Hamachi Crudo from In Between Days, a newly recommended Restaurant in the Michelin Guide | In Between Days

St. Pete restaurants again landed on the Michelin guide’s Florida selection Thursday afternoon, though the city came away without a star for the second year in a row as the guide expanded its coverage statewide for the first time.

St. Pete restaurants Il Ritorno, Sushi Sho Rexley, and Fortu all retained their recommended restaurant distinctions at the Michelin Guide’s 2025 Florida ceremony.

Additionally, Michelin added two more St. Pete restaurant’s to its recommended list—Elliott Aster, the historic Vinoy Hotel’s fine dining concept, and In Between Days, a craft sake house and intimate Japanese restaurant.

This year marked the first time the guide expanded to cover the entire state of Florida, after previously focusing on select markets including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater.

Last year marked the first time the guide considered the St. Pete market.

In all of Florida, the Michelin Guide awarded two new one-star restaurants and 10 new Bib Gourmands.

Fine dining restaurant Elliott aster received a recommendation from the michelin guide | Michelin Guide

In its recommendation of Elliott Aster, the Michelin Guide wrote:

“Located within the Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, with its high ceilings and large chandeliers, this Italian-inspired steakhouse has a grand feel. The menu is centered around wood-fired steaks and house-made pastas, blending classic Italian foundations with a polished steakhouse sensibility. Begin with the focaccia ‘pull apart’ rolls with pecorino and taleggio cheese and wildflower honey. If pasta is your passion, have the radiatore alla vodka with a decadent sauce that clings to every ridge and finishes with a little heat from Calabrian chili. Complete your meal with a caramel coffee budino, served in a sundae glass topped with a chocolate cookie crumble.”

The Guide’s recommendation of In Between Days states:

“In Between Days, owned by Zach Ashton, bills itself as Florida’s first Tokyo-style sake bar and vinyl house. The space feels intentionally intimate where the lights stay low, the records spin slowly and the food comes in a tight little lineup of dishes that include gyoza, hamachi, oysters and a single rotating noodle dish. This is very much a place you settle into. The team leans into sake-based cocktails, the vibe feels warm and effortless and the food hits a sweet spot between comfort and quiet technical skill.
Dive into some bouncy, chewy noodles by trying the chef's choice ramen consisting of a rich, silky bone marrow broth base with enoki mushrooms, thinly sliced scallions, a runny soy egg and nicely torched pork. Finish with a slice of nutty, slightly burnt subtly spiced pumpkin Basque cheesecake with toasted pepitas, miso caramel and whipped cream.”

In Between Days in the Grand Central District received a recommendation from the michelin guide | Michelin Guide

The Michelin guide’s ranking system can be broken down into three categories: recommendations, Bib Gourmands, and stars.

A Michelin star is the most prestigious award that the guide gives out.

One, two, or three stars are awarded to restaurants that are ranked as exemplary based on the following criteria: quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavours, and consistency between visits.

The Bib Gourmand is awarded to eateries that offer high-quality food at affordable prices, while restaurants that are considered “recommended” by the guide are praised for high-quality ingredients and culinary prowess.

Elliott Aster offers wood-fired steaks, homemade pastas, and freshly-caught seafood | Eliott aster

Currently, the Tampa Bay area boasts four Michelin stars with Tampa restaurants Koya, Rocca, Kōsen, and Ebbe, plus several Bib Gourmands and recommendations.

Lilac in Tampa lost its star this year.

Since the guide’s entrance into Florida, Michelin has collaborated with several tourism boards across the state, including Visit Tampa Bay and Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

As a part of its two-year agreement with Michelin, Visit St. Pete Clearwater gives the guide $90,000 per year from its tourist development tax, which is paid for by the overnight stays of visitors.

“Florida continues to raise the bar with its emerging culinary talent, international influences and the palpable passion of its local restaurant communities,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides, last year. “Over the past three years, we’ve seen the Florida selection grow and strengthen as our Inspectors shined a spotlight on their discoveries. We look forward to exploring these new destinations and highlighting the excellence of their local restaurant scene.”

Head to Michelin’s website for more information about Tampa Bay’s starred restaurants and more.