Seven Things to Know About The Guild, Opening Next Month on the Sunset Strip

You might have noticed some new signage up at the former Al Bacio space on Sunset in West Hollywood. The Strip spot shuttered last summer, but only at the beginning of March did we learn what would replace the former tenant: The Guild, a new multi-functional restaurant and retail space slated to open next month.

Here’s what we know so far:

There’s more than just dinner. While Al Bacio and the myriad restaurants that came before in that space (Osteria Drago, Il Sole) mostly focused on the dinner crowds, The Guild will look to be a multipurpose outfit. Yes there’s a dining room, but you’ll also find an on-site wine shop and upscale retail area filled with cheeses, charcuterie, prepackaged picnic baskets, and the like.

There will even be a wine bar. Guests will not only be able to purchase wine to take away, there are plans to have a small wine bar on site, where you can drink from the collection on hand either by the glass or the bottle. They’ll serve those same cheeses and simple snacks to boot.

But don’t forget about the dining room. Ultimately The Guild is still a restaurant at heart, which is where the dining room comes into play. Expect 60 seats inside the comfortable dining room and space for another 20 out on the patio.

The menu won’t be burdensome. Far from the lumbering leather-bound menus you might find up and down the Strip, the focus at The Guild seems to be on California produce and proteins, as vetted through only a dozen or so dishes.

Here's who's behind it all. Though The Guild isn’t as high profile as some other recent openings down the street like Estrella, there are still a few key names being bandied about that you’ll want to pay attention to.

The first is owner Diego Leporini of That’s Amore in Huntington Beach (previously of Redondo Wine Bistro and OPM Restaurant), and the other is executive chef Charles Cho, who previously cooked at Flat Top in New York City before returning to Southern California to also work at OPM in Huntington Beach.

Consider this Old Hollywood glamour. The place will take its cues from the golden age of cinema, including lots of touches that harken back to the 1930’s and 1940’s, though likely won’t play too heavily into the stereotypes of black and white movie posters and random film quotes.

But with a nod to history. The building that The Guild will sit in called the Constance Bennett Building, and is actually the former longtime home of the Screen Actors Guild. So expect the usual Art Deco touches and bit of flair, but without all that kitsch.

The Guild hopes to open next month on Sunset Boulevard.

The Guild
8741 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA