15 Biggest Miami Restaurant Closures of Summer 2025

This summer marked the harshest season for Miami’s dining scene in recent memory. New Times has documented countless closures over the past few years, but the summer of 2025 stands apart for the sheer volume and the caliber of restaurants lost. It wasn’t just small mom-and-pop shops struggling to keep up with rising rents and labor costs; it was beloved institutions, Michelin-recognized stars, and buzzworthy newcomers alike. From Coral Gables’ Caffe Vialetto, which shuttered after 26 years, to Little Havana’s Doce Provisions and Midtown’s Itamae AO, no amount of accolades, critical acclaim, or loyal followings could shield these restaurants from the brutal economics of Miami dining.

Each closure carried its own heartbreak. Caffe Vialetto’s farewell after decades of inventive Italian-Latin-Caribbean fusion left longtime patrons grieving a place that had become part of their milestones and memories. Doce Provisions, once celebrated for redefining Cuban comfort food, shocked diners by closing just months after being highlighted in the Michelin Guide. Michelin itself couldn’t safeguard EntreNos, which folded despite its Green Star sustainability recognition, or Itamae AO, chef Nando Chang’s jewel box omakase counter, which ended its run just months after earning a Michelin star. Even iconic names weren’t spared: La Mar by Gastón Acurio left its waterfront home, Ms. Cheezious bid farewell to MiMo, and Osteria del Teatro closed after nearly four decades.

The wave of closures underscored a sobering truth: Miami’s dining landscape is as fragile as it is vibrant. Seasonal slowdowns, rising operational costs, bankruptcies, and changing consumer habits collided to create a perfect storm. Restaurants like Ensenada, RedFarm, and Planta Queen that had opened with fanfare quickly folded, while long-established mainstays like Sardinia couldn’t weather the pressure. This summer didn’t just change the restaurant map — it rewrote the city’s culinary story, leaving diners and chefs alike to wonder what resilience will look like in the years to come.

Caffe Vialetto

Beloved Italian restaurant Caffe Vialetto closed its doors in Coral Gables after 26 years on Sunday, August 17. Founded by owners Ernie Fernandez and Marcelo Chopa in 1999, Caffe Vialetto stood out in Coral Gables for its inventive fusion of Italian cuisine with Latin and Caribbean influences. It offered dishes like pear and gorgonzola cheese-filled ravioli covered in gorgonzola fondue and beer-battered shrimp tempura topped with a spicy chili guava drizzle. “What started as a humble eatery has grown into something far greater: a space filled with laughter, memories, and heartfelt moments shared over meals,” read the closing statement. “We’re endlessly grateful for your support, your stories, and your appetite. Thank you for making us part of your celebrations, your quiet evenings, and your traditions, and we couldn’t be more honored!”

Doce Provisions

Doce Provisions, the beloved Little Havana restaurant known for its playful take on Cuban comfort food, has unexpectedly closed this summer after eight years. Opened in 2016 by chefs Justin Sherrer and Lisetty Llampalla, Doce quickly became one of the most buzzed-about spots in Miami. The couple built a menu that honored Cuban roots while twisting classics, with dishes like award-winning chorizo croquetas, short rib birria tacos, and Cuban sandwich spring rolls. The closure came as a surprise, especially since the restaurant was recently highlighted in the Michelin Guide’s list of Miami’s Best Cuban Restaurants. However, a New Times source has confirmed that chef Sherrer is now with the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. Therefore, he is focusing on his work there instead.

EntreNos

The Michelin-starred Miami spot held its final dinner service on Monday, June 30, ending its run at Tinta y Cafe in Miami Shores. What started as a short-term arrangement turned into something bigger when Michelin recognized their work in 2024 and 2025 with both a One-Star and a Green Star for sustainability. However, according to an Instagram announcement, both businesses have grown to the point where sharing space no longer makes sense.

Ensenada

The New York-based coastal Mexican restaurant opened with some hype inside inside the Vagabond Hotel, but it closed on August 1 after less than eight months in business. The announcement came Friday, August 1: “Miami, that was short, salty, and unforgettable. Ensenada is officially closed – forever. We will not be reopening our doors in the future. Muchos gracias to the crew.” The news follows a July 1 post in which the restaurant said it would be “taking a summer hiatus” to “step back, regroup, and reimagine.” At the time, the message struck a familiar tone, one used by several other restaurants facing seasonal slowdowns, and left the door open for a fall return, which never happened.

Itamae AO

Itamae AO, chef Nando Chang’s acclaimed 10-seat omakase counter in Midtown, closed after serving its final dinner on August 2. The decision came shortly after the July closure of Maty’s, run by Chang’s sister Valerie, which also served as the physical entrance to Itamae AO. While this marks the end of his first solo venture, Chang has expressed hopes to reopen Itamae AO in the future. Less than a year after opening, Itamae AO received its first Michelin star in April 2025, cementing its status as one of Miami’s most coveted dining experiences. It was a major career milestone for Nando, who was named one of Food & Wine‘s Best New Chefs back in September 2023. 

La Mar

La Mar by Gastón Acurio closed its waterfront home at the Mandarin Oriental in Brickell Key after 11 years, hosting a heartfelt farewell filled with music pisco sours on May 31. The closure comes as the hotel prepares for a complete rebuild, but chefs Gastón Acurio and Diego Oka have already confirmed a new La Mar will open in Brickell in early 2026. Though the iconic sunset views are gone, the chefs promise an even more stunning space to continue celebrating Peruvian and Nikkei flavors.

Lucky Cat

On August 11, Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat, the hyped, Asian-inspired spot in South of Fifth that debuted with fireworks in early 2024, quietly went dark for the season. In an August 4 Instagram post, the team called it “a moment to breathe” and “a moment to reset,” while teasing “a future to be reimagined.” The farewell thanked guests, partners, and staff for “an incredible first chapter,” but offered no reopening date. Translation: Maybe it’s a pit stop, or maybe it’s the last lap.

Maty’s

Maty’s, chef Valerie Chang’s award-winning Peruvian restaurant in Midtown Miami, closed on July 5 after a celebrated but short run. The restaurant, which earned Valerie a James Beard Award in 2024, was both a critical success and a deeply personal tribute to her late grandmother, Maty. Though this chapter has ended, Chang has hinted at new projects ahead, leaving Miami diners hopeful for what comes next.

Ms. Cheezious

Ms. Cheezious, Miami’s beloved grilled cheese shop, closed its MiMo location after more than a decade, following the sale of its building. The spot, which started as a food truck before becoming a neighborhood staple in 2015, was known for playful creations like the “Frito Pie Melt” and BBQ Pulled Pork Melt. Though the MiMo chapter has ended, the team is planning a new location and will keep serving fans through catering, pickup, and delivery.

Osteria del Teatro

Osteria del Teatro, the iconic Italian restaurant that first opened on Española Way in 1987, closed its North Bay Village location after 37 years. The beloved spot, once known for celebrity sightings and its old-school Northern Italian charm, had previously been saved by loyal patrons in late 2024, but this time the goodbye was final. Owner Gilbert Gonzalez announced the closure on July 15 with a heartfelt Instagram post, leaving longtime fans mourning the end of a Miami dining institution.

Planta Queen

Planta Queen closed around August 1 without much notice to its employees or customers. The closure followed a May Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the brand’s parent company, CHG US Holdings LLC. The first domino to fall was Planta West Palm Beach, which closed May 20, just days after the May 12 bankruptcy filing, in which the Miami Beach-based company cited decreased consumer spending and rising operational costs. By June, the South Beach location appeared to have served its last mushroom “bacon” burger. Coconut Grove’s Planta Queen was still seating guests in late July, but it shuttered by August. Due to its closure, two of its former chefs partnered together to create their own vegan catering service.

RedFarm

RedFarm, the New York import known for its playful dim sum and “Pac-Man Dumplings,” closed its Coconut Grove location less than 18 months after opening. The restaurant announced its final service on June 29, thanking guests on Instagram and hinting at a possible future reopening somewhere in South Florida. Despite its creative menu and star-studded debut, RedFarm never fully connected with Grove diners, struggling with slow foot traffic and mixed local reception.

Sardinia

Sardinia, the beloved Sunset Harbour Italian restaurant, closed in June after 20 years of serving rustic Sardinian fare and boasting one of Miami Beach’s most impressive wine lists. The restaurant, co-owned by chef Pietro Vardeu and Antonio “Tony” Gallo, bid farewell on Father’s Day with a heartfelt social media message calling it “the end of an era.” While its Purdy Avenue location has gone dark, Sardinia hinted at a small outpost operating inside the Blue and Green Diamond Residences in Miami Beach.

Sereia

Sereia, the modern Portuguese-inspired restaurant in Coconut Grove, closed its doors after just 14 months, and its final service was on May 31. Despite earning a spot in the 2025 Michelin Guide and praise for its refined takes on Portuguese cuisine, the restaurant struggled with its off-the-beaten-path location and Miami’s saturated dining market. Chef Miguel Massens hinted that a rebrand or his passion project, Antilia, could rise in its place, leaving room for a hopeful second act.

Torno Subito

Torno Subito Miami, chef Massimo Bottura’s playful Italian rooftop restaurant at Julia & Henry’s in downtown Miami, closed on June 29. The team announced it as a “summer pause,” assuring diners the restaurant plans to return stronger in the fall, with a reopening expected around late September. While the closure highlights the challenges of Miami’s slow summer dining season, Torno Subito leaves behind a strong first year marked by Michelin recognition and critical acclaim.