The NAU Salgados Congress Palace in Albufeira hosted the first ceremony dedicated exclusively to our country — “Gala Michelin Star Revelation Portugal” — proudly pushing Portugal onto the grand stages of international cuisine, recognizing its potential as a gastronomic destination.
The 2024 selection from the Michelin Guide brought many novelties and acknowledgments, totaling 172 restaurants, including eight with two Michelin Stars, 31 with one Michelin Star, five spaces recognized with the Michelin Green Star, and 32 with Bib Gourmand, in addition to 96 recommended restaurants.
Among the distinctions, several restaurants saw their coveted star renewed, a clear evidence of the recognition of the excellent work they have been presenting. This is the case of the LOCO restaurant (Lisbon), led by chef Alexandre Silva, the Mesa de Lemos restaurant (Viseu), by chef Diogo Rocha, the Vila Foz restaurant (Porto), whose kitchen is led by chef Arnaldo Azevedo, the Le Monument restaurant (Porto), led by chef Julien Montbabut, and the Feitoria restaurant (Lisbon), led by chef André Cruz.
Mesa de Lemos also renews the Michelin Green Star, which rewards the restaurant’s good environmental practices.
During the evening, the new stars were presented, in a moment marked by a good dose of emotion. The famous Ó Balcão, in Santarém, by chef Rodrigo Castelo, is one of the great surprises of this gala and earns its first Michelin Star, alongside the Michelin Green Star, thus joining the list of maximum excellence in our country. These distinctions are examples of the best that Portugal has to offer in the gastronomic panorama.
