Floreat Italian restaurant Gustoso, visited by Daniel Ricciardo, suddenly closes

A western suburbs restaurant enjoyed by locals, including Formula 1 legend Daniel Ricciardo, has suddenly closed.

Floreat Italian eatery Gustoso, in the leafy neighbourhood’s shopping centre Floreat Forum, closed without notice this week.

Floreat Forum confirmed the owners had decided to permanently close but was unable to divulge why the sudden decision had been made.

The restaurant’s Facebook page has been taken offline and Google refers to the restaurant as “permanently closed”.

Locals have been left flabbergasted by the move, noticing only when they realised they were unable to make a booking for the restaurant.

Neighbouring businesses told PerthNow they had noticed the restaurant had, unusually, been closed over the Easter break.

The family-owned restaurant opened in December 2023 and counted Ricciardo as one of its most high-profile diners.

Ricciardo, whose is of Italian descent, visited Gustoso with his family in February.

The owners showed off photos with Ricciardo on social media and staff member Elena gushed over their star visitor.

“He was absolutely lovely, he loved the food, was extremely happy,” she told PerthNow at the time.

The mystery closure of Gustoso follows the end of a string of restaurants across Perth in recent months.

Fremantle’s Young George bar and restaurant held its final service last week after a “difficult few years”.

“We just had a week of trade last week and for lunches there were two sales,” owner Susan Whelan told the SMH.

The owners revealed the cost-of-living crisis and the Fremantle Traffic Bridge closure had been big factors in their decision to close.

Wellington Street restaurant Fleur will also close later this month after six years, in favour of other endeavours.

Award-winning Crown Perth restaurant Bistro Guillaume has also closed after 14 years.

The announcement follows a raft of dining developments at Crown Perth in recent months, including the opening of the Urban Food District.

The owners of Gustoso have been contacted for comment.