Michelin’s 2026 American South Guide Adds New Stars in Atlanta and Rural Georgia

So. Fox and Uberto earn first stars as the regional selection grows to 265 restaurants and Atlanta-area diners gain new Bib Gourmand choices

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• So. Fox in Atlanta and Uberto Restaurant in Gay are two of three new one-star restaurants in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide American South; the third is Dakar NOLA in New Orleans.
• The ten Georgia-area starred venues include eight in Atlanta city proper, one in Marietta and one in Gay.
• Summerland and Tipsy Thaiger earned new Bib Gourmand distinctions, while Pink Lotus and Spring 2nd Branch joined the recommended selection.
• Michelin's new Mindful Voices platform highlights sourcing practices at Uberto and Restaurant Constance in Charlotte.

Atlanta’s dining scene has gained another Michelin-starred restaurant, while an ambitious farm-driven dining destination in rural Georgia has joined the highest-profile culinary names in the state. The newly announced 2026 MICHELIN Guide American South awards One MICHELIN Star to So. Fox in Atlanta and Uberto Restaurant in Gay, Georgia, bringing the greater Atlanta-area and Georgia list presented by Discover Atlanta to ten one-star restaurants.

The awards are part of the guide’s second annual American South selection, announced on 21 October. A third newly starred restaurant, Dakar NOLA in New Orleans, extends the story beyond Georgia. The regional 2026 selection spans 265 establishments across 44 types of cuisine, according to the published announcement, illustrating how Michelin’s coverage is bringing attention both to established food cities and to smaller communities.

Two new Georgia stars, two very different settings

For visitors planning meals in central Atlanta, So. Fox adds another reason to explore the city’s independent restaurant scene. The new one-star establishment is in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood and is associated with the Kinship Butcher & Sundry team. Uberto Restaurant is a different kind of culinary excursion: it is based in Gay, Georgia, beyond metropolitan Atlanta, and is led by chef Ryan Smith. The distinction matters for travellers—this is a regional fine-dining itinerary, not a list of ten restaurants within Atlanta’s city limits.

Uberto’s recognition also aligns with a new Michelin initiative exploring the people and practices behind restaurant hospitality. Michelin says the restaurant sources more than 90% of its produce from an on-site regenerative farm powered by solar energy and operated without chemical pesticides or herbicides.

The ten one-star restaurants in the Atlanta and Georgia selection

The group features long-established names alongside the two new additions, reflecting a range of contemporary American and Japanese dining experiences:

• Atlas — Atlanta; chef Freddy Money.
• Bacchanalia — Atlanta; chefs Anne Quatrano, Clifford Harrison and Kai Nalampoon.
• Hayakawa — Atlanta; chef Atsushi Hayakawa.
• Lazy Betty — Atlanta; chefs Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips.
• Mujō — Atlanta; chef J. Trent Harris.
• O by Brush — Atlanta; chef Jason Liang.
• Omakase Table — Atlanta; chef Leonard Yu.
• So. Fox — Atlanta; Kinship Butcher & Sundry team; new star in 2026.
• Spring — Marietta; chef Brian So.
• Uberto Restaurant — Gay; chef Ryan Smith; new star in 2026.

For culinary travellers, the addresses point toward different kinds of visits: several tasting-menu destinations in Atlanta itself, an excursion to Marietta for Spring, and a longer trip into Georgia for Uberto. Michelin’s stars recognize cooking, not an establishment’s accommodation or travel facilities; visitors should confirm reservations and restaurant arrangements directly.

More options beyond the starred dining rooms

The Atlanta-area selection also includes new Bib Gourmand distinctions for Summerland and Tipsy Thaiger, alongside established favorites such as Antico Pizza Napoletana, Arepa Mia, Bomb Biscuit Co., The Busy Bee, Fishmonger, Fred’s Meat & Bread and Heirloom Market BBQ. Bib Gourmand recognizes restaurants offering notably good food at comparatively accessible prices, giving travellers a broader range of choices than special-occasion tasting menus.

Meanwhile, Pink Lotus and Spring 2nd Branch are newly included among Michelin Recommended restaurants. Discover Atlanta places the wider Atlanta guide selection at 64 restaurants this year, encompassing star, Bib Gourmand and recommended distinctions. The full list and current establishment details can be checked through the MICHELIN Guide American South restaurant directory.

Michelin introduces Mindful Voices

A new element of this year’s ceremony was Mindful Voices, an editorial initiative designed to highlight practices and perspectives from chefs and other hospitality professionals. Alongside Uberto’s farm-focused sourcing, Michelin spotlighted chef Sam Diminich of Restaurant Constance in Charlotte, North Carolina. His team works with more than 30 local farms within a 50-mile radius, using regional sourcing to inform seasonal menus.

The initiative broadens the conversation around restaurant awards beyond scores and accolades. As Michelin continues exploring the South, the 2026 results give travellers a more geographically varied starting point for food-led journeys—from Atlanta’s neighborhood restaurants and Marietta to rural Georgia and New Orleans. Visitors can use Discover Atlanta for destination planning and the Michelin Mindful Voices programme for background on the newly highlighted culinary practices.