After 17 years, this iconic restaurant in Miami Beach is closed for good

After almost 17 years in the spotlight as a South Beach icon, a renowned Chinese restaurant has closed.

Mr Chow, the upscale see-and-be-seen hot spot at the oceanfront W South Beach hotel at 2201 Collins Ave., has shut down abruptly. There has been no formal announcement or explanation from the international brand, but the closing was reported by South Beach Buzz on Instagram, and Google also notes the restaurant is permanently closed.

The Miami Beach restaurant, which opened in 2009 with plates by artist Cy Twombley and a 125-foot Swarovski crystal chandelier, quickly became known as a celebrity magnet, luring the likes of Jamie Foxx, Drew Barrymore, Calvin Klein, Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez and Lenny Kravitz.

The restaurant, which served meals family-style, was also praised for its Beijing duck, chicken satay and its famous hand-pulled noodles, which became a big part of the show.

And a show it was — at least for a while. As times changed, celebrities found other places to visit while in town, notably other South Beach and Miami spots like Prime 112, Carbone, Gekko and Papi Steak.

The brand was created by Michael Chow, who opened the first restaurant in London in 1968, where it swiftly became a hit. In 1974, he brought the concept to the United States, opening a restaurant in Beverly Hills.

Mr Chow went on to open in New York, Miami Beach and Las Vegas. While the Beverly Hills and New York locations remain open, the Las Vegas restaurant at Caesar’s Palace on the Strip closed in 2025.

This summer, the W South Beach is preparing for a major renovation, but the property remains open for now.