Whether it's your longtime favorite or even just a place you went once and have great memories, a restaurant closing is almost always a sad time.
Sometimes it's that favorite dish you're going to miss forever or that waitress, waiter or bartender that always went out of their way to be nice and make the experience better. Regardless, restaurant closings can leave a void that is hard to fill and a palate in need of placating.
The only hope or consolation (if you're an optimist anyway) is that whatever takes that location's place will either be even better or goes down in flames so you can at least say that it wasn't your favorite spot, just the space.
Here's a look back on the Palm Beach County dining opportunities that left us 2026.
North Palm Beach County
NiMo Coastal Mediterranean, Tequesta
Opened in February
2024, this coastal Mediterranean restaurant on US 1 in Tequesta offered a wonderful mix of small bites, pizzas and was a favorite happy hour option that went long enough to appeal to average workers. Featuring an indoor/outdoor bar and a charming main dining room, NiMo was led by four-time James Beard nominee chef Niven Patel. Patel also gained national raves for his Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning Ghee Indian Kitchen with locations in Miami and Atlanta.
Hooked on Jupiter, Jupiter
Despite breathtakingly beautiful food and plenty of Instagram posts to prove it, Hooked on Jupiter closed in July 2026. Opened just shy of two years, the restaurant on Indiantown Road made its mark emphasizing fresh seafood and a casual, community-focused dining experience. A manager who was not authorized to speak publicly indicated that rising rent played a role in the decision. In one of their final social media posts they thanked all of their customers and added "this isn't goodbye, it's stay tuned."
Palm Beach Gardens
Asian Fin, Palm Beach Gardens
This long-running popular Palm Beach Gardens restaurant on Donald Ross Road closed its doors on March 28. The Pan-Asian fusion destination was a popular draw for loyal regulars and was known for its high-energy dining room and broad menu. In 2016, Palm Beach Post executive editor John Bisognano reviewed the restaurant and praised their service and consistency. Asian Fin drew good crowds right up until closing with many patrons stopping by to say goodbye to the owners and longtime employees.
Prezzo, Palm Beach Gardens
This once reliable bastion of Italian cuisine closed its doors on June 30. Located on PGA Boulevard, Prezzo had been staple for local diners. Ownership acknowledged that legacy, describing it as a backdrop for “countless memories” over the years. The space is already being transformed into Eddie & Vinny's Coastal Italian. With a location already open and thriving in Coral Springs, the new concept is a more polished, high-energy take on Italian dining.
Grande's Bella Cucina, Palm Beach Gardens
After almost two decades in business, this popular restaurant on Donald Ross Road served its final meals in July 2026. Grande's Bella Cucina opened in 2007 and was well known for its Italian menu, pizzas and courtyard dining. Owner Giuseppe Luppino operated the original Grande's Bella Cucina in New York before bringing the concept to Florida.
West Palm Beach
Oriental Food Market, West Palm Beach
This much-loved, tiny Thai specialty grocery store at 4919 S. Dixie Highway was forced to close on March 1. Operating at the same location for more than 40 years, Oriental Food Market had become extremely popular and was a go-to spot for dishes like house-made kimchi, papaya salad, sticky rice, spring rolls and much more. The closing was unexpected, they said, explaining that their landlord refused to renew the lease. One customer who managed to secure the last two quarts of kimchi before they closed said “You’ll never get this flavor and freshness again,” she said. “This is a community restaurant.”
Tropical BBQ Market, West Palm Beach
Sister restaurant to the wildly popular Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach and a new Tropical Smokehouse in Delray Beach, Tropical BBQ Market on Olive Avenue closed in March. This fast-casual outlet focused on Florida and Caribbean flavors. Owner, chef and pitmaster Rick Mace said it was a hard call to make and that one of the factors was the immediate success of the new Delray Beach restaurant. The booming business at the recently opened Atlantic Avenue location made them realize where they should focus their energy, he said. "We have a location that's three years old and is still doing smaller sales volume than a store that's three months old."
Morton's The Steakhouse, West Palm Beach
Operating out of downtown West Palm Beach's iconic Phillips Point building for more than 30 years, the popular restaurant served its last meals on May 31. Known for old-school service and white-table-cloth ritual, for decades Morton's The Restaurant was the place where business deals unfolded over ribeyes and martinis and the city’s professional class returned again and again. They still have a location in Boca Raton.
City Cellar, West Palm Beach
The last of CityPlace's original restaurants closed its doors on May 24 after a 25-year run. Opened in 2000 as part of the downtown shopping and dining development's original lineup, City Cellar was owned by South Florida-based hospitality firm Big Time Restaurant Group. The business was founded in the early 1990s by Todd Herbst, Bill Watson and Lisabet Summa. A popular spot for business lunches, City Cellar attracted attorneys and judges from the Palm Beach County courthouse. “It was the cafeteria for the courthouse,” Watson said. Attorneys, judges, business leaders and journalists were regulars, he said. “If you wanted to know who was who around West Palm Beach, that’s where you went to lunch.”
Grease Burger Bar, West Palm Beach
This burger destination officially closed their doors on Friday, July 17 after 17 years on Clematis Street. Known for their creative burgers, that featured a house-ground blend of dry-aged sirloin, chuck and brisket and was offered in 10-ounce and Viking-worthy 12-ounce monsters, Grease Burger Bar's closing was a gut punch to many. In 2014, one of their burgers was featured on The Travel Channel program "Food Paradise." The segment highlighted then chef Jordan Stilley's gargantuan creation "The Grease Beast." The behemoth featured two grilled cheese sandwiches as buns that bookended a hulking 12-ounce patty topped with golden fries, crispy onion rings, cheese sauce and a quick drizzle of ranch.
Juliana's Pizza, West Palm Beach
Located in the new Nora District just north of downtown, this pizzeria had a pedigree that should have guaranteed a long run. Sadly, despite Brooklyn roots and ties to pizza icon and Grimaldi founder Patsy Grimaldi, it was not meant to be. Opened in November 2025, Juliana's Pizza closed its doors in June. Some online comments decried the prices, while others said the space was just too big or that it was just a matter of poor timing.
Royal Palm Beach
Maple Street Biscuit Company, Royal Palm Beach
On Southern Boulevard in Royal Palm Beach, this breakfast and brunch spot known for comfort classics like chicken & waffles, biscuit sandwiches, house-made sausage gravy and much more has closed. Part of parent company Cracker Barrel's divestiture of the brand, 35 Maple Street Biscuit Company locations have been sold to Kentucky-based restaurant group Biscuit Belly. They have said publicly that the plan to convert those sites over the next 18 to 24 months.
Lake Worth Beach, Lantana
Mathews Brewing Co., Lake Worth Beach
Known for their multiple award-winning beers, dog-friendly environment and nightly live music, Mathew's Brewing Co. wasn't just located in Lake Worth Beach, it was a part of the community. Founder and brewmaster Dave Mathews announced the closing of the beloved destination in March, citing his age (he had turned 62) and a desire to move closer to his family in the Tampa area. Just a few years back, in late 2023, Mathews had even upped its game beyond beer with the opening of Mathews Brewing Co. Scratch Kitchen across the alley from the brewery. It too was closed.
2 Chef's Souparee, Lake Worth Beach
With lines out the door during its last days in April, 2 Chef's Souparee's longtime customers were desperate to score just one more bowl before the chefs closed their doors forever. Opened in 2007, 2 Chef's Souparee was run by Jane Mazzocchi who acknowledged "we have a lot of customers that are not happy." She said that though the business was doing well, the lease was up at the end of the month and that at nearly 89 years old, it was time. Mozzocchi praised her staff for keeping the spot going as long as they did. "Everybody here has been great, all of my girls and the kitchen staff, they've been very good to me."
Sofra, Lake Worth Beach
Known for their Turkish take on Mediterranean cuisine, Sofra in downtown Lake Worth Beach closed in May. Helmed by chef and owner Tenar Yontem, Sofra sat at the corner of Lake Avenue and South Dixie Highway. Former Post food reporter Liz Balmaseda was fan of their rice pudding and Turkish tea.
Ravish Off Ocean, Lantana
Featuring a gorgeous patio, amazing cuisine and even an occasional burlesque brunch, Ravish Off Ocean closed on March 14. The popular restaurant opened in 2019 and was owned and operated by Alexandra Dupuis, her husband Jordan Rambin and a business partner who together purchased it in January 2022 from original owner Lisa Mercado. But the restaurant with no air conditioning ran up against the summer heat and a steep drop in diners. Dupuis said the indoor/outdoor space was "amazing and wonderful during season, but during off season, it was too much to bear with last summer's record highs." Dupuis and her husband now focus their attention on their Lake Worth Beach hotspot Pomona.
South Palm Beach County
Lefkes Estiatorio, Delray Beach
Just off white hot Atlantic Avenue on Third Street in downtown Delray Beach, Lefkes Estiatorio opened in August 2024. Though renowned for fantastic flavors, beautifully plated dishes and attentive service, this Greek restaurant still relied heavily on late-night Mykonos-inspired revelry. That side of the business ran into stiff competition vying for attention with nearby Bounce, Good Night John Boy and others. Lefkes closed in late May.
Hooters, Boca Raton
Well known for wings, beer and waitresses clad in low-cut tops and orange shorts, the last Hooters in Palm Beach County closed its doors in February. The Boca Raton restaurant on NW 19th Street hosted multiple Guest Appreciation Days before ending their run. At its peak the chain boasted more than 430 locations worldwide, alongside ventures like Hooters Air, a television show, Miss Hooters pageants and the iconic Hooters Girls calendar.
Stage, Boca Raton
Helmed by James Beard Award semifinalist chef Pushkar Marathe, Stage served its last meal on July 5. The restaurant opened in early 2025 and was the sister location to the original in Palm Beach Gardens which was a USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year winner in 2024 and two-time Michelin Guide recommendation. It remains busy and open. Marathe plans to open Boca Brasserie on the site, a restaurant centered on American classics and a more approachable price point.
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: A rundown of Palm Beach County restaurants that closed in 2026
