Dear Annie in Cambridge Is Closing, Will Become an Events Space

An award-winning restaurant and wine bar is closing, though the business will continue on in another form.

According to a message sent to us from Leah Klein of City Living Boston, Dear Annie in Cambridge is saying farewell, with an Instagram post from Lauren Friel of the Massachusetts Avenue place saying the following:

Dear Annie's final evening in regular service will be on July 31st. Dear Annie as we know her--in both name and being--will cease to exist. Instead, we will be dedicating our space, time, and energy to bespoke events (include private events) devoted to the beauty and craft of exceptional wine and hospitality. We will close for the month of August  and plan to re-emerge in September.

The note goes on to cite the trend of Friel's favorite food businesses around the world closing and the proliferation of steakhouses and luxury chains opening in the Boston area, with Friel saying that "I've seen multiple articles declaring that food's golden era is at its end....This current trend is not why I devoted the past 25 years of my life to this industry. The writing is on the wall for many of us..."

Dear Annie first opened in late 2021, receiving much praise over the past few years including from Boston Magazine, Bon Appetit, the New York Times, and Wine Enthusiast. Lauren Friel and the team behind it also run Rebel Rebel, a wine bar in the Union Square section of Somerville.

The address for Dear Annie is 1741 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140. Its website can be found at https://www.dearanniebar.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)