The Restaurants and Cafés We're Sadly Leaving Behind in 2025

(SPOT.ph) It comes as no surprise that 2025 has been exhausting and deeply unkind to our nervous systems. It bruised us physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually... and, yet, it somehow still found the energy to inflict more heartbreak. Or in this case, gut-wrenching pain in our stomachs as we bid goodbye to the establishments that fed us, caffeinated us, and gave us small reasons to keep going.

Below is a recap of the restaurant, café, and bakery closures we absolutely did not see coming. Each establishment gone—for the time being at least—but never forgotten.

Sometime in the middle of 2025, BGC quietly lost one of its great Spanish restaurants. La Picara announced its closure last May 19, with June 18 as its final service day. In their farewell post, they cited the “many unforgettable meals, warm conversations, and shared memories” had over its six-year run before admitting it was time to change direction.

For anyone who never dined in during their six-year run (they opened in early 2019), La Picara built its reputation on serving playful Spanish bites, including Kimchi Croquettes, Chili Crab Paella, and Waffletilla de Patata, all served in a riot of colorful dinnerware set against tropical interiors. It was also a popular spot for drinks, particularly the Sangria Picara, which we all dearly miss.

Just in case you're wondering, the founders of La Picara have opened other Spanish restaurants. Isabel Calvo has a roster of Spanish restaurants under her belt, including co-founding La Latina; Felipe Diaz de Miranda is the co-founder of Bolero.

La Picara was at 2F, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, High Street corner 5th Avenue, Taguig City.

Granted, it's not a restaurant exactly, but it is an icon in the local food community. Chocolate Lover, the beloved and reliable baking supplies shop of many home bakers and food businesses, is officially closing after 36 years. Founder Annie Carmona-Lim announced the news through an emotional video posted on the shop’s Facebook page, sharing that its final day of operations will be December 27, 2025.

The shop first opened in 1989, shortly after Carmona-Lim recovered from cancer. Its closure isn’t due to a business failure, but a life decision: her children have chosen not to inherit the brand, the family is moving abroad, and Carmona-Lim plans to slow down and care for her grandchildren.

Staying open until the end of December was intentional, allowing customers to complete holiday orders. After years of emotional preparation, Carmona-Lim is finally ready to say goodbye to the business she calls her “baby.”

Chocolate Lover is at 45 P. Tuazon Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City.

Jing’s Lutong Bahay has been around for over 50 years, beginning as a humble side project run out of a home kitchen. This institution announced its closure through Jing's Lutong Bahay's Facebook last September 25, and the last day it operated was October 14, 2025.

For the years it was open, it became the go-to for students, professors, bar reviewees from (and near) University of the Philippines Diliman in need of budget-friendly food that feels and tastes like home. It’s especially known for its fruit shakes and bilao orders.

According to the post, the past year was described as “navigating through challenges”—apparently, the exciting kind, but also the kind that eventually isn’t sustainable. The good news: they’re not totally gone. You can still get your fix by messaging them directly on their Facebook page.

Jing's Lutong Bahay was located at 133 JP Laurel Street, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Bank Bar, popularly referred to as the "hidden bar inside a 7-Eleven" convenience store in BGC, has also announced its last day since opening in 2016. In an Instagram post published on December 18, the bar announced that its final operating day will be December 27, 2025.

More than being a clever hideout, Bank Bar built a reputation on thoughtful, well-crafted drinks. When it opened nearly a decade ago, the bar even earned a spot in CNN’s 2016 list of “7 of the world’s most intriguing speakeasies,” highlighting its unexpected setting and standout cocktails. The drink to order? The Nutter Club, a mix of London dry gin, Trinidadian Angostura bitters, lemon-pistachio meringue, and a pistachio salt rim.

Bank Bar is at G/F RCBC Savings Bank Corporate Center, 26th Street corner 25th Street, Bonifacio Global City.

La Union’s El Union Coffee caused major buzz when it announced a Metro Manila spin-off: Del Unión Coffee, which was tucked in Fully Booked, along Bonifacio High Street. The Metro Manila outpost opened in February 2024, but a year later, the experiment came to a rather abrupt hault. It gave customers a few weeks to grab their last sips and bites before they closed shop last March 27.

Del Union came into the city wanting to be a "vessel for bold, unconventional, and radical ideas." Which was evident with items on the menu like the Kalabasa Roast sandwich and drinks like Dirty Champorado—aside from their famous Dirty Orxata, of course.

It was a sweet and short-lived stint. For now, that dirty horchata fix requires an actual trip to Urbiztondo, where El Union is. As for another Metro Manila comeback? We’re cautiously hopeful.

Del Union was at 3/F Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City.

Masa by Barefoot, coincidentally another Elyu institution which expanded to different parts of Metro Manila, announced the closure of all its Masa Bakehouse branches in the Metro. The bakery eased everyone's heartache by closing all three branches gradually. The "youngest" and the first one to close was the Taft branch in Manila, followed by the one in BF Homes in Parañaque City, and lastly the Bonifacio Global City branch in Taguig City.

"To everyone who hung out with us in the city, thank you for the love. We appreciate you all. We hope you join us as we return to our roots in the province.” As of writing, you can still get your hands on Masa by Barefoot's famous croissants and other freshly-baked pastries at their La Union and El Nido outposts.

Masa Bakehouse La Union is at Costales Street, Sitio Dappat, San Juan, La Union, while Masa El Nido is along El Nido National Highway, Palawan (next to Jurias, LBC, and Caltex).

For those from the South who frequented Molito Lifestyle Center for catch-up sessions, remote work, or coffee runs, Group & Boiler has announced closing shop, its last day open being December 31, 2025. The café made its debut back in mid-2019, and six years later, it's scheduled to close its doors on the last day of the year.

In an Instagram post, the beloved café addressed the Alabang community and G&B customers that they're closing. "Thank you for filling our space with stories, laughter, and countless cups of coffee. We’d love to spend this last month with you, so come by, say hi, and let’s make every visit count," the post reads.

Group & Boiler is known for its coffee, like their signature Butterscotch Latte, but also intoxicating coffee beverages like the Espresso Martini. Aside from coffee and pastries to pair with the cup of joes, they also serve food such as Smoked BBQ Ribs, Beef Bolognese, and Chef J's Chicken Burger.

Group & Boiler is at Madrigal Avenue, corner Commerce Avenue, Muntinlupa City.