One of L.A.'s Top Restaurants Is Closing, Will Reopen in Denver

As the local dining scene continues to get more national recognition, including the addition of the Michelin Guide in 2023 and a consistently strong showing in the James Beard Award semifinals, more and more notable chefs from out of state are opting to open restaurants in Denver.

The recently opened Sushi by Scratch in Larimer Square, which was among the best meals we ate in January, comes from L.A. chef Phillip Frankland Lee. In 2022, another L.A.-based chef, Ludo Lefebvre, chose Denver as the home for his French restaurant, Chez Maggy. Now, a trendy eatery in Pasadena is planning a move to the Mile High.

On February 5, chef Doug Rankin announced the upcoming closure of Bar Chelou on Instagram: "After careful consideration, we have decided not to extend our lease, which is set to expire at the end of the month. The timing presented us with an opportunity to reconsider our path forward following the Eaton fire just a few miles from us in Altadena." The eatery's last day in Pasadena is Sunday, February 16.

Since opening in January 2023, Bar Chelou has racked up several accolades, including being named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Eater in 2023 and landing on the Los Angeles Times 101 best restaurants list in 2023 and 2024. According to Eater, "There’s no formula for achieving breakthrough status, and there’s no formula for Bar Chelou. The name translates from French as 'weird bar,' and indeed, it’s pretty unexpected to find one of the country’s most daring new restaurants tucked into the historic Pasadena Playhouse. Chef Doug Rankin’s delightfully avant-garde attraction layers Asian flavors into Spanish- and French-inflected dishes, all paired with spritzy cocktails and a stacked natural wine list."

While diners in L.A. mourn the loss, Bar Chelou's closure announcement ended with a teaser: "We’re not done yet...".

Rankin told Eater Los Angeles that his plan is to "cook in a pop-up capacity throughout Southern California" and eventually reopen Bar Chelou —  in Denver. "Rankin finds inspiration right now in Denver’s dining scene, noting Los Angeles chefs who successfully opened new restaurants, including his former mentor, chef Ludo Lefebvre," Eater reports.

No timeline for the move to Denver has been announced and Rankin has not responded to a request for comment.