Chef Jose Salazar is shutting down his Moroccan-inspired wine bar in Over-the-Rhine.
Safi’s last day of service is slated for Nov. 7, according to a social media post announcing the closure.
“Safi built a community of its own. From its beginnings as a Moroccan restaurant to its time as a neighborhood wine bar, we’re grateful to everyone who embraced it along the way,” the social media post reads in part. “There’s a lot of history within these walls, and although our time here is coming to an end, we’re proud of everything that started at this corner.”
The bar, which is located at 1401 Republic St., first opened as a Moroccan-inspired restaurant in 2024 and later evolved into its’ neighborhood wine bar status. Salazar did not give a specific reason for the closure.
“We are very grateful to the wonderful guests and staff, past and present, who have been a part of Safi,” Salazar said in a social media post. “Thank you to the farmers, bread bakers, butchers, wine merchants and other purveyors who created and produced the beautiful products we’ve had the pleasure of serving our guests.”
Salazar had the Republic Street space long before Safi existence. From 2013 to 2023, it was home to his eponymous restaurant, which he moved to a larger space at Fifth and Race Street near the First Financial Center.
Salazar, a five-time James Beard-nominated chef, also owns Mita’s in downtown Cincinnati and Daylily in Columbia-Tusculum.
