When Vanderpump Rules premiered in 2013, no one knew how this series might fare. By the end of Season 1, it was clear that Bravo had a hit on their hands. The original cast consisted of seven full-time, hotheaded stars, each working (and sometimes even living) together as servers, hosts, bartenders, and one DJ at SUR Restaurant & Lounge in West Hollywood. They were broke, messy, and unburned by societal anchors, such as self-respect and dignity. As the seasons progressed, many cast members started branching out, and now, multiple restaurants and bars exist in their names.
Oh. Rest in peace, Villa Blanca and Pump. What an iconic era you both existed in.
SUR – Co-owned by Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, and Guillermo Zapata
Thank you, Lisa Vanderpump, for granting these stars a platform in the first place. Lisa and her husband, Ken Todd, are well-established restaurant, bar, and lounge owners, as seen on VPR.
In Season 1, we met the staff at SUR (Sexy Unique Restaurant). These cast members waited on tables, chain-smoked in the back alley, and dated everyone in sight like it was the only activity on tap in West Hollywood. SUR remains a staple bar and lounge on North Robertson Blvd. And yes, goat cheese balls and Pinot Grigio remain staples on this menu.
But no, none of the original cast members still hold full-time positions here, minus Peter Madrigal, who continues to manage the daily operations at SUR.
Vanderpump’s Cocktail Garden – Owned by Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd
In 2019, Lisa and Kenn added another bar and lounge to their portfolio. The Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas officially soft-launched on March 30, 2019, with a public debut following shortly after, on April 1, 2019.
Lisa loves a good theme, and her Vanderpump Cocktail Garden is no exception. As you walk through the front doors of this lounge, you immediately get transported into a garden oasis of sorts. Twinkling lights adorn various trees and plants, giving this space a warm, cozy vibe. The menu features light bites, mocktails, and signature cocktails, but zero lambs, as this pushes the boundaries for our animal-loving restaurateur.
Vanderpump à Paris – Owned by Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd
Vanderpump’s Cocktail Garden fared well in Las Vegas, so Lisa decided to open a second Sin City eatery nearby. Vanderpump à Paris opened its doors in 2022. This bar and lounge lives within the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, but the vibes here differ from their original hotspot on the strip. Instead of a garden theme, Vanderpump à Paris reeks of Parisian courtyards, but always sexy.
Wolf by Vanderpump – Owned by Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd
Lisa and Ken were in the process of opening yet another restaurant and lounge, but this one was not in Vegas. Instead, Wolf by Vanderpump resides in Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada side.
Located within Harveys Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino, this restaurant was still under construction at the beginning of Season 11. But the viewers got the gist. This April, Lisa finally opened Wolf. The interior features earthy accents and wolves, as the name implies, and the menu changes with each passing season.
TomTom – Owned by Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd, with a minority stake held by Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz
Lisa and Ken had a killer idea to invest in the Toms, as their names are well-known in the Bravo universe. After a little chat with Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz went down in Season 6, these man-children agreed to lend their names and their checks, valued at a 5% stake in this new Lisa-owned bar.
Sadly, Lisa and Ken were unaware that the Toms would later fall from grace. Their antics saw TomTom taking on water like a sinking ship during Seasons 10 and 11. However, the real venom got hurled at their other bar, which opened shortly after. Even still, TomTom is hurting, and if you ask Peter about this, he wholeheartedly believes that Lisa is about to rebrand this joint as Pump.
Something About Her – Co-owned by Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix
From here on out, the stars of VPR are standing on their own two feet. Mostly. Dolling out only advice, Lisa sat back as Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix began hashing out their dreams of a sandwich shop, which would later become Something About Her.
These girls faced many delays and roadblocks along the way, yet they continually rolled with the punches. Instead of giving us a grand opening on VPR, we got taste-testing parties and tours. We also overheard snippets of what their menus might entail. Finally, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, Katie and Ariana opened the doors of Something About Her, and we are likely to learn even more about their success in VPR Season 12.
Schwartz and Sandy’s – Set to close before the end of 2024
When Tom and Tom decided to open a bar, the name of their future joint became a hotly contested topic on VPR. Katie hated their choice, but ultimately, these two besties settled on Schwartz and Sandy’s Lounge. They also had a business partner named Greg Morris, who is likely now second-guessing his life and his choices (or at least this one).
Schwartz and Sandy’s turned out great, with an impressive drinks menu and eclectic vibes, much like its owners. But when Sandoval cheated and made his rounds talking about his affair, making matters even worse, this bar took a beating from the public. Greg and all remaining employees were innocent bystanders, so this was an unfair cause-and-effect situation that they all had to swallow.
Greg did what he could. He even banned filming in their bar. In time, the hatred died down, but the bar’s fate has now been sealed. Schwartz announced its upcoming closure on November 25, 2024. It’ll be gone for good by the end of the year.
Jax’s Studio City – Partially owned by Jax Taylor
Jax Taylor is now on The Valley, but this man will always be an OG VPR star, so he goes here. In 2023, Jax opened a bar named Jax’s Studio City. This beer-cheese serving, trivia-hosting hot spot is a sports bar in L.A., which Jax never invested any of his monies into.
Jax has three partners with deep pockets, so he did not have to invest anything in this bar. Jax ate with this deal, as he now gets his name on a pub with far less effort given than his other bar-owning costars. Now, he can rake in all the proceeds while having fun with his fans, who always happen to be in the neighborhood.
And yes, sometimes, Jax has too much fun in front of his patrons. It happens.
Britt’s – Partially owned by Brittany Cartwright
She may be getting a divorce from Jax, but Brittany Cartwright continues to press forward. She is back in her farmhouse and managing her co-parenting responsibilities with her soon-to-be ex to the best of her abilities, bless her heart.
As for her income, she also stars in The Valley, but now, following the success of her ex and his bar, Brittany is set to open a bar as well. The same partners who dealt with Jax approached her, and Brittany liked what they had to say. Soon, she shared, “Britt’s is coming to WeHo!”
This bar will be in West Hollywood, only three doors from TomTom. And, like a petty, justified woman, she is taking her beer cheese with her.
Little More NYC – Potentially owned by Daniel Wai
Is Daniel Wai a cast member on VPR? No. But he did make a few appearances with Ariana in Season 11, and as he is her new man, the chances are high that we will see him again in Season 12.
Daniel lives in NYC, where his girl Ariana wrapped her long run on Broadway. Ariana wants another shot onstage, and this has to make Daniel happy. It would keep his lady friend close by his side for several additional beats should she land another role.
But as I scrolled through their socials, I noticed Daniel got tagged at a new bar, Little More, NYC. In the comments, congratulations are sounding.
The Instagram page for this bar only boasts three pictures. All three have Daniel and one other human tagged. Daniel is many things, and a bartender is one. So, if this is what it seems, Daniel will fit right in.
TELL US – HAVE YOU VISITED ANY OF THESE VANDERPUMP RULES-LED HOTSPOTS? IF SO, HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE? DO YOU THINK ANY ADDITIONAL BARS WILL SOON OPEN FROM THIS CAST?