‘It’s about my life’: Why acclaimed Cambridge wine bar Dear Annie is closing

Дата публикации: 08-07-2026 20:17:44

After earning national acclaim, Dear Annie will end regular service July 31 as owner Lauren Friel says she wants to prioritize motherhood over the demands of restaurant life.
The post ‘It’s about my life’: Why acclaimed Cambridge wine bar Dear Annie is closing appeared first on Boston.com.

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Restaurants After earning national acclaim, Dear Annie will end regular service July 31 as owner Lauren Friel says she wants to prioritize motherhood over the demands of restaurant life. Lauren Friel announced Dear Annie's closing on Wednesday, writing: "This decision isn't just about cash flow; it's about my life and what I want out of it." Erin Clark/Globe Staff

One of Cambridge’s most acclaimed wine bars is closing its dining room.

Dear Annie, the sister restaurant to Bow Market’s Rebel Rebel and a nationally recognized natural wine bar from owner Lauren Friel, will end regular service on July 31 before reopening in September with a focus on private and bespoke wine events, Friel announced Wednesday to Dear Annie’s Instagram page.

The restaurant will close for the month of August before returning in a new format, Friel said.

While she acknowledged the difficult economics facing restaurants, she said the decision ultimately came down to something more personal.

“This decision isn’t just about cash flow; it’s about my life and what I want out of it,” she wrote. “It’s a lot about motherhood—Dear Annie could probably exist in its current form, but it would mean not seeing my kid, and that’s not what I’m interested in right now.”

Dear Annie opened in 2021 with Field & Vine owners Sara Markey and Andrew Brady. The restaurant quickly earned national recognition, appearing on The New York Times‘ list of America’s 50 favorite restaurants and Bon Appétit‘s 50 Best New Restaurants list in 2022.

The announcement prompted an outpouring of appreciation and support from diners, many sharing memories of celebrations and praising Friel for prioritizing her life.

“My husband and I had our wedding here last year! It was amazing and you all kick-started his undying devotion to natural wine,” a commenter wrote. “[Dear Annie] will continue to be one of our very favorite places forever, wishing you all the best and will miss this place in its current form, although I know the next iteration will continue to be amazing!” 

Another added: “Choosing oneself is true radical hospitality — which starts with living in the first person, it is everything.”

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