This is a curated list of the Bay Area’s most notable and permanent restaurant and bar closures, with new updates published once a week. See a closing we missed? Then drop us a line. For more news, check out our list of restaurants that closed earlier in April.
May 26
MARINA — Long-running restaurant Ristobar closed after 22 years in business on Monday, May 25. A press release announcing the closure thanked guests, neighbors, and chefs who’ve worked at the Italian restaurant over the years, writing in part, “Together, they helped create not just a restaurant, but a place filled with memories, friendships, celebrations, and authentic Italian spirit.” The press release goes on to say that the space will continue on in a partnership with Eria Events, with more
info to come in the upcoming weeks. 2300 Chestnut Street, San Francisco
OAKLAND — Gold Palm, the bar and kitchen that championed cocktails paired with Pakistani party food, will close as of Wednesday, May 27. Gold Palm (and its accompanying speakeasy, Moonglow) came from Bar Shiru owners Shirin Raza and Daniel Gahr, opening in the former Palmetto space inside Oakland’s Floral Depot building in October 2024. In a press release announcing the closure of Gold Palm, the couple cited “current economic conditions, persistent post-pandemic headwinds and the acute challenges of operating in Uptown Oakland” as the reason they decided to “drastically reconsider the future of the business.” Moonglow will continue to operate, although it will no longer be accessed through Gold Palm; Gahr states that the change gives them an opportunity to reapproach how they operate the bar, which will continue on with cocktails, small bites (including Gold Palm’s masala fries), and underground electronic music. 1900 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
OAKLAND — “Mezcal and espresso bar” Mixé is now closed. East Bay Nosh received a reader tip on the closure, confirming that it’s listed as closed on Yelp and the restaurant website is down. Mixé opened on December 6, 2024. 2337 Broadway, Oakland
OAKLAND — Chef Albert Ok announced via Instagram that his restaurant, Oken, will close as of Sunday, May 31. “The restaurant industry is tough and we are not big on making excuses or elaborate stories,” the post reads in part. “We will take our time to reassess our situation and examine what our options are.” Oken served dishes with Korean and Japanese influences, such as yukhwe onigiri and oxtail jjigae, earning itself a spot on the 2025 Eater SF Awards list in its opening year. 6200 Claremont Avenue, Oakland
BERKELEY — Downtown Berkeley restaurant Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya is set to close as of Sunday, June 14. The news was announced in an Instagram post that thanked customers for their support over the last six years. Owner Yoshika Hedberg expanded on the reasons behind the closure with the San Francisco Chronicle, stating that the restaurant’s lease is up and she chose not to renew it, as the restaurant was no longer profitable. The Instagram post noted that Hedberg has decided to “semi-retire,” telling the Chronicle that she is leaving the restaurant industry; co-owner Asuka Uchida and chef Shin Okamoto departed in the restaurant’s last two years. 2451 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
May 6
FIDI — With the sale of the Transamerica Pyramid to Yoda PLC comes the shocking news that chef Bradley Kilgore’s trio of restaurants — Cafe Sebastian, MadLab, and Ama — has all shut down as of Monday, May 4, Tablehopper reports. The news was shared with Transamerica tenants in a letter from property management, reading in part, “This transition reflects the new [owner’s] long-term redevelopment vision for Three Transamerica as well as to all the F&B outlets in the Transamerica Complex. We thank Mr. Kilgore and his team for the creativity and dedication they brought to the property, and for the culinary experience they created for our community.”
Kilgore issued a statement thanking his team and, in contrast, shares more details on the closings: “When ownership changed, the required rent to continue operating became unaffordable. This, combined with the fact that they plan to demolish the building where the restaurants are, made it impossible to continue.” The statement goes on to say that Kilgore Hospitality Group is exploring next steps in San Francisco. Cafe Sebastian opened in November 2024, followed by MadLab in December 2024, and Ama in September 2025.
