The last few years have undoubtedly been a rough ride for many of Greater Cincinnati’s restaurants and bars. Even in 2025, rising food and rent costs, labor shortages, reverberating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation continue to create obstacles establishments have to face to keep the doors open and kitchens serving. And with a slew of abrupt restaurant and bar closures throughout 2025, it’s clear that this harsh environment is still very much an issue. While Greater Cincinnati has also welcomed quite a few new restaurants and bars so far this year, we’re going to miss these spots that have closed so far in 2025.
See places that closed in the first half of the year here.
The Aperture
Chef Jordan Anthony-Brown announced in December that he would be closing his Walnut Hills Mediterranean restaurant, The Aperture, in its current iteration after New Year’s Eve — two years after it first opened. However, Anthony-Brown promised that he had future plans and that he would begin rebuilding in early 2026.
Atwood Oyster House
Atwood Oyster House will shutter after its final service on New Year’s Eve. The oyster and seafood restaurant opened in Over-the-Rhine, in the former space of another oyster restaurant, PearlStar, in November 2023. Owners Garth Lieb and Tom Stephen did not provide a specific reason for the closure.
The French Crust
The French Crust, a French restaurant at Findlay Market started by the late, Cincinnati-famous chef Jean-Robert de Cavel, closed for good in August. Founded in 2013, The French Crust started as a small cafe on Vine Street in downtown Cincinnati before moving to the corner of Elm and Elder streets in 2016. The restaurant was known for its Parisian flair, serving seasonal French breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes.
Taste of Belgium (Over-the-Rhine)
This September saw the end of an era for dining in Over-the-Rhine as Jean-François Flechet announced he closed the Vine Street location of his embattled Taste of Belgium. First opening in 2011, it was the restaurant’s first full-service location, serving its famous Liège-style waffles for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends. It was also part of a series of restaurants that opened during OTR’s revitalization of the area south of Liberty Street. In recent years, Taste of Belgium has had to shut down all but now three of its 11 locations that were located across the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton regions. The restaurant group has also faced mounting legal trouble following its closures, including lawsuits for unpaid rent and loans, according to court documents.
Dolly’s
A short-lived ride in Greater Cincinnati, the diner chain Dolly’s emerged from Big Boy Restaurant Group, which is based in Michigan, after a spate of Frisch’s restaurants closed in late 2024 due to a contentious eviction battle. A concept meant to replace Frisch’s, Dolly’s offered much of the same menu of burgers, sandwiches and shakes and opened in six different former-Frisch’s locations across the city. However, the concept sparked a lawsuit from the new owners of Frisch’s and prevented Big Boy Restaurant Group from using its name in the region. In October, Big Boy Restaurant Group said the litigation remained unresolved and that continuing to operate under these conditions was no longer sustainable or beneficial. At the time it said it remained hopeful that, once the legal matters were settled, it could return to the market under the Big Boy name.
Cap City Fine Diner & Bar
After nine months of operations, central Ohio-based Cap City Fine Diner announced it would close its CUF location at the end of September. The restaurant did not share a reason for the closure, but social media users at the time speculated that its more upscale concept wasn’t well-suited for its location near the University of Cincinnati.
Allyn’s Cafe
Allyn’s Cafe, a Cajun restaurant that had been a staple in Columbia Tusculum for over 30 years, permanently closed in October. Allyn’s Cafe originally opened as a corner bar on Columbia Parkway in 1991, but had since grown to offer a menu of eclectic Cajun fare, along with vegan dishes and beer, wine and cocktails. Sam Dobrozsi and Grant Grooms, who also own Fireside Pizza in Walnut Hills, purchased Allyn’s from its original owner, Allyn Raifstanger, a little over a year ago after Raifstanger decided to retire. In September, the Cincinnati Business Courier reported that Dobrozsi and Grooms were looking to sell Allyn’s in order to prioritize being with family, but that they weren’t in a hurry and would keep the restaurant open as long as possible while working to find a buyer.
Lonely Pine Steakhouse
Gorilla Cinema Presents owner Jacob Trevino announced on social media in September that one of his concepts, Lonely Pine Steakhouse, would host its last service on Oct. 4. Trevino cited the departure of Chef Madeline Sheblessy as the reason behind the closure, writing, “Based on her successes on ‘Guys Grocery Games’ and ‘Chopped’, our Chef, Madeline Sheblessy @savor513, has been offered an executive position that she cannot refuse — and we unfortunately cannot compete with. Lonely Pine is now at a culinary crossroads, and we’re going to wrap this chapter on the highest note possible. In the restaurant industry, [it’s] a rarity to be able to write your own ending.” Lonely Pine opened next door to Gorilla Cinema’s The Shining-themed bar Overlook Lodge in March 2019. The space was Route 66-inspired, with a mid-century modern design and a menu featuring a variety of steaks and sharables.
Listermann Brewing Company
After more than 15 years in business, Listermann Brewing Company in Evanston closed abruptly in August. The brewery didn’t provide a reason for the closure, but wrote on social media, “We are deeply grateful to our amazing staff, loyal customers, and community who have supported us over the years. You’ve been part of our story, and it’s been an honor to share our beer and our space with you.”
Lucky Dog Grille
Mason sports bar and restaurant Lucky Dog Grille announced in early December that they would be closing after more than a decade in business. Owners James and Diane McAlpin shared on social media that their landlord informed them of a significant rent increase in April, which the McAlpins said they would not be able to sustain. They decided to close the business at the end of the year after being unable to negotiate a rental agreement.
Conserva
Spanish tapas restaurant and wine bar Conserva closed its Ludlow location at the end of November, but it’s not the end for the eatery. Owners Challis and Lauren Hodge said they are looking to relocate. And while they search for the place to start their next chapter, the Hodges will host Conserva pop-ups, paella nights, brunches and takeovers at their other restaurant, Grassroots and Vine in Ft. Thomas.
The BARk Park & Patio
After three years, Florence dog park and bar The BARk Park & Patio closed permanently at the end of October. Owners Lee and Abby Cahill said, with the dog park and bar primarily being an outdoor venue, poor weather throughout the year prevented them from generating enough revenue to stay open through the slower winter months.
The Cheesecakery (Madisonville)
Citing increased costs and decreased consumer spending, The Cheesecakery owner Liz Fields says she will close the bakery’s Madisonville location on Dec. 28. Fields said incidents of harassment and theft also played small roles in the decision to close the bakery, but it mostly came down to consumer spending habits. The Cheesecakery in Anderson Township will remain open, however, and Fields says the shift to just one location will allow the team to bake more sustainably, keep shelves stocked and offer other beloved treats.
Northwood Cider Company
Greater Cincinnati’s only brewery dedicated to hard ciders closed permanently in December after three years in Norwood. Owners Darrin Wilson and Joe Klare said Northwood Cider Company, like many craft beverage producers, was facing increased operating and production costs and changing consumption patterns in an already challenging economy.
Kealoha’s Kitchen
Covington Hawaiian restaurant Kealoha’s Kitchen closed in October after five years in business, both in its original Latonia location and then in its new location on Main Street. “After five amazing years of sharing food, culture and aloha with our community, we have made the very difficult decision to close our doors,” owner Val Abafo shared in a statement at the time, adding that he and his wife, co-owner Amy Abafo, were struggling to pay the restaurant’s bills. “Amy & I always have said if we can pay the bills, we’ll do it! Lately we haven’t been able to do it, so we will close this chapter & see what the future brings!” The restaurant also closed briefly in January 2025 due to low sales, with Abafo warning they may have to close permanently as the restaurant industry faced increasing economic struggles and rising food costs.
March First Brewing (Downtown) and Laveau
In late July, March First Brands shuttered all of its downtown Cincinnati locations. The brewery and distillery owned a March First taproom, as well as Cajun restaurant Laveau, on Fountain Square. Both locations, as well as the Cincinnati Distilling bottle shop inside the March First taproom, closed abruptly this week, with signs on the doors reading, “Thank you Fountain Square! We’re grateful for your support and patronage & look forward to serving you at our other locations with top-notch services and experiences.”
Regina Bakery
A longtime West Side bakery closed both its Cheviot and Miami Heights stores this fall as the owners, Tom and Robin Davis, wanted to retire. The Davises said Java Jackets, a coffee shop in North Bend, acquired both locations, as well as Regina’s production facility, with the intention of offering some Regina Bakery favorites.
The Hum
After rebranding from Frosthaus and Eishaus to The Hum this spring, the Von Den Benken family, owners of the Covington bar and restaurant, said times are tough for the industry and they wanted to close The Hum while they could still celebrate the experience. The family wrote on social media, “From our days as Eishaus and Frosthaus to our time as The Hum, it’s been such an incredible ride. We’ve loved serving this community – from the vegan coffee cake, burritos and spaghetti eis out of the eishaus window, to the music trivia and karaoke nights at frosthaus, to the cocktails and pockets at The Hum and of course all the frozen drinks, we are so grateful for the countless memories.” The Hum officially closed in mid-November.
Almost V’gan Lounge
Almost V’gan Lounge, a health-conscious eatery with a mix of vegan and traditional dishes, shut its doors permanently in September, a little over a year after opening on Court Street in downtown Cincinnati. The restaurant was co-owned by Jarvis Shaw and Sean Reed, who said they recognized the lack of dining options for people with alternative diets and wanted AV Lounge to cater to a variety of lifestyles and tastes. The space featured a restaurant with a menu of traditional dishes and a vegan alternative to each dish, plus bottle service, on one side, and an upscale bar and lounge on the other. Shaw and Reed did not provide a reason for the closure.
Holtman’s Donuts (Oakley)
Popular family-owned donut shop Holtman’s closed its Oakley location this July. Danny and Katie Plazarin, the husband-and-wife team who owned the Oakley shop, and still own the West Chester location, said they were struggling to balance both locations and raising small children and were “craving a little more consistency, simplicity, and space to breathe.” The Plazarins say they hope to find a smaller space for the business in the future that can fit their lives more easily. Their West Chester location remains open, as do the Holtman’s Williamsburg and Loveland locations, which are owned by Danny’s parents, Toni and Chuck Plazarin.
Daughter’s Pizza Kitchen
Just six months after opening, Milford pizzeria Daughter’s Pizza Kitchen announced in July that it would put its restaurant and brand up for sale. The restaurant was owned by Josh and Nicole House, who also own Pickles & Bones. The Houses said that life circumstances were leading them to sell the restaurant, as Nicole accepted a job with the Milford School District’s Nutrition Services Department and she and Josh would no longer have time for the pizzeria.
Square Peg Bakery
Square Peg Bakery opened in Erlanger in early 2025, but the business suffered a setback after owner Vic Riley was seriously injured in a car crash in July. While the bakery was able to raise money through a GoFundMe to remain open for a few more months, Riley decided to close the bakery in September, citing the ongoing struggle of operating a storefront while managing injuries from the crash.