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Michelin has unveiled the fifth edition of its Toronto & Region guide, marking the third year in which inspectors have ventured beyond Toronto itself. The selection now reaches communities across Southern Ontario, yet Ottawa remains outside Michelin’s official territory and therefore ineligible for Stars, Bib Gourmands or recommendations. The continued regional expansion shows that Michelin is willing to look beyond a single city—but, for now, the nation’s capital is still missing from the map.

Michelin is retiring its Green Star globally, bringing an end to the sustainability distinction just six years after it was introduced in 2020. The Green Star recognized restaurants for practices including responsible sourcing, seasonality, waste reduction and environmental stewardship, but Michelin has confirmed that the designation will be gradually phased out by the end of 2026. In its place, Michelin is launching Mindful Voices, an editorial initiative highlighting sustainability efforts across gastronomy, hospitality and wine rather than awarding restaurants a formal distinction.

For Ottawa, it means that should the Michelin Guide eventually arrive in the capital, Green Stars will no longer form part of the awards landscape — leaving the traditional one-, two- and three-star system, Bib Gourmands and Michelin Recommended selections as the principal restaurant distinctions to watch.

Had the Green Star remained part of Michelin's awards, Ottawa would have had at least one particularly compelling candidate. Antheia, chef Briana Kim's fermentation-driven vegetarian restaurant, places preservation, seasonality and the creative use of ingredients that might otherwise be discarded at the heart of its cooking. With the Green Star disappearing, however, we'll never know whether Ottawa might have earned a green distinction alongside its traditional stars.

The 2026 edition of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants has been released, and Ottawa once again finds itself lightly represented. Only three local restaurants made the list: Atelier (#54), Antheia (#76), and Arlo (#77). The arrival of Antheia is an encouraging sign for the city's dining scene, but with just three entries overall, Ottawa continues to lag behind Canada's larger culinary destinations in national rankings.

The 2026 Michelin Guide Québec expanded its reach significantly, recognizing 121 restaurants across the province, including 13 Michelin-starred establishments, 85 recommended restaurants, new Green Stars, and seven additional Bib Gourmands. Yet despite being Quebec's fourth-largest city and a growing culinary destination, Gatineau was once again completely absent from the guide — receiving no stars, Bib Gourmands, recommended restaurants, or any other Michelin recognition.

Antheia has recently opened in Ottawa and is already drawing attention as a serious fine-dining debut. Led by chef Briana Kim, the intimate, fermentation-driven tasting menu emphasizes precision, depth, and a clear culinary point of view. While still early, Antheia shows many of the qualities associated with Michelin Guide recognition and is one to watch closely.

Ottawa Tourism recently held a closed-door conversation with a group of leading Ottawa chefs to discuss how the city can better position itself for future consideration by the Michelin Guide.

Chefs from North & Navy were in attendance, along with representatives from several other well-known restaurants in the city. While no official statement has been released from Ottawa Tourism, multiple chefs who were present confirmed that the discussion focused on:

• What Michelin looks for in a city — consistency, culinary identity, international visibility, and a concentrated level of excellence.
• How Ottawa restaurants can work together to elevate standards and present a unified culinary narrative.
• Potential next steps, including chef-led collaboration with Ottawa Tourism, hosting visiting critics, and organizing media or industry tours to spotlight Ottawa's finest kitchens.

This marks the first known instance of formal dialogue between Ottawa Tourism and the city's culinary leaders specifically about Michelin readiness — a significant milestone for a city not yet on the Guide's radar.

Vancouver has just been unveiled, bringing the city's total to 12 One-Star restaurants, up from ten last year. Inspectors added a few new names while reaffirming the strength of Vancouver's existing stars, along with several fresh Bib Gourmand selections that broaden the city's culinary map.

Ottawa, however, remains off Michelin's list — at least for now.

Toronto & Region's 2025 Michelin awards brought some big wins — Pearl Morissette elevated to Two Stars, aKin earned its first Star, and Sundays picked up a Green Star, among other additions. Meanwhile, Ottawa still has no restaurants with Michelin Stars — for now — but with the growing spotlight on Canadian cities like Québec and Vancouver, many in Ottawa are hopeful its food scene might soon get its chance in the Guide.

We'll be tracking which restaurants in Ottawa are most likely to earn Michelin stars (or Bib Gourmands) if and when the Guide arrives. This list will be updated regularly — check back for predictions, new contenders, and local dining news.