Bay Area Restaurant Closures: August 2026 Update
Several Bay Area restaurants have closed their doors in recent weeks, including Horn Barbecue's last location in Oakland, Perle Bar, and Wood Tavern.
The Bay Area's restaurant scene has seen a significant number of closures in recent weeks, with several establishments shutting down their operations permanently.
The last location of Horn Barbecue, a popular barbecue chain, has closed in Oakland. According to a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, owner Matt Horn decided not to renew the lease for the Old Oakland location of Horn Barbecue, citing the inability to smoke meats on-site as the reason for the closure. This closure joins other Horn ventures that have shut down in the past seven months, including outlets in Lafayette and Elk Grove, as well as a Fresno location.
Horn's other ventures have also faced challenges, including wage theft claims. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Horn currently has 20 open wage theft claims in Fresno, Oakland, and Sacramento, with five claims either dismissed or settled.
In other news, Perle Bar in Oakland's Montclair Village neighborhood has closed. The restaurant first opened nine years ago as Perle, a California-French restaurant, before it shut down briefly in March 2025 and reopened as Perle Bar with a new menu focus on Vietnamese comfort dishes and cocktails.
Wood Tavern in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood has also set a closing date for the end of 2026 when its lease expires. Owner Rich Wood tells the San Francisco Chronicle that it was a difficult decision to close, but that he wants to focus on the family's other projects, including expanding their sandwich shop, Southie, into a third location.
Here are the Bay Area restaurant closures for August 2026:
| Restaurant | Location | Date Closed | | --- | --- | --- | | Superprime Steakhouse | San Francisco | July 31 | | Horn Barbecue | Oakland | August 2026 | | Perle Bar | Oakland | July 2026 | | Wood Tavern | Oakland | December 2026 | | Pucquio | Oakland | July 31 | | Perle Bar | Oakland | July 2026 | | Match Point Brewing | Albany | July 26 | | Church Street Cafe | San Francisco | July 28 | | Leo's Oyster Bar | San Francisco | July 2026 | | ICYMI: Leo’s Oyster Bar has closed after 10 years in business, Tablehopper reports. The business’s lease was up in July, and owner Anna Weinberg told Tablehopper that she is focusing on her other business, Tosca, and its “next chapter.” As Tablehopper reminds us, the business opened with a splash back in 2016, earning a “Best Designed Restaurant of the Year” nod in *Bon Appetit*, thanks to designers Ken Fulk and Jon de la Cruz. *568 Sacramento Street, San Francisco*
The Bay Area's restaurant scene is constantly evolving, with new establishments opening and old ones closing. As the region continues to grow and change, it will be interesting to see which restaurants will thrive and which will struggle to stay afloat.
The closures of these restaurants highlight the challenges that many businesses face in the Bay Area, including rising rents, changing consumer preferences, and increased competition. As the region continues to grow and develop, it will be essential for restaurants and other businesses to adapt and innovate in order to stay successful.
In the meantime, foodies and locals will have to find new places to dine and enjoy the Bay Area's vibrant culinary scene. With new restaurants and bars opening all the time, there's always something new to try and discover.
