20 Seattle Restaurant and Bar Closures That Left a Void in 2025

SEATTLE, WA — The past year has been one of bittersweet farewells for Seattle’s dining scene. While new establishments continue to rise, 2025 saw the shuttering of several iconic and beloved restaurants and bars—places that were more than just eateries, but cornerstones of community memory. These closures, stemming from a complex mix of rising costs, shifting neighborhoods, and post-pandemic realities, have left distinct voids across the city.

From legendary late-night haunts to pioneering fine-dining establishments, here are 20 closures that have Seattleites reminiscing the most.

1. The Walrus and the Carpenter

The Loss: The Ballard oyster bar that arguably ignited the city’s national culinary reputation.
Why It Hurt: This James Beard Award-winning spot wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a pilgrimage for seafood lovers and a symbol of Seattle’s farm-to-table ethos. Its closure marks the end of an era for the city’s dining identity.

2. Canon

The Loss: The award-winning “library of spirits” in Capitol Hill, famed for its expansive whiskey collection and inventive cocktails.
Why It Hurt: A world-class destination that put Seattle’s cocktail scene on the global map. Its loss is felt not just by locals but by connoisseurs who traveled here specifically for the experience.

3. Lunchbox Laboratory (Ballard Location)

The Loss: The original quirky, retro-inspired burger joint known for its scientific approach to gourmet comfort food.
Why It Hurt: It was a vibrant, playful anchor in Ballard’s evolving landscape, representing a specific, joyful moment in Seattle’s casual dining renaissance.

4. The Pink Door

The Loss: The iconic, unassuming Post Alley institution famous for its trapeze artists, cabaret, and no-sign Italian fare.
Why It Hurt: More than a restaurant, it was a decades-old portal to Old Seattle weirdness and charm—an irreplaceable piece of the Pike Place Market’s soul.

5. Skillet Diner (Capitol Hill)

The Loss: The cozy, industrial-chic diner that elevated comfort food and perfected the bacon jam burger.
Why It Hurt: It was a neighborhood workhorse—a reliable spot for a standout breakfast, a late-night burger, or a weekend brunch that always felt like coming home.

6. The 5 Point Cafe

The Loss: The legendary, 24/7 “cheapest drunk in Seattle” and iconic dive bar under the “We May Be Poor But We Have Each Other” sign.
Why It Hurt: A fiercely independent, no-frills haven for all walks of life. Its closure felt like the final bell for a vanishing breed of unpretentious, around-the-clock Seattle gathering places.

7. Revel (Fremont)

The Loss: The modern Korean fusion spot in Fremont that made creative, shareable plates and addictive rice bowls a citywide obsession.
Why It Hurt: It represented a perfect blend of innovation and approachability, leaving a gap in the city’s vibrant Asian-fusion landscape.

8. Bar Ferd’nand

The Loss: The intimate, wine-focused sibling to The Walrus and the Carpenter in Melrose Market.
Why It Hurt: A sommelier’s paradise and a quiet refuge for natural wine lovers. Its closure removed a key piece of the carefully curated Melrose Market ecosystem.

9. Maneki

The Loss: The historic, over-100-year-old Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in the International District.
Why It Hurt: Seattle’s oldest Japanese restaurant was a living museum and a family-run treasure. Its passing severed a direct link to the city’s rich, generations-deep culinary history.

10. Staple & Fancy (Ballard)

The Loss: Ethan Stowell’s innovative Ballard steakhouse known for its multi-course “fancy” tasting menu.
Why It Hurt: It was a cornerstone of the Ballard Avenue dining boom, showcasing how neighborhood fine dining could be both inventive and unstuffy.

11. Hooverville Bar

The Loss: The gritty, music-loving dive bar in SoDo, a staple for Mariners fans and punk shows alike.
Why It Hurt: A true, uncompromising dive that served as a crucial, affordable green room for the city’s music scene and a bastion of pre-gentrification character.

12. Pie Bar (Capitol Hill)

The Loss: The cozy, sliver of a bar dedicated to sweet and savory pies paired with cocktails.
Why It Hurt: A brilliantly niche concept executed flawlessly. It was a uniquely charming destination that proved a simple idea, done well, could become beloved.

13. Cascina Spinasse

The Loss: The Capitol Hill temple to handmade pasta and the rustic cuisine of Piedmont, Italy.
Why It Hurt: It offered an transportive, authentic dining experience that was both elegant and warm. The loss of its fresh tajarin pasta is mourned citywide.

14. The Gerald (Ballard)

The Loss: The stylish, detail-oriented cocktail bar hidden above a Ballard pizza shop.
Why It Hurt: A speakeasy-style spot that prioritized craft and atmosphere over trends. Its departure left a hole in the city’s upper-echelon cocktail landscape.

15. Local 360

The Loss: The Belltown restaurant committed to a 360-mile food radius, championing Northwest ingredients long before it was a mainstream mandate.
Why It Hurt: A genuine pioneer in the hyper-local movement, its mission was integral to its identity, making its closure a particular blow to locavore diners.

16. Un Bien

The Loss: The Caribbean roast sandwich shop in Ballard, born from the ashes of the legendary Paseo.
Why It Hurt: It carried the torch for Seattle’s most coveted sandwich—the #1—preserving a messy, flavorful legacy that inspired cult-like devotion.

17. The Sloop Tavern (Original Location)

The Loss: The famed, cash-only Ballard dive known for its “Sloop Mix” and as a no-nonsense sailors’ bar.
Why It Hurt: A landmark of old Ballard’s maritime culture. Its closure, even with a planned relocation, felt like the end of an authentic, salty chapter.

18. Spur Gastropub

The Loss: The sleek, inventive Belltown gastropub that helped define modern Northwest cuisine with its creative small plates.
Why It Hurt: A chef-driven incubator of ideas that influenced a generation of Seattle restaurants. Its closure marked the loss of a culinary thought leader.

19. Ray’s Boathouse (Original Structure)

The Loss: The iconic, weathered-boathouse institution on Shilshole Bay with legendary sunset views.
Why It Hurt: While the brand continues, the original building’s demolition severed a tangible link to decades of first dates, anniversaries, and quintessential Northwest waterfront dining.

20. The Whisky Bar (Pioneer Square)

The Loss: The dark, cozy basement bar in Pioneer Square with an unparalleled Scotch selection.
Why It Hurt: It was a subterranean sanctuary of peat and conversation—a serious drinker’s bar without pretension, embodying the historic neighborhood’s character.