As 2025 winds down, New York City has seen a wave of longtime restaurant closures, reshaping parts of its dining landscape. Beloved cafés, decades-old steakhouses, and neighborhood breweries were among the businesses that closed this year, dealing a blow to New York’s culinary scene.
New York Witnesses the Closure of Iconic Dining Spots
Several restaurants in the city cited ongoing business issues, rising costs, financial and lease challenges, and shifting consumer traffic as key reasons for shutting down. Take a look at some of the beloved restaurants that closed their doors this year:
Papa Gallo
Fayetteville’s beloved Mexican restaurant, Papa Gallo, closed down after serving authentic, flavorful Mexican food for 17 years. The restaurant owners have handed over the ownership to Alejjandro Gonzalez and Jose Avalos-Rios. The restaurant was well known for Ceviche de Pescado, Empanadas de Costilla, and Ensalada Mixta.
When: June 3, 2025
Bedford Cheese
View this post on Instagram
Bedford Cheese Shop in New York closed its doors in mid-June after 14 years of serving high-quality, artisanal cheese. The shop cited renovation issues and financial challenges as the reason for its abrupt closure. With a cozy and warm atmosphere, the eatery offers old-style, well-aged varieties of cheese and charcuterie, as well as gourmet pantry items.
When: Mid-June
La Parma’s
La Parma in Williston Park, an Italian family-style restaurant, was owned by Owners Tony Gralto and Dominic Gregorio. The owners sold the location to investors after 41 years of service. Though the iconic location was closed, the restaurant kept operating in its other two locations: La Parma 2 in Huntington and La Parma 3 in Oceanside.
When: July 27, 2025
Elephant & Castle
A 52-year-old icon in the West Village shuts its doors permanently. Elephant & Castle has been a go-to place for the locals for breakfast and brunch since the 1970s. The restaurant was inspired by a London pub named ‘Enfanta de Castile’. The eatery served popular dishes like Chef’s Scottish Salmon of the Day, the Elephantburger, and Tuna Salad with Guacamole and Tomato.
When: August 17, 2025
Guerriero’s
Guerriero’s, a home-style Neapolitan Italian restaurant, closed its Morristown location after 20 years of service. The restaurant served home-style, authentic Neapolitan Italian food, such as Grilled octopus, Broccoli Rabe, Seafood Risotto, and Ravioli. The restaurant was renowned for its warm and welcoming atmosphere.
When: August 17, 2025
Arties Steak & Seafood
The beloved steakhouse in City Island closed down after 30 wonderful years of service as the chef-owner decided to retire. Arties Steak & Seafood has been a staple since the 1990s and serves dishes like Eggplant Rollatini, Buffalo Chicken Wontons, Oysters on the Half Shell, and more.
When: September 28, 2025
Cemitas EI Tigre
Cemitas El Tigre began its journey as a small Sunnyside eatery and then, over time, grew into a neighborhood destination with its iconic 10-layer cemita sandwiches and other Mexican goods. The café menu also includes specials like burritos, tacos, craft beer, wine, and milkshakes.
When: October 24, 2025
Basta Pasta
A local favorite Italian restaurant in NYC, Basta Pasta, has drawn curtains after serving the community for 35 years. The restaurant served unique Italian authentic food with a modern twist of Japanese ingredients and technique. With dishes like Spaghetti with Prosciutto and Parmesan, Sea Urchin Pasta, Tonnarelli with Ham and Parmesan, Spaghetti with Fish Eggs, and more, it has been a staple since the 1990s.
When: October 30, 2025
Miss America
A local gem of Jersey City, Miss America, has closed its doors after 85 years. The restaurant served delicious, comforting food and drinks. The space is taken over by Salumeria Ercolando and will revamp and reopen the space.
When: November 3, 2025
The Whale’s Tale
The Whale’s Tale, a Northport landmark and oceanfront restaurant, closed down after 16 years. The restaurant marked its farewell with a week of special events, inviting the community to join in the celebration. The beautiful waterfront restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating and a scenic view of the Northport Harbor.
When: November 8, 2025
Hildur
View this post on Instagram
A renowned restaurant in Brooklyn, Hildur, has closed its doors after 14 years of service. The upscale restaurant menu was focused on fermentation. With a curated selection of natural wines, it gives a Nordic touch to its creative menu. The main attraction of the restaurant was its 200-year-old building with a backyard garden.
When: November 14, 2025
Colonie
After 15 years of service, Colonie, another Brooklyn Icon, has shut down its operations permanently. The restaurant served a new-American menu, all prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Inspired by the charms of Brooklyn Heights, the restaurant offered a cozy, warm, and inviting atmosphere.
When: November 30, 2025
Port Jeff Brewery
Port Jeff Brewery closed its Mill Creek Road location after 15 years of brewing high-quality beer made with the best ingredients and extensive precision. The brewery included Orange Dream, Shiznit IPA, Overboard Russian Imperial Stout, and a few others.
When: Late November, 2025
Fette Sau
Beloved BBQ spot in Brooklyn will permanently closed its business after 19 years of service. The popular spot is well known for its excellent quality of meat and dishes like Berkshire pulled pork, beef brisket, potato rolls, spare ribs, and more. Though the Brooklyn location is closing down, Fette Sau’s Philadelphia location will remain open.
When: December 21, 2025
Seventh Street Café
After three decades of running a business, Seventh Street Café is pulling the shutters down. The restaurant, with a romantic ambience, offers fine dining and also has space to host dinner parties and other events. The restaurant owner, Brooke Scotto, announced the closure on Facebook, confirming that the restaurant will bid farewell to the community on Christmas Eve.
When: December 24, 2025
Together, the closures of longtime establishments such as Elephant & Castle, Basta Pasta, Fette Sau, and Miss America underscore a broader turning point for New York’s dining scene. As new concepts move in and dining preferences evolve, the loss of these iconic restaurants serves as a reminder of how quickly the city’s culinary landscape can change.
