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 this fall.
INGLESIDE — Italian restaurant Ofena is set to close on Sunday, December 28, the San Francisco Business Times reports. The restaurant opened in September 2023, taking over the space for Lakeside Cafe on Ocean Avenue. Now owner Tan Truong tells the Times that rising food and labor costs, paired with slow foot traffic, contributed to the closure; the restaurant’s landlord has filed an unlawful detainer suit claiming they’re owed $40,000 in back rent. 2529 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco
FREMONT — Jack’s Brewing Company will close following 20 years in business, the Mercury News reports. Owners Brian and Tricia Sparling say that despite the football crowds, “rising opearttting costs, declining sales and major repairs ran their well dry, wiping out Jack’s future,” the story details. They’re hoping another owner will come in to repair the space and reopen again. The final day is Wednesday, December 31. 39176 Argonaut Way, Fremont
SAN RAMON — Long-running Brass Door will close on Wednesday, December 24, due to a lease dispute with the building’s owner, the Mercury News reports. The newspaper states that a lawsuit and counter-complaint between property owner Nancy Schlesinger, whose family has owned the building for 78 years, and restaurant owner Shahla Azad, includes “allegations of unpaid rent, missing maintenance, and pandemic-era woes.” Schlesinger, on her part, says she wants to “fully honor the history and legacy of the property.” 2154 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, San Ramon
EL DORADO HILLS — Mraz Brewing Co. will close on Wednesday, December 31, the Sacramento Bee reports. The brewery opened in 2013, but now an Instagram post announcing the closure states, in part, “Like many small businesses, we’ve faced ongoing challenges, that made it clear this was the right time to close this chapter.” 2222 Francisco Drive, Suite 510, El Dorado Hills
DOGPATCH — Olfactory Brewing bade adieu to its Dogpatch location as of Sunday, December 14. In an Instagram post, Olfactory Brewing shares that the location was “faced with unsustainable operating costs” and that they “failed to negotiate a path forward” leading to the Dogpatch closure. “This was more than 5 years of planning and operating, and it feels like a gut punch to fail,” the post reads in part. “But we’re proud of the space we offered and grateful for the connections we made with so many of you over the years.” The downtown Berkeley location on Center Street remains open. 2245 3rd St, San Francisco
LOWER HAIGHT — Vintage kitchenware shop Cookin’ will close as of Thursday, January 1, the Jewish News of Northern California reports. The shop’s been in business for over 35 years, led by owner Judith Kaminsky, with all manner of kitchen equipment and dishware sourced by Kaminsky over the years at flea markets and more. She will be selling off her merchandise in the coming days, giving an epic sendoff quote to the news outlet: “What’s happening is a sale for the professionals, those who will buy me out. As for the little girls who want to buy two mugs and put it on Apple Pay? Yes, we’re having a sale, but you’re not invited.” 339 Divisadero St, San Francisco
OAKLAND — After 11 years in business, Oakland beer bar the Good Hop will close its doors on Wednesday, December 31. “We faced the same insurmountable challenges that so many other small businesses have shared, and we just can’t swing it anymore,” reads an Instagram post from the business. “It’s sad to see so many beloved businesses closing recently, and we can’t believe we are one of them.” A closing party is set for Saturday, December 20, with a New Year’s Eve bash set for Wednesday, December 31. 2421 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
BERKELEY — Long-running Berkeley favorite Guerilla Cafe has closed after 19 years. Berkeley Eats caught the quiet closure in early December, noting the cafe’s history of being a place for food and coffee, yes, but also community events and art. The publication also mentions Guerilla was co-founded by Red Bay Coffee’s Keba Konte and Rachel Konte, along with Andrea Ali. (Ali took over full ownership after the Kontes sold their portion to her.) 1620 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
FAIRFIELD — Anheuser-Busch will close its Fairfield plant in early 2026, the Mercury News reports. Along with the Fairfield closure, another facility in Merrimack, NH will also close, while a New Jersey facility has been sold to another company. A statement from a company spokesperson says, in part, “we will be shifting production from these three facilities to our other U.S. facilities and these changes will enable us to invest even more in our remaining operations and in our portfolio of growing, industry-leading brands.” The Fairfield location has been open since 1976. Their parent company goes on in its statement to say it “will support the approximately 475 full-time employees currently working at these three facilities by offering all of them a full-time role elsewhere in our U.S. operations.” 3101 Busch Drive, Fairfield
SAN MATEO — Italian restaurant Vespucci closes at the end of the year after 11 years in business, the San Mateo Daily Journal reports. “As Italian immigrants, far from our first home, you made San Mateo feel like our home,” reads a message on the restaurant’s website. You celebrated with us, supported us, and allowed us to become a small part of your lives. For this, we will always be deeply grateful.” The restaurant closes on Wednesday, December 31. 147 East 3rd Avenue, San Mateo
CASTRO — Neighborhood mainstay Courtney’s Produce is closing on Friday, December 5, after 54 years, Hoodline reports. The Courtney’s team posted a letter on its doors announcing the closure and thanking customers. The letter goes on to say that the store is in the process of transitioning to new ownership, although the story reports that employees state that the store is permanently closing. We’ll see what shakes out after the closure. 101 Castro St # A, San Francisco
OUTER RICHMOND — Clement Street’s K-Elements BBQ has closed its doors as of Sunday, November 23. The restaurant served all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue for eight years, and a Facebook post announcing the closure noted that “the landlord has raised the rent to a level we simply cannot sustain.” The post goes on to thank the staff and customers, and states, “We are devastated. We are grateful for the years of support. And above all, we are honored — deeply honored — to have been part of your lives.” 2140 Clement Street, San Francisco
BERKELEY — Chef Kelsie Kerr is closing her popular Berkeley restaurant Standard Fare as of Wednesday, December 19. Kerr made the announcement on Instagram, writing that she’s retiring at the end of the year and thanked her team and customers for 11 years in business. Quickly following the closure news comes the follow-up announcement of who will be taking over the space: The San Francisco Chronicle reports that pop-up Bolita Masa will open in place of Standard Fare, with plans to retain most of the staff. Chef and owner Emmanuel Galvin plans to open Cafe Bolita at first with a takeout window in February 2026, followed by breakfast, brunch, and lunch by March 2026. 2701 Eighth Street, Suite 118, Berkeley
OAKLAND — Piedmont Avenue bar the Lodge is closing as of Wednesday, January 7, 2026. An Instagram post announcing the closure states that business just hasn’t rebounded after the pandemic. “This neighborhood has always been the heart of The Lodge, and we are grateful to have been part of it,” the post says, in part. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with closing costs with an auction of goods from the Lodge set for mid-January. 3758 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland
Dining and Cooking