Baru, the izakaya-inspired sushi and cocktail bar that opened downtown in 2023, has poured its last cocktail. The restaurant announced Monday that it would close permanently and wrapped up with a final dinner service that same night, with owners saying they will now focus on the nearby partner bar Vintage on Race.
In a notice on Baru, the team wrote, “As of Monday, June 1st, 2026, BARU will close permanently.” The message thanked guests for “a strong and successful run” and said the group was “shifting our focus to Vintage On Race.”
The izakaya-style concept opened in early 2023 on the ground floor of the 84.51° building, part of a broader wave of new dining projects downtown. WCPO covered the debut and highlighted Baru’s emphasis on seasonal sushi and a late-night bar program that encouraged guests to linger.
Crash scarred the run
Baru’s run included a frightening chapter in September 2025 when a vehicle crashed through the front door, and three people were hospitalized. Three hospitalized after car crash recapped local reports on the collision and the investigation that followed into a suspected street race.
Owners pivot to Vintage on Race
According to the website announcement, the ownership group will now focus “all operational efforts” on Vintage on Race, the sports bar and lounge located across Race Street. Vintage on Race’s site lists its address as 500 Race St and shows extended weekend hours that appear poised to scoop up Baru’s late-night crowd.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the owners did not offer further comment and that owner Tyler Wogenstahl did not return a message seeking comment. Baru’s online notice also thanked partner 3CDC and downtown patrons for their support throughout the restaurant’s run.
