79 notable NYC restaurants and bars that permanently closed since 2020

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This Lower East Side Vietnamese restaurant was one of the early leaders in showcasing the Southeast Asian country’s cuisine with a modern twist. The owners still have their popular restaurant Di An Di in Greenpoint.

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Keith McNally’s formula for a hit French brasserie didn’t survive the tough conditions, between a health crisis that left downtown Manhattan like a ghost town and a beautiful restaurant that never quite gained momentum like his other spots in town.

The Alinea Group’s high-end cocktail dens—The Aviary NYC and The Office (a speakeasy concept)—inside the Mandarin Oriental were reportedly already slated to close in April but the pandemic pushed the date ahead. We marveled at the mad scientist-level concoctions here (even if the pricey cocktails meant it wasn’t an everyday spot).

Delores Tronco-DePierro, who opened Denver's popular Work & Class, and her husband, executive chef John DePierro, offered a taste of difficult-to-find Southwestern bites. The dinner menu presented dishes like pork spiked with hatch green chillies, New Mexican wedding cookies topped with toasted corn ice cream and other intriguing items. 

Eddie Huang’s hit pork buns, dubbed the Chairman Bao, lured countless fans to his tiny shops downtown—he started on the Lower East Side in 2009 and eventually opened in the East Village on 14th Street—for the glistening slabs of Niman Ranch pork belly topped with Taiwanese condiments like powdered peanuts mixed with red sugar and pickled mustard greens sandwiched between. Other hits, which were perennial favorites on the best cheap eats lists across the city, included the Birdhaus Bao (fried chicken), Uncle Jesse Bao (fried tofu) and Fried Fish Bao—they were all under $6 each.

We’ll always remember the burgers at Gabriel Stulman’s gastropub, an intimate 28-seat corner spot in the West Village. It was a place that felt like it catered to locals as much as diners there on a first date.

The ethically-minded meatery shuttered its Hudson Yards location after little more than a year due to the pandemic. The vacancy has since been filled with a third NYC outpost of Israeli fast-casual spot Miznon. 

After reopening delays long enough for an entire offshoot—Bar Benno—to open in the interim, Michelin-starred Benno officially closed for good in the last days of 2021, according to The New York Times. The paper also reported that the eponymous chef Jonathan Benno will also separate from his other Evelyn hotel properties, the aforementioned Bar Benno and Leonelli Bakery. 

A bright spot of the Upper East Side dining scene, Beyoglou offered reliable (and affordable) Turkish food that was perfect for a group of friends to share a meal.

It may be only rock & roll, but we like it, and so does Black & White. Thankfully, though the East Village bar closed at 86 East 10th Street at the end of October, it might get a second chance at another location, according to a social media post from the team. 

Danny Meyer’s jazzy barbecue joint routinely topped the short list of Manhattan’s best ’cue contenders with both wet sauces and dry rubs. However, it wasn't enough for the Flatiron spot to withstand the pressures of the pandemic: “Over nearly two decades, we’ve had an amazing ride and I can’t begin to express how beautiful it has been to make so many lasting friendships in both the barbecue and jazz communities,” Meyer said in a closing statement in December. “Those relationships live on.”

The formerly Michelin-starred Cafe China closed its original doors last summer. Happily, it opened a new location quite nearby on December 1, 2021. 

Long running Cuban/pan-Latino Calle Ocho had to close its doors on January 23 after more than two decades serving the Upper West Side, according to West Side Rag. Its sibling restaurant Bodega 88 is still open nearby. 

The health-focused plates like chutney-topped cauliflower steak and quinoa tagliatelli studded with beet greens and sunflower kernels in this 70-seat American dining room had a loyal following. But like restaurants before it, the ace location on Sixth Avenue and Bleecker remains tough for business.

The Old New York reboot of an erstwhile literati haunt first got cooking in 1922 before succumbing to a fire and finally reopening in 2016. It was well regarded and stayed popular throughout its five year return. 

After nearly a century in operation at a few locations—including a storied stretch as Manhattan's most thirsted-after speakeasy— 21 Club and its famous jockey statues waved goodbye for the "foreseeable future" due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a spokesperson announced in a statement in December. 

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This iconic nightclub was the it place to be during its heyday, but several incarnations later, its Times Square location was forced to close in May of 2020, with promises to return some day. And now it has at a new address, according to W42ST.

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This neighborhood bar is an anomaly in an area where businesses are often structured to become the latest hip downtown restaurant. Sure, Daddy-O offered a fine cocktail menu and some great whiskeys, but the overall vibe was casual and welcoming.

After temporary closing due to the pandemic and then preparing to reopen this past spring, Diamond Reef bar lost its lease, according to its website. But there might be a glimmer of hope just yet, as its owners “fully intend to find another space for Diamond Reef,” an Instagram post reads. 

For those who crave not just great drinks, but also the culture of drinking well, there's a certain thrill that comes with encountering a bar that you want to get to know beyond the first date. The gorgeous Donna, a breezy, rum-soaked drinkery secreted away near the Williamsburg waterfront, was long-term relationship material. Alas, a tragic break-up was inevitable due to COVID-19: In a statement on the bar's website, co-owner Leif Young Huckman wrote, "Donna will offer its last service for the foreseeable future on Saturday, November 28th. We overcame the famine of our first months of operation, a fire in year two, but after 8 ½ years of service, we cannot overcome this plague."

This East Village barbecue joint meldded Texas-style meats with Southeast Asian flavors. But it was a watermelon "ham" that went viral a few years ago that put Ducks Eatery on the map. We'll miss the innovative fare, both the IG bait and staple menu items.

Long before Williamsburg became so trendy that it was no longer truly hip, Egg was the spot for breakfasts and long weekend brunches. You'd perch on mismatched chairs at a paper-covered table, wake up at a leisurely speed to the old-time folk music on the sound system, and tuck into a cheap meal that may include eggs Rothko (a slice of brioche with a hole in the middle that accommodates a sunny-side-up egg, all of which is covered with sharp cheddar) or a terrific country-ham biscuit sandwich.

This respected bars served drinks that felt like they came from a mad scientist's lab witih lots of high-tech and wizardry. The seasoned owners Dave Arnold (Booker and Dax), Don Lee (PDT) and Greg Boehm (Cocktail Kingdom) ensured the cocktails were painstakingly perfect. 

The Fat Radish may have had a reputation for being a hangout for the fashion set, but it was a destination worthy for its food, too, including burgers and seasonal salads.

"It's with bittersweet news that we're officially announcing the closing of our doors here at Feast," the restaurant's team announced on Instagram back in November. But, thankfully here, with bad news comes some good: Texas-inspired newcomer Yellow Rose has permanently moved into the space after a weeks-long pop-up collaboration with the Feast crew. 

Even the city’s perpetually packed restaurants have been forced to close since the onset of the pandemic, and Fedora fits that category. When we were able to get a table we always enjoyed the easy atmosphere inside, steak sandwich and cocktails.

An East Village fixture for nearly 100 years, Gem Spa was known as much for serving its egg creams as its punk roots. The shop was already struggling to survive, but the early 2020s were just too tough.

This neighborhood favorite in Chelsea on Sixth Avenue was one of the rare restaurants open 24/7 and an example of yet another dying breed of business: a no-frills New York City diner with quick, comfortable and warm (if no-nonsense) service.

A coffee shop—designed by the MP Shift team—popular for neighborhood regulars and visitors to Fort Greene alike, this corner spot was idyllic for striking up conversations with strangers (in other words, it felt like a community space).

The London flagship of this luxe Cantonese chain, which includes multiple locations worldwide, was the first Chinese restaurant to achieve Michelin-star status. At this 11,000-square-foot outpost, diners could order the original's signature plates, like roasted silver cod with champagne sauce and Chinese honey, and stir-fry black-pepper rib eye with merlot. It had a reputation for being expensive and for its club-restaurant feel, but when it came down to the food, especially the dim sum selection, many of the dishes hit the spot.

R.I.P. to the perfect hangover cure that was the pork chop over rice at this Chinatown takeout spot. According to reports, the restaurant seemingly closed early in the pandemic and the phone line has been disconnected. 

Crown Heights’ Hunky Dory announced its plans to close on October 31 on its website, but not before a packed schedule of events that reminded fans of the lively spot why they’d miss it so much–and offered an opportunity to say goodbye. 

Known for concoctions that were as tasty as they were whimsical, this creative creamery announced on social media that it would be closing its doors permanently in November of 2020. "We want to thank our loyal fans, customers, partners, and community for the past 7 amazing years. We are blessed to have been given the opportunity to share our vision for ice cream with the world," reads a statement on the shop's site. 

NYC’s favorite Filipino gastropub closed on First Avenue in September of 2021 after spending nine years building its following in the East Village and beyond. 

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The East Village boasted a destination sushi restaurant long before expensive omakase tasting menus became the norm among the city’s top Japanese restaurants. Jewel Bako offered pristine seafood with a stellar sake selection.

Life got sweeter for Prospect Heights residents when this 25-seat, buttermilk-colored patisserie opened in 2006. Fourteen years later, the shop sadly closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the owners announced in a Facebook post in September. 

If anyone can claim to be an expert on Neapolitan pizza, it’s Keste’s Roberto Caporuscio. When he opened on Bleecker Street, it ushered in a wave of thin pies with puffy pockets of air and tiny black blisters across the city. We're still in love with Neapolitan pizza today, and while this location has closed, there's still a Kesté open in FiDi.

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The mashup of Cuban-Chinese cuisine is not common these days. At this Upper West Side stalwart, no one stayed a stranger when the staff mixed with the patrons to peppy Cuban music. The portions were gigantic; the bread was steamy and buttery; and specialties like masitas de cerdo (crisp, chewy pork chunks) or bistec en escabeche (a platter-size steak pounded thin and marinated with peppers, onions, garlic, olives and vinegar) came with heaps of rice, beans and fried plantains. 

This Lower East Side nook moved to the Bowery and fans followed them for the comforting dumplings and their specialty in hand-pulled noodles from China's northwestern province of Lanzhou. 88 Lan Zhou was budget friendly, filling and delicious—exactly the type of restaurant we crave today more than ever.

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One of the few Malaysian restaurants in New York, Let’s Makan served a delightful menu of dishes—many you’d find street vendors serving in chef Michelle Lam’s homeland—such as various noodle soups and colorful desserts.

Central Park’s historic Loeb Boathouse restaurant—a wedding favorite famously seen in When Harry Met Sally and Sex and the City—shuttered this fall and laid off 163 of its employees, citing  “unforeseeable business circumstances prompted by COVID-19.”

When popular neighborhood wine bar Lois vacated its space on Avenue C after five years and countless pours in October of 2020, happier news followed before too long with the opening of Accidental Bar at the same address. The new owner kept some of Lois’ design elements, with a new focus on sake. 

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Before there was Balthazar or Pastis, Keith McNally’s Lucky Strike was a beloved Soho restaurant since its opening in 1989. While the neighborhood has been stripped of its artistic-bohemian vibe (and replaced with luxury stores through the years), this was one spot that made you feel like you found a one-of-a-kind treasure.

The Flatiron fast-casual outfit from the Eleven Madison Park team closed after nearly four years this fall, as announced by chef-owner Daniel Humm in an Instagram post. 

When the legendary dive bar closed its original Lower East Side location in 2013, regulars were devastated. They didn’t have to go without their Max Fish fix for too long—the bar reopened just a few blocks away in 2014—but alas, six years later, the reboot has ended yet again due to the pandemic. The team is currently scouting new locations for the storied bar, according to an Instagram announcement. 

A modern take on the retro diner, MeMe’s offered playful diner-style bites that felt so nostalgic, you'd have called granny afterwards just to tell her you love her. The queer-run restaurant created a space that was open and inviting to everyone, making the announcement that it was closing in November that much more painful to swallow. 

The original East Village location was a favorite for happy hour whether you wanted oysters, lobster rolls or even a Bloody Mary during the week. Luckily, there are three other locations in the city (Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Upper West Side).

At his Mission Chinese redux, Danny Bowien traded in beer kegs, paper dragons and a cramped, dive-punk Orchard Street basement for smart cocktails, banquet-hall booths and an ample, gleaming dining room in the far reaches of Chinatown. While this location is closed, you can find similar vibes at the Bushwick location.

We were fond of the murals, house-made kimchi and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) at this darling Flushing restaurant when it opened last spring. It quietly closed before the end of the year. 

David Chang closed Nishi, a sleeper hit of sorts despite uneven reviews, in May of 2020. 

The entrance was hard to find and the waits could be long, but the effort was well worth it. Off-duty barkeeps and the people who wanted to hang with them could often be sitting next to you in the cozy subterranean space.

This easygoing spot with a comfortable bar and cozy booths closed after 14 years in Fort Greene on July 23, 2021, but it has plans to reopen in Prospect Heights in the coming months, according to its Instagram bio. 

Both downtown outposts of this inventive ice-cream parlor (East 4th Street and East Houston) closed as the onset of the lockdown back in March and will not be reopening. However, its Brooklyn siblings are thankfully still open. 

Pasha Turkish Restaurant on 71st Street closed this September after a quarter of a century, according to I Love the Upper West Side. Its exterior was adorned in balloons and goodbye notes before it shuttered, according to the outlet. 

As one of the best bars in New York, Pegu Club was also one of the seminal bars of the craft cocktail movement. Countless bartenders worked here that went on to open their own spots that New Yorkers have come to love. 

After 24 years, the romantic West Village bistro shut its doors in November. "Thank you. We love our customers. We love our staff," reads the restaurant site, an announcement ending with a final pandemic plea. "Governor Cuomo…. Fix Our City!"

This neighborhood favorite in the East Village was known for its comforting Italian fare by chef Sara Jenkins. 

“Formerly a Tribeca wine restaurant,” reads this seven-year-old restaurant and bar’s site. “Out with the old to make room for the new.” Its last day of service in its familiar form was July 30, 2021, but watch this space for news about what might be next. 

Unapologetic Foods closed this modern Indian restaurant this October. In happier news, the restaurant group is responsible for some of this fall’s most exciting new restaurant openings, including Semma, which specializes in southern Indian cuisine at Rahi’s same familiar old West Village address. 

"2020 has been quite the year and while we have tried to hold off as long as possible, it is with great sadness that we announce the closure of Ramen Lab. Our last day will be Friday, November 13th," the Ramen Lab restaurant team announced on Facebook back in October. "It has been our greatest honor and joy to share with New York City and visitors from around the world, the art and deliciousness of craft ramen."

The American spirits are the emphasis at this dark, sultry bar that always seemed to lure a large after-work crowd. Along with a selection of bourbons and ryes, there were gins, vodkas and rums, all distilled in the States. You'd never stay just for one.

Fifth Avenue favorite Sidecar closed on New Year’s Eve, 2021, after an impressive tenure in Brooklyn. “A huge thanks are due to our loyal customers and my amazing staff for all the support in making it possible over the past 15 years,” a Twitter post reads.

Dining at Taladwat was akin to attending a pot luck of dishes that span the southern, central and western regions of Thailand. Chef David Bank doled out rich, spicy curries and hearty pork dishes that you don’t find from your local Thai takeout joint.

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Takashi celebrated its 10th anniversary mark this spring, but diners will no longer be able to feast on its yakiniku fare (Japanese-style tabletop grilling) serving nose-to-tail cuts of beef. The restaurant offered a glimpse of the handful of quality yakitori restaurants open today.

Thomas Keller, one of America’s most decorated chefs, has permanently closed his fine dining restaurant in Hudson Yards. It was the chef’s first NYC restaurant opening in 15 years when he opened the throwback restaurant in March 2019.

Uptown lost a wine and cheese destination when Tannat closed this August, according to Patch. “We are grateful for the love, support and friendships,” reps for the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page. 

This sprawling tapas restaurant garnered lots of attention when it first opened—for its respected chefs and hip downtown location on the border of the Meatpacking District serving a distinct, modern spin on Spanish cuisine.

Chef John Fraser’s 701West inside the glitzy Edition Times Square Hotel is no more after the Marriott corporation announced its closing after barely a year in operation. It was one of the few destination restaurants in a neighborhood with limited choices (at least non-chain businesses) and despite its fine-dining atmosphere, the menu was very gently priced.

This was one of Downtown Brooklyn’s most popular red sauce restaurants for more than 60 years. Formally known as Queen Marie Italian Restaurant, the family-owned business served homey classics to nearby municipal staffers, locals from surrounding neighborhoods and its share of tourists looking for something good a little off the beaten path. 

An Astoria brunch favorite with a huge menu made of burgers, mac and cheese and novelties like Cap’n Crunch–coated chicken fingers, Queens comfort was as unique as restaurants get and just as beloved by the time it closed at the end of 2020 after nine years on the block.

Ever since opening in 2013, diners packed into Ann Redding and Matt Danzer’s Nolita restaurant Uncle Boons. The chefs set a stage—one filled with vintage posters and some tiki bar touches—that showcased modern Thai dishes without watering them down. New Yorkers ate it up; they loved the complex (and often fiery) dishes served in the laid back, fun environment. Now Redding and Danzer have decided to close the restaurant permanently after not reaching an agreement with their landlord.

Verōnika only had a few months in operation before it was forced to pause due to the pandemic, and the high profile, gilded restaurant never truly got going again. It announced on its site that it would permanently close on September 1, 2021. 

The Mushreuben—a vegetarian spin on the diner classic had us dreaming of the roasted maitake mushrooms with sauerkraut, peppadew peppers, melted Swiss cheese and special sauce between toasted caraway-rye bread—was one of our favorite dishes in 2019. Other plates at Camilla Marcus’s Soho restaurant brought a cool West Coast vibe to New York we’ll miss.

Although it was promising when it opened in June of 2021, with harder to find wines by the the glass and a braised oxtail en mole made with rare Yucatán chiles menu highlights, Yuco closed at the beginning of this year. “Hopefully one day we will reopen again, at a different spot, but with the same unique cuisine that made us a special place for our fans,” an Instagram post read.