After 26 years of pouring cocktails and slinging brunch specials on the Los Angeles-West Hollywood border, The Belmont is closing its doors at the end of August. The bar and restaurant at 747 N. La Cienega Blvd. broke the news to regulars on Facebook and Instagram, framing the shutdown as the end of an era rather than a business decision gone wrong.
The Belmont did not share a specific reason behind the closure, according to WhatNow. Instead, the owners invited longtime customers to join them for what they called “one last hurrah” and “one final night of bad decisions,” language that captures the bar's late-night, bar-and-lounge personality as much as its send-off. The announcement has already sparked disappointment among longtime patrons, with the closure prompting emotional reactions from a community that has treated the spot as a fixture for over two decades.
Until the end of the month, The Belmont continues operating on its usual schedule, open until 5 p.m. on Saturday through Thursday and until 12 p.m. on Friday, per the same report. The menu has long spanned cocktails, beer, wine, brunch, and late-night drinks alongside American and New American fare and pub-style bites, while the venue also rents out a private event space called Sidecar. Weekend brunch has been a particular draw, with two-for-one mimosas and a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, and the bar enforces a strict 21-and-over policy after 8 p.m., according to listings on TableAgent.
A Storied Address on La Cienega
The Belmont opened in early 2002, taking over a space previously occupied by Cafe Maurice, a celebrity hangout known for drawing heavy crowds and valet traffic before it shut down in late 2000, according to the Los Angeles Times. When it debuted, The Belmont underwent a major renovation designed to evoke 1930s ocean liners, complete with C-shaped leather booths, polished wood paneling, and a brightly lit dining room, the paper reported at the time.
The address's nightlife roots reach back even further. Decades before Cafe Maurice or The Belmont moved in, 747 N. La Cienega Blvd. was home to The Garden District in the early 1970s, as documented in local LGBT directory listings archived by the Houston LGBT History project. It is a reminder that the La Cienega corridor has cycled through hospitality tenants across multiple generations, each leaving its own mark on the strip.
The Belmont built its own following along the way, earning love and recognition from customers over the years and becoming known as a popular destination in the Los Angeles nightlife scene. Celebrity photographer Timothy White singled it out for having the best French fries in West Hollywood in a 2023 interview for the “Creators of West Hollywood” spotlight, part of a reputation that also included appearances on reality programming such as Vanderpump Rules.
A Health Suspension and What Comes Next
The closure announcement follows a rockier stretch for the bar. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health records show the agency temporarily suspended The Belmont's operating permit on August 7, 2025, due to a vermin infestation, the kind of action county health inspectors take when pest activity is deemed an imminent hazard.
The property itself isn't sitting empty for long. A commercial real estate listing on LoopNet already advertises the retail space for lease, touting a grandfathered Type 47 full liquor license and an indoor/outdoor patio as selling points for whoever takes over next.
The Belmont's exit adds to a run of high-profile West Hollywood hospitality closures this year. Thirteen-year-old seafood restaurant Connie & Ted's closed in July, and mezcal bar Las Perlas shut down in May, both citing mounting operating costs. Meanwhile, county inspectors have ramped up enforcement across the area, temporarily shuttering WeHo Bistro on La Cienega in June and Scarlett in July over similar health concerns.
For now, The Belmont's owners are keeping the focus on farewell rather than fallout, encouraging regulars to show up for one more round before the lights go out at the end of the month.
