Vancouver's Osteria Otto Closes Permanently After Fire Destroys Restaurant at Three Months Old

Ignacio Arrieta had just sat down to eat at his own restaurant Wednesday night when someone rushed in to tell him the building was on fire. He walked outside, Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Assistant Chief Pierre Morin later confirmed the blaze appeared to start in one of the bedrooms, with smoke and flames showing from the third floor. By the time it was over, the kitchen Arrieta and his partners had spent more than a year building was gone.

Osteria Otto had opened at 8th and Main in December 2025, the product of more than a year of planning, building, and dreaming by co-owners Ignacio Arrieta, Joe Fazio, and Daniel Panduro. The Mount Pleasant restaurant served a variety of Italian share plates in a room inspired by Japanese listening bars. The concept blended Italian seasonal cooking with Pacific Northwest produce and the ambience of Japanese kissa listening bars, with curated vinyl, hi-fi sound, and warm lighting built around ease, comfort, and thoughtful hospitality.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services responded to the blaze at the DePencier House, a mixed-use building at 151 East 8th Ave., around 8:18 p.m. on Wednesday. Arrieta said the restaurant was totally full at the time of the fire, and everyone inside had to leave. All patrons were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. "There were no injuries, but six people were displaced," Morin told reporters. "Seven fire trucks and 28 firefighters were there until 11:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation."

The fire broke out in the unit above the restaurant. Water damage from the firefighting efforts left the restaurant "completely destroyed." "It is clear that returning to operations will not be possible," the owners stated. Arrieta described the scene the morning after: "Everything above the restaurant is burned out and we're fully floated (with water)." As of Thursday, he said simply, "I don't know if we will reopen."

A possible cause was an electric blanket, though investigations remain ongoing. Fire officials have said they believe there is nothing suspicious about the blaze.

The building itself adds a layer of loss that extends beyond the restaurant. The Depencier House at 151 East 8th Avenue is recognized as the oldest currently occupied single-family home outside of Vancouver's downtown core, and has been a staple Mount Pleasant landmark since its construction, estimated variously at 1887, 1889, or 1894. The fire burned through to the back of the building and through power lines, knocking out power for several blocks in the neighbourhood. The building also houses Dandy Barbers, which has been forced to close as well.

For the cooks, servers, and front-of-house staff who built Osteria Otto's early following, the closure is immediate and financially stark. The owners wrote in their GoFundMe appeal: "While we begin the long, difficult process of working with insurance to see what can be salvaged, our immediate priority is not the walls or the kitchen, it is the people. This situation is complex and challenging for everyone involved, and the impact goes far beyond the physical space. This fundraiser will help cover lost wages as well as unexpected expenses as we navigate this difficult time together. Our staff are the heartbeat of Osteria Otto. They are the ones who made the last three months so special, and they have suddenly found themselves without a workplace or a paycheck."

The GoFundMe aims to raise $80,000, and as of Thursday evening, more than $7,500 had been raised.

The Broadway bus currently detours in front of the building due to the ongoing SkyTrain construction between Main and Quebec streets, a disruption the restaurant had already been contending with since opening. Now, the question of what comes next hangs over the block, the displaced residents above, and a kitchen crew that reported for their last shift without knowing it.