remarkable talent. Their food is as delicious as it is photogenic, with beautiful ingredients that deliver color, freshness, and flavor.
There is a chef’s counter where diners can sit close to the chef’s preparation table and watch the master at work while enjoying a 10-couse tasting menu. Intimate booths are also available for a more private dining experience with a 7-course tasting menu.
The dining room itself is modern and elegant, as refined in appearance as its food.
Chef Phan’s objective is to highlight the historical connection between Vietnam and France, exhibiting the conversion of cultures in a culinary homage. Every dish at Camille tells a story for the eyes and the palate.
Soseki
955 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park FL 32789
Soseki is an intimate restaurant with a moody, theatrical aesthetic.
The room is darkly painted black and has only 10 seats situated around a brightly lit wooden counter.
Chef Michael Collantes offers a “modern take on Omakase,” creating an ever-shifting menu tailored not just to the culture of Omakase, but also to seasonal Florida ingredients. They source everything from fish to cheese to produce to artisan ceramics from farmers and artists local to the state.
In addition to receiving a Michelin star in 2024, Soseki’s beverage director, Benjamin Coutts, was named the Michelin Guide Florida Sommelier Winner in 2023. His global sake and wine program adds a new dynamic of flavor in an optional pairing experience that is worth the splurge.
Each dish may appear simplistic, but a closer look will reveal the thought, intention, and true artistry with which every bite is designed. Their 10-course tasting menu is a true masterclass in fine dining.
End Your Night of Flavor at Rosen Centre
Dining at a Michelin-star restaurant is a luxurious adventure. You’ll undoubtedly be exposed to new flavors, ingredients, and preparations you’ve never experienced before.
Whether you’re celebrating something special or treating yourself to the meal of a lifetime, you’re in for a treat at any of these Orlando Michelin Star Restaurants.
At the end of the evening, when visions of Omakase dishes and Peruvian cuisine dance in your head, come to Rosen Centre for a relaxing place to lay your head. Our sophisticated accommodations, homelike amenities, and chic spa are the perfect complements to an unforgettable Michelin dining experience.
