Safi, the Moroccan-inspired wine bar from chef Jose Salazar in Over-the-Rhine, is hitting pause for a few days, then flipping the script. The Republic Street spot will close briefly this week and is expected to reopen on March 25 with a more casual, neighborhood-first setup. The refresh will bring a tighter menu, new hours, and a stronger focus on easygoing wine service for guests who want to pop in before or after dinner. Salazar has framed the move as a return to Safi’s original, less formal vision.
What’s changing at Safi
As reported by CityBeat, Salazar said the space "had morphed into more of a formal restaurant over time" and that the relaunch will shift Safi into "more of a laid-back neighborhood wine bar." According to the outlet, the bar will temporarily close after Sunday and plans to reopen on March 25 with collaborative pop-up dinners hosted by members of Salazar’s team, along with other local chefs. CityBeat also notes that Safi will broaden its wine program to pull bottles from many regions, make a large portion of the list available to go, and extend closing times to around 11 p.m. on most nights.
Hours, to-go bottles and the menu
Safi's website currently highlights Moroccan-inspired small plates, cocktails, and a rotating wine list, and the venue already sells bottles and accepts reservations online. The relaunch will lean harder into approachable, crowd-pleasing items and shift emphasis toward bottle sales and relaxed nightly service, in line with how the bar is described on the site. The idea is to make Safi friendlier for walk-ins who want a glass and a snack, rather than a full-on, formal sit-down dinner.
Part of a bigger reshuffle
Salazar has been reworking his business footprint in recent months as he balances his flagship restaurant projects with newer concepts, a broader trend previously reported by the Business Courier. That context helps explain why Safi is being retooled as a neighborhood wine bar and why the team is experimenting with pop-ups and menu crossovers across his portfolio.
What locals should expect
When Safi reopens, guests can look for a softer, lounge-style layout, an expanded selection of bottles to take home, and a steady run of collaborative dinners meant to keep neighborhood regulars coming back. For now, the bar is taking a short breather while staff dials in the new program. Salazar has characterized the change as less about abandoning fine dining and more about making deliberate room for community.
