Beloved Wine Bar Closes in Downtown Miami

Miami’s restaurant scene has seen a string of shocking closures this year, and a beloved wine bar in downtown Miami is the latest to add to the growing list. Margot Bar & Bistro (formerly Margot Natural Wine Bar), one of the Magic City’s coolest natural wine bars, has quietly closed after nearly four years in business. Its sister spot in Miami Beach has also closed.

Co-founder Gabriel Orta of hospitality group Bar Lab confirmed the news to New Times, saying, “We had to close both of them. It was a rough year for us.” The closures add to a wave of recent Miami restaurant shutdowns, marking another hit for the city’s dining scene after a very rough summer.

From Downtown to Miami Beach

Margot first opened in 2021 in the historic Ingraham Building in downtown Miami, serving natural wines, aperitivos, and low-ABV cocktails in a retro-inspired, pastel-colored space. The wine bar stood out for its relaxed vibe and focus on natural wines, a contrast to Miami’s flashier bars. And it stood out to New Times editors, as well, winning New Times‘ Best Wine Bar in 2021.

In late 2024, Bar Lab opened a second location at Flamingo Towers in South Beach. The new spot expanded the concept with a bistro-style menu and a small retail wine shop. The downtown location focused on drinks and light plates, while the South Beach space offered a full dining program.

The Downtown Connection: A Hard Corner

The Bar Lab team has struggled to find lasting success in that downtown corner. In 2019, they announced a partnership with chef Timon Balloo to open side-by-side concepts in the Ingraham Building: Balloo, a restaurant inspired by the chef’s heritage, and Margot Natural Wine Bar. 

Before Margot could open, the pandemic paused the project. Balloo operated only briefly before closing permanently due to the pandemic, and the chef shifted to new ventures in Fort Lauderdale with the opening of his restaurant, the Katherine. Bar Lab later launched Hoja Taqueria in the Balloo space, though it had a short run. Margot eventually opened in mid-2021, introducing a relaxed wine bar that complemented downtown’s limited after-work scene.

What’s Next for Bar Lab After Broken Shaker and Margot

Bar Lab, founded by Orta and Elad Zvi, helped define Miami’s cocktail scene through the Broken Shaker, which they sold in 2024 along with its neighboring restaurant, 27 Restaurant, to Generator Hotel. The team said at the time they planned to focus on new projects beyond the Freehand. Orta told New Times that Bar Lab is currently “working on a few things” but wasn’t ready to share details.

The closures follow a difficult season for Miami restaurants. In recent months, long-standing establishments such as Caffe Vialetto, which closed after 25 years in Coral Gables, and Sardinia, which closed after 20 years, have closed, along with newer spots like Ensenada and RedFarm. The wave of closures reflects the challenges local operators face, including rising rents, higher staffing costs, and shifting dining habits, which have made it increasingly difficult for independent restaurants to remain open throughout the year.

Margot Bar & Bistro. 1504 Bay Rd., Miami Beach, and 25 SE Second Ave., Miami. Both locations are now closed.