Colibri Mexican Kitchen is an an excellent representative of the year that was for the area’s food and drink projects

Colibri Mexican Kitchen

There is definitely some double counting here. There is also some undercounting. CHS tallied the Bar Tango, Double O’ Burgers, Cantina del Sol, and Uncle Dom’s Italian Kitchen complex as one.

Another year of change, new energy, and sad goodbyes in Capitol Hill food and drink has passed. Below, we count it all up.

Start with a visit to an excellent representative of the year that was for the area’s food and drink projects. 12th Ave’s Colibri Mexican Kitchen is a “happy hello.” But it was also a “sad goodbye.”  The restaurant took over the space formerly home to the much-loved Plum after 20 years of business for the vegan bistro. Now Colibri is becoming much-loved.

Colibri Mexican Kitchen

The project from first-time restaurateur Celeste Bakr is growing as a family venture inspired by their restaurant veteran uncle on the edge of Pike/Pine with with large portions and full plates that echo traditions of plenty.

“We are going to pour our love into it,” Bakr told CHS when we talked with her after Colibri’s 2025 opening.

You can know that much of that same energy runs through the 2025 rosters below — the new restaurants, bars, and cafes, the new owners and changes, and, yes, the closures. Somebody loved even the giants like the Starbucks Roastery where many people found joy and employment every day. Here’s hoping for new things for spaces like that in 2026.

But, first, a look back at 2025.

HAPPY HELLOS

• Colibri Mexican Kitchen brought its family-style dishes to 12th Ave
• Longtime Madison Valley favorite Bar Cantinetta became the only new project in an completely new restaurant space on Capitol Hill in 2025 with its revival on 15th Ave E
• Bar Tango joined siblings Double O’ Burgers, Cantina del Sol, and Uncle Dom’s Italian Kitchen in a new complex of bar and restaurant projects at the corner of Pine and Summit
• Mintish Coffee House brought Palestinian heritage and community to Harvard Ave
• “Persian daytime cafe” Open Form debuted on E Pike
• Restaurant rookie Ben Evans and vet Suttabusya “Ice” Thiraphan opened Asian fusion grill concept 8 Ping Yang in the former Marjorie space on E Union
• Gol Mok Korean Market Bar took over the former Taku space in the Pike Motorworks complex
• Cafe watch: Gong cha and Matcha Magic joined the mix in Pike/Pine. Petit Pierre Bakery popped-up on E Union. Café Calaveras, a new Sugar Bakery on Capitol Hill, Eggslut, and León Coffee House also added to the new options in the area.
• Junbi added matcha and soft-serve on E Pike
• Phê added Vietnamese coffee to Pike/Pine
• Bean Espresso revived the much-loved Vivace Broadway coffee bar
• Piedmont Café brought new life to a historic space on First Hill
• Yeobo Cafe and Bar opened on E Madison
• An “un-staffed” SOMA Kombucha taproom opened on E Pike — though it faced a tough end to the year
• Owner Sam Park punted on sushi and transitioned to something closer to his own heart with the Korean flavors of Seoul Mates on E Union
• Raku Shabu Shabu opened in the former Regent space at 14th and Pine
• Broadway’s Thai Lucine set out to prove that you can wrap darn near anything delicious and The Roll Pod brought its take on Indian bowls and wraps to 22nd Ave
• Secret Burger Kitchen joined Broadway
• Wally’s NW Soul Experience opened at 23rd and Jackson
• Pho 4 U returned to the base of Capitol Hill
• Aamrai Indian Kitchen & Bar opened in the old Jilted Siren space on Bellevue Ave
• Mint & Martini brought Indian to the former Barrio space on 12th Ave
• Pitch the Baby, a Capitol Hill sports bar for everybody, opened on 19th Ave E
• Sibling Tortas Condesa opened next door
• With a name inspired by neighborhood food and drink entrepreneur Kate Opatz’s mom, tiny Laurel joined E Olive Way
• Kemi Dessert Bar opened on 12th Ave
• Carmelo’s Tacos finally opened on Broadway
• Burritos California revived the former Rancho Bravo

TRANSITIONS

• Rocket Taco moved up the street
• Rapport became Nomadic Wine Dispensary under new owners
• A new beer maker took over Capitol Hill’s tiny Outer Planet Brewing
• A third generation of owners invested in Capitol Hill cocktail classic Tavern Law
• New ownership was hoping to save the Raygun Lounge
• Queer/Bar turned into the Christmas Dive Bar for the holidays
• A new owner took over at The Cuff
• Capitol Hill carnival bar Unicorn reopened after a three-month closure
• As the Century Ballroom became the Reverie Ballroom, its Tin Table food and drink space became The Art Table
• E Olive Way’s Korean pub Imo Pocha became E.A.T. Asian Tapas Bar
• Teriyaki & Wok became Birrieria Jalisco #1 — which you should also include in your “happy hellos”
• Korn Dog became Chiqpa Small Chicken Patio
• Shelley Brothers, co-owner of Capitol Hill’s The Wildrose, was remembered
• Bateau promised a 2026 restart on E Union in 2026

SAD GOODBYES

• Coffee giant Starbucks shut down its $20 million Capitol Hill Roastery
• Tilray, the “leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company,” shuttered the Redhook brewery and taproom on E Pike
• Cook Weaver announced it would close with one last New Year’s service before handing over its space in the historic Loveless Building to a new restaurant
• Mamnoon closed after 13 years on Melrose
• Stateside and its sibling bar Foreign National shuttered around the corner on E Pike
• Speakeasy Knee High Stocking Co. quietly ended its 16 years on E Olive Way
• Rachel’s Ginger Beer closed on 12th Ave
• So did Mighty-O Doughnuts
• Mexican chocolate shop Rey Amargo closed on E Pike
• Gold Bar closed on E Olive Way
• The original Skillet Diner was shuttered as the chain was reduced to its smallest components
• Kamp Social House shuttered in Madison Valley
• OOLA closed at 14th and Union
• Half and Half Doughnut Co. — arguably Capitol Hill’s best doughnut shop — closed
• Ian’s Pizza closed on Broadway
• Chef Shota shut down Taku — and maybe said goodbye to Seattle
• Finch & Pine closed on Bellevue Ave as a new cafe will take its place in the new year
• Plum ended 20 years of vegan good eats and memories on Capitol Hill

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