The lights have dimmed at Rock & Reilly’s, an Irish pub with a rock ‘n’ roll soul, located at 8911 W. Sunset Blvd. The venue has ceased operations without warning. Yelp now tags it as “permanently closed,” though the owners have yet to issue a statement on the matter.
Rock & Reilly’s opened in 2011 and the venue quickly established itself as a fixture on the Sunset Strip. Blending Irish pub culture with the rock ‘n’ roll energy of the Sunset Strip, its website once boasted a selection of 45 Irish whiskeys—one of the largest in Los Angeles—alongside a menu featuring upscale bar fare like Irish Nachos (kettle chips with bacon, scallions, and cheddar) and Whiskey Bingo Wings. The venue’s two-level layout included a lively downstairs bar and a mellower upstairs lounge, often adorned with the fictional lore of “Reilly,” a one-eyed Irish bootlegger born during a bar fight, as recounted in its branding.
The pub’s appeal extended beyond its food and drink. Positioned next to iconic venues like Whisky a Go Go, it drew a mix of locals, tourists, and nightlife enthusiasts. Reviews from platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor, spanning its 13-year run, consistently highlighted its energetic atmosphere, friendly staff, and prime location. It operated daily, with hours typically from 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM (11:00 AM starts on weekends), and was a popular spot for St. Patrick’s Day block parties, which drew thousands in years like 2013 and 2019, benefiting charities such as Pencils of Promise.
The Rock & Reilly’s website still lists additional locations—near USC, at LAX’s Terminal 1, and in Canoga Park—but the fate of the flagship Sunset Strip site appears sealed. For now, the legacy of 8911 Sunset Blvd, once a hub of Irish hospitality and rock ‘n’ roll revelry, joins the Strip’s history as a memory.
What’s next??? Why isn’t the city stepping in to prevent what will soon be urban blight? What’s happening to the strip is really crazy.
The sunset strip is a shadow of its former self.. Duke’s, Scandia, cock and bull, hamburger hamlet, Lele house, warrior, pearls’s, taki sushi…and now rock and reilly’s. All were terrific, and all are gone now. Sad.
How many more businesses can we afford to lose?
It’s sad how many empty storefronts we now have.
Shows you how bad policies enacted by this radical, union-controlled city council can torpedo a city in just a few years.
The sunset strip is dunzo wouldn’t be surprised if Saddle Ranch closes soon. It always looks empty whenever I go past it. Which is a HUGE change over the years..sigh.
Oh no. Where will we get wings, Irish nachos, and booze now?
About 8 years ago, I had a nice dinner on Christmas day there with two of my neighbors, and there was a fun crowd hanging out.