Horses, once a coveted Hollywood dining destination on Sunset Boulevard, is preparing for a comeback after closing in 2025 amid a bitter divorce battle, financial pressure and allegations involving the alleged abuse of pet cats by one of its owners.
The restaurant opened in 2021 in a landmark brick building and quickly became one of Los Angeles’ hottest culinary destinations. At the height of its popularity, securing a table was notoriously difficult, with celebrity guests such as Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jeff Bezos and Will Ferrell among those drawn to the scene.
Horses initially said it was temporarily closing for repairs and maintenance after heavy December 2025 rains caused structural problems. The restaurant never returned to its original location. Now, its team says the brand will reopen elsewhere.
“Coming back to a new home on the Sunset Strip,” the restaurant wrote on Instagram.
Despite its celebrity following, Horses was recognized for more than its star power. The New York Times praised its cooking, which blended rich French brasserie classics with produce-driven California cuisine.
SEE ALSO: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Join Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday
The restaurant’s founding chef-owners, Liz Johnson and Will Aghajanian, faced a highly publicized divorce in May 2023, creating a major crisis for the popular Los Angeles establishment.
In court documents, Johnson accused Aghajanian of domestic violence and alleged that he had tortured and killed the couple’s cats. Aghajanian denied the accusations and filed a countersuit, claiming Johnson had been physically abusive toward him and their dogs.
Johnson and Aghajanian later left the company and resolved their legal dispute, bringing an end to their involvement with the restaurant.
Brittany Ha, who had shared kitchen leadership with her husband, Lee Pallerino, assumed control of the culinary operation. She continued running Horses as its public image suffered and private-event business weakened, until the restaurant ultimately closed in 2025.
Horses Holdings LLC, the restaurant’s parent company, also faced nearly $530,000 in California tax liens recorded in two filings from December 2025.
