Starting the year with a restaurant closure list isn’t the most cheerful task, but it’s a necessary one, a kind of bookkeeping of Shanghai’s ever-changing scene.
Looking back at 2025, it’s impossible to ignore some heartbreaking losses. For those of us who live to eat, a closure is never just a statistic. It’s the end of a chapter — the loss of a restaurant where memories were made, followed by the inevitable groan of “where do I go to eat xyz now?”
And there were quite a few big names that served its last meal in 2025.
Big Restaurant Closures in Shanghai 2025
Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet
The biggest one is probably Michelin three-star Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, which closed on March 29 after 13 years.
It truly marks the end of an era. Not only did Ultraviolet put Shanghai on the map when it opened, but its avant garde approach — uniting food with multi-sensory technology for a fully immersive dining experience — was the talk of the food world. It earned placements on both the World’s and Asia’s 50 Best lists, kicked off a domino effect that drew interest and talent to the city, and became a major pillar in the development of Shanghai’s F&B scene.
Sage Gastro
Another closure that hits painfully is Sage Gastro, which served its last meal on Dec 31. Chef Jun Nishiyama poured his life blood into the place, a dedication felt keenly by Sage’s supporters and fans.
It was my favorite restaurant in Shanghai, a place I peddled to anyone who asked for a recommendation. For reasons beyond anyone’s control, the restaurant has closed and will rebrand into something else. Chef Jun is currently cooking at newly opened Rambu, and I highly recommend you check it out.
Awfully Chocolate
Though, there’s one closure that seems to hit everyone from penny pinchers to high rollers: the loss of Awfully Chocolate. UGH. Where do I find a good chocolate cake now?! This is a genuine crisis. Someone bring the franchise back. I’ve tried a few options around town but haven’t found a suitable replacement. The praline extra dark chocolate cake was perfect, and you didn’t need to shell out too much for that kind of quality.
On that note, if you’ve found a good replacement, please leave an answer to this dilemma in the comments section.
Legacies
We also said goodbye to quite a few decade-old restaurants, including Liquid Laundry and Boxing Cat Brewery, two of Shanghai’s original fame-makers. Other long-standing restaurants that closed shop include Mexican restaurant Mayita (though Maya is still going strong on Julu Lu), as well as Montreal-style deli and sandwichery Tock’s and Al’s Diner.
Editor’s Note
This reality is that the restaurant business is inherently fragile. While things have certainly improved (read: stabilized), there are still plenty of factors that put pressure on the F&B industry, including but not limited to razor-thin margins, relentless costs, and shifting tastes.
But what can you do about it? As a diner, you hold more influence than you might think. This isn’t a call for grand, unsustainable gestures. No one expects you to bankroll a restaurant with your month’s rent.
Real impact lives in simple, human actions. Liked your meal? Tell a friend and share the love. Loved a dish? Let the chef know. That brief compliment cuts through the grind and reminds them why they do this. What about a bad experience? The impulse to vent online is real, but it’s often more constructive (though harder) to address it with the staff. Most places genuinely want to know and to improve. In the end, kindness is its own currency.
On that note, it’s not all doom and gloom. For every closing, a new restaurant thrives, cultivating loyalty through genuine hospitality, excellent food, and a clear concept. That spirit is clear in the Year in Review 2025, a look back at all the new openings from last year.
Shanghai Restaurant Closures in 2025
Below is a summary of closures in 2025. It’s not exhaustive, but it captures a slice of what we said goodbye to. Note: these are roughly organized by quarter and there might be some discrepancies, and if so, apologies for that. Plus, a few I missed from 2024’s list.
Q1
- Charbon by Paul Pairet (Dec 31, 2024)
- Mad Dragon (Dec 2024)
- Sura (Dec 2024)
- Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop (正斗粥面专家) (Bib Gourmand)
- Co. Cheese
- La Siesta
- Roma
- Secret Flavor (Printemps) – Relocated to Pudong.
- Big Bagel (Yongkang Lu)
- Rue de Yongkang
- Cages (Huangpu)
- Madina
- Bun Cha Cha
- Bun Cha Cha Grill
- Black Rock (Now called Black House)
- Rozebiff
- Les Elites
- Pane e Vino
- Alors
- Liquid Laundry
- Ultraviolet (Michelin three-star)
Q2
- Boxing Cat Brewery (all locations)
- Luccio’s
- Mustache
- Bang by Mr Willis (all locations)
- Al’s Diner
- Speto’s
- Taste Paradise (乐忻味之楼)
- Ombra
- Moka Bros (all locations)
- Joe’s Pizza
- Mayita
- INT
- Song Song Bistro
- Chic1699 (Pudong) (Bib Gourmand)
- Smokey Project (Jing’an) – Wujiaochang location still open
- Temperature & Temptation
- Ladurée (Xintiandi, Shanghai Centre, Jing An Kerry Centre) – other locations still open.
Q3
- Frasca (Upper House Shanghai)
- Canton Disco (The Shanghai EDITION)
- Matto
- Nectar
- The Plump Oyster (Taikang Terrace) – Huaihai Zhong Lu and Yan’an Xi Lu locations still operating.
- Ribone Steakhouse
- Bread ETC (Jing’an) – The Xiangyang Lu original closed, then reopened.
- La Jade (Hilton Shanghai City Center)
- VIVA Portuguese Restaurant
- Diner
- Malaya 19th
- C Steakhouse
- La Vite (Wulumuqi Lu) – now called La Tavernetta under Bar a Vin, Jianguo Xi Lu’s La Vita still operating.
- The Upper Room
- Awfully Chocolate (all locations)
- EHB (Michelin one-star)
- Mavis
- Anokhi
- Sub Standard (Changning) – Jing’an location still going strong.
- Beef & Liberty (Pudong Kerry Center) – Other locations still going strong.
Q4
- Maolago (Julu Lu) – The Fuxing Xi Lu location still operating.
- Sunday’s
- XIBO (Fengsheng Li) – All other locations still going strong.
- La Creperie (Reel Mall) – Taojiang Lu location still going strong.
- Korner Bakery
- Limo Limo
- Mikawa
- NIU Cowbell
- Cucurucu (Jing’an) – moved to West Bund
- Glory Butter
- Bar Lotus
- Wine Universe
- Currify (all locations)
- Shi Chi Shou – ramen spot in Jing’an
- Stecco Natura (all locations)
- Burning Donut
- Hooha – Now Alea & Fabula
- Fiama by Senso – moving to Hunan Lu
- Tock’s
- KRU
- Sage
- CUN
- Nouvo
- Les Halles – now only available online
- An Thai
- Dal Cuore Reel Mall – Other locations going strong!
- Kyochon (half a dozen locations closed) – A handful of locations still operating in Jing’an, Changning, Minhang, and Wujiaochang.
- Paul Lafayet (Lujiazui)
- Zari Korean Bistro
- Chili’s (Tongren Lu) – Other locations going strong.
- Vanca’s
- Spud Ranger
- Noodle Uncle
- Christine Bakery (all locations) – operating since 1993.
Upcoming closures:
- The Harrods Tea Rooms – closing at the end of January.
- Bistro 321 Le Bec / Villa Le Bec – Last day of operation is February 14, 2026. Get there while you can! It’ll then relocate in April as Le Bec Bund.
