Emelina in West Palm Beach Awarded Michelin Star, a First for Cuban Cuisine

Emelina, a 16-seat tasting-menu restaurant in the Flamingo Park District of West Palm Beach, was awarded a Michelin Star at the 2026 Michelin Guide Florida ceremony on May 28. The restaurant, which opened in February 2026, is the first Cuban restaurant in North America to receive a Michelin Star. The award was given less than four months after Emelina's debut, making it one of the youngest restaurants in Florida to earn this distinction.

Led by husband-and-wife chefs Osmel González and Camila Salazar, Emelina is a concept by APM Restaurant Group, founded by Alvaro Perez Miranda, in partnership with Welteroth Property Group. The chefs previously earned Michelin Stars at their Miami pop-up, EntreNos, in 2024 and 2025.

The menu at Emelina draws on memory and heritage, informed by the chefs' training at SingleThread in Healdsburg, Disfrutar in Barcelona, and La Botica in Matapozuelos, and features ingredients sourced from local Florida farmers. The dining area features a U-shaped chef's counter, walnut millwork, Shou Sugi Ban walls, and artwork by Latin artist Antonio Ugarte.

Emelina has received additional recognition, including the highest rating of the year from The Infatuation Miami and inclusion in Bon Appétit's list of Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings.