‘Necessary changes’: After only a year, this Italian restaurant is closing in Wynwood

After only a year, the elegant Piegari Italian restaurant has announced it will be closing in Wynwood.

The first U.S. restaurant for the brand from Buenos Aires, Argentina, informed its customers that it plans to close on July 31. Its message implies that there is a plan to return at an unspecified time.

“During this time, we will be taking the opportunity to make some necessary changes and improvements,” the brief post said, offering no possible dates for its return.

On Tuesday, a Google search has the restaurant listed as “permanently closed.” and it is no longer listed as a participant in this year’s Miami Spice promotion. On Wednesday, the Google search was amended to “temporarily closed.”

Known for its pastas and risottos as well as desserts like crepes alla mela that are flambeed tableside, Piegari has been an iconic spot in Buenos Aires, where it opened in 1994 and drew scores of celebrities. When it opened last summer at 137 NW 26th St., Miami, owner Alberto Chinkies said the brand had been planning a Miami location for a long time.

“We are thrilled,” he said. “We can finally treat locals and visitors to the extraordinary dining and hospitality we work so hard every day to deliver.”

The closing comes after a glut of Italian restaurants opened in the rapidly gentrifying Wynwood neighborhood in the past year, including Otto & Pepe, Sparrow Italia, La Ferneteria, Rosemary’s and Novatore Cucina & Bar. Meanwhile, Casa Tua is scheduled to open at the Nomad Wynwood development next year.

Florentino Diaz, interim executive director for the Wynwood Business Improvement District, told the Miami Herald that the Italian restaurant boom was “a great thing for Wynwood.”

“They each have their own niche,” he said. “We see it as a benefit attracting more of the locals, which is something we’ve been working on.”

Restaurants overall in Miami are facing one of their toughest summers ever, with tourist and foot traffic down. Restaurateurs blame the rising cost of food, rent and insurance, and many local spots have already closed, including the Peruvian spot Maty’s and Table by Bachour in the Design District; Portuguese restaurant Seriea and RedFarm Chinese restaurant in Coconut Grove; Sardinia Italian restaurant on Miami Beach; Ensenada in the MiMo district; and Massimo Bottura’s Torno Subito, which promises to return in the fall.

This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 4:30 AM.