The announcement came Friday, August 1, via Instagram and an incredibly frank post: "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. That's no longer the case.
Main plates (para compartir) showcased items like pescado del día "al pibil" with recado rojo and black beans, and a skate wing tempura served with mole amarillo and XO salsa seca.
Ensenada photo
A Brief but Impactful Run
Ensenada opened in December 2024 at 7301 Biscayne Blvd., inside the former Mr. Mandolin space in MiMo's Vagabond Hotel. It was the Miami offshoot of a Brooklyn concept that had drawn national attention and a James Beard nomination. Chef Luis Herrera, formerly of Cosme, led the project alongside restaurateur Bryce David and the team from Mandolin Aegean Bistro.The menu leaned heavily on seafood, with multiple aguachiles, rotating crudos, and large-format "fiesta cruda" platters paired with house salsas and mezcal cocktails. The dessert program stood out, offering items like an heirloom tomato ice cream, a carajillo affogato, and a concha ice cream sandwich. In June, it was named Best Mexican Restaurant in New Times' annual Best of Miami issue, just weeks before it quietly shut its doors.
Ensenada served ice cream flavors like guava, heirloom tomato, soursop, and lemon verbena, alongside specialties like a carajillo affogato and a concha ice cream sandwich
Ensenada photo
Part of a Larger Trend
The closure comes amid a string of high-profile restaurant departures in Miami. RedFarm in Coconut Grove, Ms. Cheezious in MiMo, Torno Subito at Julia & Henry's, and Sereia in Coconut Grove have all shuttered or suspended service this summer. Michelin-starred EntreNos in Miami Shores also closed its doors in recent weeks.Whether prompted by rising rents, staffing challenges, or the sharp drop in summer traffic, more and more operators are choosing to scale back or shut down entirely. Some are calling it quits. Others are retooling quietly behind the scenes, hoping to re-emerge in cooler months. But for Ensenada, the run is over.
No word yet on what, if anything, will take over the space inside the Vagabond.
Ensenada. 7301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 786-953-6668; ensenadamiami.com.
