The culinary magic of the Michelin Gala

The Alfândega do Porto was the venue for the highly anticipated Michelin Portugal 2025 Gala, an event that celebrated the country's gastronomic excellence and highlighted the growing prestige of Porto and the North of Portugal in this area. The evening was marked by important achievements, with four new restaurants joining the prestigious list of establishments awarded a Michelin star.

They are:

Blind, in Porto, led by chefs Vítor Matos and Rita Magro;
Oculto, in Vila do Conde, with Vítor Matos and Hugo Rocha at the helm;
Vinha, in Vila Nova de Gaia, the result of a partnership between Henrique Sá Pessoa and Jonathan Seiller;
Palatial, in Braga, under the direction of chef Rui Filipe.

In addition to the new distinctions, the three restaurants in the region that already held two Michelin stars maintained their classification:

Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (Leça da Palmeira), by chef Rui Paula;
The Yeatman (Vila Nova de Gaia), by chef Ricardo Costa;
Restaurante Antiqvvm (Porto), also under the leadership of chef Vítor Matos.
The restaurants with one Michelin star also retained their distinctions, reinforcing the consistency and quality of the region's gastronomic offering.

For Luís Pedro Martins, president of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, the evening was full of emotions: "While we feel a bit disappointed, as we believe that there are already chefs in the region and in the country who deserve the third Michelin star, we are also proud of the progress made. The number of Michelin stars, Bib Gourmand distinctions and recommended establishments continues to grow and, more importantly, to spread throughout the country."

Another symbolic moment of the evening was the recognition of a female chef on the list of Michelin stars, a significant milestone for national gastronomy and an important step towards diversity and representation in the sector.

With a total of 13 Michelin-starred restaurants and increasingly comprehensive distinctions, in geographical terms, Porto and the North of Portugal establish themselves as a gastronomic destination of excellence, where authenticity and innovation go hand in hand.