Why did Horses suddenly close?

After years of waitlists, social media frenzy and scandal, Horses went out with a surprisingly quiet whinny.

The Sunset Strip hot spot, once one of the hardest reservations in town, closed in late December, canceling all upcoming reservations. The restaurant has remained closed since, with no availability on Resy.

L.A. influencer Seth on the Scene posted a video about the closure on January 4, pointing out that one Yelp user left a review regarding their abruptly canceled New Year's Eve reservation, while a sign on the door has remained in place for over a week.

"Unfortunately, Horses is closed this evening due to necessary repairs. We are so sorry for the inconvenience and truly appreciate you stopping by. We look forward to welcoming you back soon," the sign reads, and that's all the comment that Horses management has made. (Time Out has reached out to Horses for comment, but did not hear back before publication.)

A second video on January 5 offered more details. According to staff members who reached out to Seth B., employees were allegedly told two days before Christmas that the restaurant would not be able to stay open. A week later, another update to staff allegedly shared that the general manager and the executive chef both resigned. There were also complaints about bounced paychecks from anonymous sources. No timeline was given for a possible reopening.

When Horses opened in 2021, it quickly became one of L.A.’s most talked-about restaurants. Situated in the storied space once home to the classic Ye Coach & Horses pub, the modern bistro fused Italian-French influences with a stylish, lively atmosphere that drew locals, out-of-towners and enough celebrity sightings to make it a Sunset Boulevard staple.

But behind the scenes, Horses weathered intense drama: scandalous divorce filings between co-owners, allegations of animal abuse and staff upheavals. That the restaurant survived all of that only to succumb at the end of 2025 speaks to the larger pattern in the L.A. restaurant scene, which saw more than 100 closures in 2025.

For many Angelenos, the loss of Horses is more than the end of a restaurant; it’s a reminder that even the most trendsetting eateries aren’t immune to the volatility of the industry. Whether Horses will return to its home on Sunset Boulevard remains to be seen, but for now, one of L.A.’s most talked-about dining rooms has fallen silent.