Saddest Vancouver restaurant closures that happened this winter
The restaurant industry has been suffering lately, and this winter was no exception. From cafes to bakeries and Michelin-recommended eateries, we reported on almost 50 restaurant closures during this season.
Here’s your updated list of restaurants that have closed their doors this winter.
Mello Arbutus
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The popular brioche donut maker operates two locations in Vancouver’s Chinatown and on Arbutus Street, and the latter closed on Feb. 17.
In an Instagram post shared Tuesday morning, the business broke down its reasoning for the not-so-sweet move, citing the upcoming redevelopment of its building as the cause.
Address: 4635 Arbutus St., Vancouver
Arike
Nigerian restaurant Arike, located at 1725 Davie St. in Vancouver, has quietly closed its doors. An announcement from the restaurant has yet to be made; however, its Instagram page has been deactivated. Additionally, it’s listed as “Temporarily Closed” on Google, and the City of Vancouver’s business licence database lists the restaurant and its catering business as having “gone out of business.”
Arike was a two-time Michelin-recommended restaurant, making the list during Michelin’s Vancouver debut in 2022 as well as in 2023. It was best known for its dishes featuring house-made rubs and spice mixes, alongside seasonal dishes and its high-quality cocktail program.
Address: 1725 Davie St., Vancouver
Don Oso’s Vancouver
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Mexican restaurant Don Oso’s broke the news in late January that it has closed the doors to its Vancouver location.
The reason for the closure? The restaurant said it’s due to rising operating costs and a significant increase in its lease.
“Despite our best efforts, with the rising operating cost these days we’ve been unable to overcome the financial challenges in these hard times, and with a 150% increase to our lease, this has not only made it unattainable but impossible. After much reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision that this is the right time for us to close our doors,” said Don Oso’s.
Address: 1305 Commercial Dr., Vancouver
Kev’s Épicerie
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Kev’s Épicerie announced that it had closed the doors to its Vancouver grocery store at 961 Denman St.
“It’s with mixed emotions that we announce the closure of Kev’s Épicerie. While we’re saying goodbye, we want to say THANK YOU to all of our amazing customers who have supported us along the way,” said the grocery store.
Kev’s was a European-inspired market best known for its “gourmet food” offerings like pantry and picnic staples such as cheeses, cured meats, olives, pasta, sauces, olive oils, vinaigrettes, crackers, and ready-to-heat gourmet frozen meals.
Address: 961 Denman St., Vancouver
Cartems Donuts
Cartems shared the news on its social channels and website with an emotional note thanking all its supporters for over a decade of delicious operations.
Widely known as one of the best donut makers in town, Cartems served up tasty takes on classic flavours and carved out a space of its own with unique offerings like the London Fog, Honey Parmesan, and Smoked Maple Walnut donuts. Its final day was Feb. 14.
Address: 2190 Main St., Vancouver
Address: 91 Golden Dr., Coquitlam
Starbucks Keefer Place
A notice posted at the International Village location at 99 Keefer Pl. and shared online announced that Starbucks #04341 will close on Friday, Feb. 14.
Dished confirmed the news with a phone call to the Gastown location, with a team member stating that Valentine’s Day would be their last in operation.
“As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio to ensure it meets the needs of our partners (employees), customers and the communities we serve,” a rep for Starbucks told Dished.
“When we approach the end of a lease with any of our stores, we routinely review the partner and customer experience and after careful consideration, we decided to not renew our lease and close the store at 99 Keefer Pl.”
Address: 99 Keefer Pl., Vancouver
The Buck & Ear
The Joseph Richard Group (JRG) shared that The Buck & Ear pub would be closing its doors.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Steveston community for making The Buck & Ear such a special place for so many years,” said Ryan Moreno, CEO of JRG.
“This pub has been more than just a business—it’s been a gathering place, a home for stories, laughter, and friendships that have lasted a lifetime. While this chapter is closing, we remain committed to Steveston and to honouring the history that The Buck & Ear has been a part of.”
As for the reason for the closure, JRG cited ongoing economic pressures, rising operational costs, fees, and taxes.
Address: 12111 Third Ave., Richmond
JJ Bean Dunsmuir
JJ Bean shared on its website that it closed its Dunsmuir location on Feb. 26, 2025.
“We love this neighbourhood and our people at Dunsmuir but like every business, we are sometimes forced to make difficult decisions,” shared the cafe online.
Dished reached out to JJ Bean CEO John Neate, who said that the main reason for the closure of JJ Bean Dunsmuir was a similar issue that he faced at his now-closed Woodward’s location: the safety of his employees.
Address: 425 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver
Oyo Korean Noodles
Oyo served a variety of dishes, all under $10, like Soyo Noodles, Tteokbokki, and Beef Dumplings. The spot operated in Pokerrito at 991 Hornby St., found through two tiny doors at the back of the restaurant.
An official announcement of the closure has yet to be made by the restaurant, but it is currently listed as closed both on Google and in its Instagram bio. Additionally, it’s listed as “Gone Out of Business” on the Vancouver business licence open data portal.
Address: Inside Pokerrito — 991 Hornby St., Vancouver
El Compañero
In an emotional message on Instagram, the El Compañero team said the current economic climate had left them with no choice but to shutter.
The restaurant said it was with a “heavy heart” and a “profound sense of sadness” that they shared this news. Known for serving up Mexican eats and sips and offering a great atmosphere, the business thanked both staff and customers for their support over the years.
Address: 33486 South Fraser Wy., Abbotsford
Pho Tam Surrey
Located at 10302 City Pkwy., Surrey, Pho Tam has served pho and other Vietnamese favourites for over three decades.
The restaurant announced the closure by posting signs on its window.
“Our family and staff would like to thank everyone who has supported us through three decades of service,” read the sign.
Address: 10302 City Pkwy., Surrey
Pizzeria Barbarella
The East Vancouver pizza destination posted the news on social media over the weekend, just one day before its last day of service on Sunday, March 2. It had been open at 654 East Broadway for over a decade.
While the news was heartbreaking for longtime customers, the owners shared nothing but gratitude for its loyal community.
“Huge thanks to our loyal customers, our wonderful suppliers, and to our truly awesome staff,” said Pizzeria Barbarella in a post on Instagram and Facebook. “Despite the lack of financial success, Barbarella has always been a very special place because of all of you, and it’s been an honour to be part of the community.
Address: 654 East Broadway, Vancouver
Espressotec
Located at 1015 Clark Dr., Vancouver, Espressotec was a coffee equipment store where you could find a wide variety of equipment, beans, milk alternatives, and more. It’s also home to Roaster Central, a coffee-tasting bar.
“The rising costs of operations have made it difficult to sustain our brick-and-mortar space,” shared the store on its Instagram.
Its online store is still up and running.
Address: 1015 Clark Dr., Vancouver
Rainbow Cafe Bubble Waffle
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Rainbow Cafe Bubble Waffle has closed its doors because the owners have decided to retire after 30 years of operation.
Parker Place Mall, where Rainbox Cafe Bubble Waffle is located, shared the sad news on Instagram.
“Rainbow Cafe has been a beloved spot at Parker Place for 30 years, run by a sibling duo,” said the mall. “It was Richmond’s first bubble waffle shop.”
Address: Parker Place — 4380 Number 3 Rd., Richmond
Gastronomy Gastown
“We faced a lot of the same difficulties that a lot of other great restaurants in Vancouver face if they are not backed by big restaurant groups,” shared a representative of Gastronomy.
For those unfamiliar, Gastronomy was a 39-seat Italian restaurant serving food that was described as “modern-day Vancouver with Italian influence.” It opened its doors in January 2023.
Address: 62 East Cordova, Vancouver
Vegas Donuts
Just five months after initially opening, Vegas Donuts closed its latest location with plans to move to Maple Ridge.
Owner of Vegas Donuts, Mike McBean, confirmed to Dished that the shop would be moving its 1610 Robson St. location to 22361 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge, in January. However, McBean did not provide a reason for the move.
Address: 1610 Robson St., Vancouver
Hive Cafe
While the cafe has yet to make a formal announcement on its social media, the windows for the spot have been papered up, and it’s currently listed as “Temporarily Closed” on Google.
Dished reached out to Hive Cafe for more information but has not heard back.
Other recent closures in New Westminster include Hub Restaurant (which has since turned into Big Way Hot Pot’s latest location) and Fratelli Bakery.
Address: 609 Front St., New Westminster
Horangee Sikdang
Toronto-based new-wave Korean bistro Horangee Sikdang, which opened its doors in July 2024, has closed just five months later.
The restaurant has yet to make an announcement of the closure, but it is currently listed as “Permanently Closed” on Google.
However, a new restaurant has already moved into the space.
Address: 1184 Denman St. #203, Vancouver
Grains Fish Noodle
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Grains Fish Noodle specializes in fish and grain noodle soups, which are made with pork and fish broth and special multigrain noodles.
On Dec. 15, Grains Fish Noodle closed its Kingsway location. This was its only Vancouver location, but it still has two outposts in Richmond and one in Burnaby.
Address: 2427 Kingsway, Vancouver
Aphrodite Organic Cafe
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Longstanding Kitsilano staple Aphrodite Organic Cafe closed for good on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, after over 20 years of serving the community.
“After many years of being a beloved destination in Kitsilano, the rising costs of doing business has simply become too much for us to continue,” said the cafe. “We want to take these last couple of weeks to honour and celebrate our amazing staff, our wonderful customers and our incredible products.”
Address: 3605 W 4th Ave., Vancouver
Kulinarya Filipino Eatery
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Kulinarya Filipino Eatery, best known for its Kamayan-style dining, a Filipino meal eaten with your hands instead of plates and cutlery, announced it would be closing its Coquitlam location.
“We are deeply grateful to the Coquitlam community for embracing us, supporting us, and being a part of our journey. Your love and encouragement have been the heart of Kulinaryas,” continued the restaurant.
But don’t worry; its Vancouver location at 1134 Commercial Drive remains open.
Address: 114-292 Glen Dr., Coquitlam
Ju Restaurant
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Ju Restaurant, located at 782 Cambie St., Vancouver, opened its doors on July 4, 2024. The space was previously occupied by Black Rice Izakaya, which closed its doors after 10 years of operation.
“I know it only lasted six months,” said general manager Young Shin, “but it also was enough time to learn that the concept and type of cuisine does not belong in the neighbourhood.”
Address: 782 Cambie St., Vancouver
Five Roads Brewing Taproom
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Langley-based Five Roads Brewing closed the doors to its Richmond taproom location.
“It’s a tough decision that we’ve had to make especially with the many friends we’ve made and great times we’ve shared over the past few years in Richmond,” shared the brewery on Instagram.
Address: 12251 No 1 Rd. #130, Richmond
The Den
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Located at 1348 Robson St. inside the Barclay Hotel, The Den was a cozy spot to play arcade cabinets like Golden Tee, pinball, skee ball, and more while you enjoy a drink with friends.
Address: 1348 Robson St., Vancouver
Paragon Tea Room — Cambie Street
Paragon Tea Room announced on Instagram that it closed its Cambie Village location, with plans to relocate in Vancouver. The tea room said the reason for the closure is because the landlord is preparing to make way for a new development.
“While we understand the nature of change, it’s hard to say goodbye to this space that has been home to so many great moments shared over tea,” said Paragon.
Paragon continues to operate its locations in YVR Airport and its new location at 4328 No. 3 Road in Richmond, which opened in September 2024.
Address: 3361 Cambie St., Vancouver
Liberte Cafe and Restaurant
Liberte Cafe and Restaurant took to Instagram to announce that it would close its doors at the end of February.
“After many wonderful years of serving you, the landlord has decided to increase our rent exorbitantly, and we will not renew our lease due to the unfair rent increase,” said the restaurant. “Since our government has no limitations on excessive rent increases, we ask that our loyal community continue to support local longstanding family businesses as a way of community action and awareness of the injustices when landlords prioritize capital over community.”
Address: 3670 Vanness Ave., Vancouver
Punk Rock Pastries
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Punk Rock Pastries’s owner, Hollie Fraser, shared a video on Instagram with the news that the bakery would be closing its storefront.
“As you’ve probably been seeing, there’s been a lot of places shutting down this year. Unfortunately, this will be Punk Rock Pastries’ last year,” Fraser said.
Currently, orders are still available for pick-up and delivery.
Address: 5548 Hastings St., Burnaby
Grub
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Grub wrapped up its final dinner service at the end of October.
The spot was best known as a cozy neighbourhood restaurant with an ever-changing menu. It served items like duck confit, lamb fricassee, and bison bolognese, just to name a few.
Address: 4328 Main St., Vancouver
City Square Pizza
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Vancouver pizza fans now have one less option as City Square Pizza has closed its West End location.
The Davie Street pizzeria posted the news on Instagram, explaining that it had made the decision to close “with careful consideration.”
Address: 1112 Davie St., Vancouver
Chicken Plus x Sulbing Cafe
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Located at 6360 Kingsway, Burnaby, this was the chain’s first and only Metro Vancouver spot, opening in 2022. It was best known for its various styles of chicken and tteokbokki.
While the restaurant has not officially announced its closure, a new eatery, Sushi Bay and Oyster Bar, has already opened in the space.
Address: 6360 Kingsway, Burnaby
Le Doux Ciel — Parq
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Sad news, pastry lovers: Le Doux Ciel has closed its downtown Vancouver locations after five years of operation.
This location, which opened in 2019, was best known for its afternoon tea experience alongside its delicious sweets like croissants, tarts, and cakes, to name just a few. It also used to operate a location in Aberdeen Centre, which has since closed.
This spot’s Broadway location (1050 West Broadway, Vancouver) is still open, and it’s got an outpost opening soon at SFU.
Address: 65 Smithe St., Vancouver
Ramen Gaoh
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Ramen Gaoh took to Instagram this past fall to announce that its final day of service would be Nov. 30, 2024.
“After careful consideration and evaluation of various factors, It is with humble gratitude and a heavy heart that we announce the closing of Ramen Gaoh,” said the ramen spot.
Address: 4518 Hastings St., Burnaby
Forage
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You may have heard that Listel Hotel Vancouver was closing to undergo redevelopment when Urbanized shared the news earlier this year, but with it also came an unfortunate restaurant closure.
Forage, located at 1300 Robson St., was best known for its locavore-focused menu, and it closed in November.
Address: 1300 Robson St., Vancouver
Johnnie Fox’s Irish Pub
Daily Hive
Signs in the windows at Johnnie Fox’s Irish Pub indicate that the building is available for lease, and the curtains have been drawn in all the windows.
Additionally, Google lists the spot as “Permanently Closed.” However, the pub has yet to announce a closure on its social media.
Address: 1601 Main St., Vancouver
Menya Itto Vancouver
Rich Won
It’s been two years since Menya Itto, the cult ramen brand hailing from Japan, opened its first North American location in Vancouver.
In November, the restaurant shared that it would shut down its Robson Street outpost and withdraw from the Canadian market altogether.
When it launched in Vancouver in 2022, it was the number-one-rated, most famous shop in Tokyo. With that acclaim came tons of hype prior to the opening.
Address: 1479 Robson St., Vancouver
Perverted Ice Cream
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Perverted Ice Cream closed its doors at midnight on Oct. 31.
“This closure was not my choice and came as a shock but, for many reasons, it turned out to be a blessing,” said owner Jade Ratcliffe.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the ice cream spot. Ratcliffe shared that this is not a goodbye but a see you later, and to expect bigger things to come.
Address: 797 Thurlow St., Vancouver
Ikoi Cha
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Ikoi Cha, a mochi donut shop, has quietly closed the doors to its Robson location.
The restaurant has not made a formal closure announcement, but the business’s windows have been papered up, and the spot is listed as “Permanently Closed” on Google.
Address: 386 Robson St., Vancouver
Say Mercy!
Katie Cross Photography
Say Mercy! wrapped up operations after five years of serving the Fraserhood community.
Say Mercy! has been delighting locals with its signature blend of Americano and Italiano cuisine, championing what it called “an unexpected love story” between cultures.
“It is with a heavy heart that Say Mercy announces its closure, with the final service set for November 2, 2024,” the restaurant shared on Instagram.
Address: 4298 Fraser St., Vancouver
Kalamish
Dished
Kalamish opened its doors in January 2024 and served kebabs, pasta, and more.
While the restaurant has yet to make a formal announcement, the spot is now listed as “Permanently Closed” on Google. Additionally, the restaurant’s windows are papered up, and the sign has been removed.
Located at 617 Stamps Landing, the Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant closed after less than a year of operation in the former location of Branas restaurant.
Address: 617 Stamps Landing, Vancouver
Squish Juicery
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Squish Juicery, located in Coquitlam Centre, announced that it has closed after six years of operation.
“These last few years have been filled with constant uncertainty beyond our control, the battle with produce inflation, plastic inflation and honestly a rising cost at every single corner,” shared the juicery on Instagram.
Squish Juicery, owned by Callan and Jessica Morrison, was best known for its vast selection of juices and smoothie bowls. In December 2023, it also closed its original Port Coquitlam location.
Address: Coquitlam Centre — 2929 Barnet Hwy., Coquitlam
JJ Bean CBC Plaza
Amir Ali/Daily Hive
“Ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics, we were offered the opportunity to build a temporary structure as a pop-up location on the CBC plaza. ‘The Shack,’ as it has affectionately come to be known, experienced wonderful staff and customers over the years, and we will be forever thankful for both,” said JJ Bean.
“Since the pandemic significantly changed downtown culture with more remote work, the location has not been busy enough to justify the renewal of the agreement.”
For those worried about where they’ll grab their JJ Bean fix, you can visit one of its many other downtown locations.
Address: 740 Hamilton St., Vancouver
S+L Kitchen and Bar — Surrey
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S+L Kitchen’s South Surrey location closed its doors on Sept. 25. Dished reached out to the Joseph Richard Group of Companies (JRG), which owns S+L and other spots like The Henry, Oak and Thorne, and The Buck and Eat.
“Unfortunately, that location, post-pandemic, has been a challenge. We looked at a number of options, but ultimately, it made the most economic sense to focus our efforts on our other locations,” shared co-founder and CEO of JRG Ryan Moreno. “Thankfully, no other locations are planned to close.
Fans of S+L will still be able to visit its Langley and Abbotsford locations.
Address: 16051 24th Ave., Surrey
Avo House
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Japanese restaurant Avo House, located at 1509 Robson Street, is now closed. This was also the location of Kazami Sushi, which closed its doors in 2022.
Address: 1509 Robson St., Vancouver
Zubu Food Hall
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The chain confirmed with Dished that Zubu Food Hall at Olympic Village has closed.
Located at 159 W. 4th Avenue, Vancouver, the spot served tasty dishes like ramen, hand rolls, and sushi. But don’t worry — you can still enjoy your Zubu favourites at its downtown, Kerrisdale, Park Royal, and Metrotown locations.
Nana’s Green Tea has confirmed that it will open in the space and move from its current Kerrisdale location.
Address: 159 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver
Autostrada Osteria Main Street
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In an email, Autostrada Osteria broke the news that it had closed the doors of its Main Street location.
“It hasn’t been an easy decision to close this location and while we do so with heavy hearts, we want to wholeheartedly thank each and every guest that’s walked through our doors,” the restaurant shared in the email.
Address: 4811 Main St., Vancouver
Cioppino’s
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Cioppino’s, located at 1133 Hamilton St. in Yaletown, closed its doors on Dec. 21.
Founder and chef Pino Posteraro told Dished, “At the moment, at 60 years of age, I want to finish strongly (along with loyal and dedicated staff) the last eight months of our glorious 25 years of business.”
Address: 1133 Hamilton St., Vancouver
Mr. Tonkatsu
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Located in Surrey, Mr. Tonkatsu took to Instagram to share that its final day was on March 9.
“Since opening our doors in April 2019, we have been truly grateful for your incredible support. It has been an honour to serve you, and every meal shared has meant the world to us,” stated the restaurant. “With heavy hearts, we announce that we will be closing.”
Address: 10320 152nd St., Surrey
Circus Play Cafe
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Circus Play Cafe — one of the city’s most kid-friendly spaces — announced the sad news on its Instagram account over the weekend.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we share Circus Play Café has been forced to close permanently. This was unexpected and not the way we wanted to say goodbye, but we are so incredibly grateful for everyone who has been part of our community, every moment here has meant so much to this team of incredible people,” stated the eatery in its caption.
Address: 1502 East Hastings St., Vancouver
Townhall Langley
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The longstanding Townhall Public House located in Langley will be closing its doors at the end of February after 15 years of operation.
“We’ve made the bittersweet decision to sell the location, and while it’s the end of an era for us, we’re excited to see what the new owners have in store when they take over in March,” shared Townhall on Instagram.
Address: 19640 64th Ave., Langley