It’s a sad end of an era for one of Vancouver’s most celebrated Italian restaurants.
On December 21, 2024, Cioppino’s officially closed its doors after 25 years of unforgettable service.
The announcement of the closure first came as a shock back in May during Chef Giuseppe “Pino” Posteraro’s acceptance speech at the Vancouver Restaurant Awards, where Cioppino’s had just won Best Upscale Italian Restaurant.
It’s hard to believe that a globally recognized culinary powerhouse—that was dined by the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Jason Momoa, and Drake—is now gone.
At the award ceremony, Chef Pino shared that the lease at the Yaletown location was done and they won’t be renewing.
That just points to the lease being jacked up to the point where it is unsustainable – a common reason that has caused many restaurant closures.
In a report by CityNews, Chef Pino says that “running a fine dining restaurants in one of the most expensive cities in the countries is not feasible.”
In that same report, he also points to how jacked up the food prices has become, noting how tenderloin has gone up 100% in the last 2 years.
This closure has sent ripples through the local food community, especially considering Cioppino’s recent recognition as one of the Top 50 Best Italian Restaurants in the World by 50 Top Italy.
However, before ending his speech at the award ceremony, Chef Pino hinted at the bittersweet nature of this goodbye, saying, “You aren’t rid of me…when one door closes, another opens.”
So Cioppino’s may return in another form in the future.
A heartfelt message shared on Cioppino’s website:
“After 25 years of glorious business, Cioppino’s has officially closed its doors on the 21st of December 2024. We warmly thank past and present staff who contributed immensely to the success of the restaurant and helped build a legacy that will stay in everyone’s heart. We also sincerely thank all the patrons who supported us unconditionally. Without them, we could not have been around for so long. Thank you!”
Cioppino’s joins the growing list of heartbreaking restaurant closures in Vancouver this year—a city already grappling with a challenging financial climate for the food industry.
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Address: 1133 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC