Kayvan Gabbay

Veteran bartender Mike Gotovac has been a perennial presence for over five decades behind the bar of West Hollywood hotspot Dan Tana’s (he celebrated his 50th  anniversary in the iconic restaurant in August 2018 with his colorful visage emblazoned on the rectangular, layer cake). Sadly, he lost his battle with the coronavirus and passed on Thursday after an insurmountable battle. He was 76 years old.

When you ask loyal customers what keeps them coming back to the iconic Dan Tana's restaurant in Hollywood (it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014), some point to the classic red-sauce Italian cuisine, while others mention the stiff drinks and rambunctious party atmosphere. But to many die-hard regulars, the main reason to visit the restaurant is endearingly cantankerous, mustachioed, longtime bartender Mike Gotovac.

If you're in the mood for a trip to New York but don't want to fly, you can check into NoMad Los Angeles for a multilevel experience. Restaurateur Will Guidara and the Sydell Group, which owns NoMad New York, have meticulously restored the elegant downtown landmark Giannini Building at Seventh and Olive and turned it into a 241-room hotel with two stories' worth of drinking and dining possibilities. Swiss chef and co-owner Daniel Humm is at the helm.