What It’s Like to Bartend for the Stars...for 51 Years | Bon Appétit
"A Santa Monica Boulevard “little yellow house” that's been operating since 1968, it’s a raucous, late-night red-sauce institution beloved by Hollywood celebrities, gawking tourists and multi-generation locals. Mike Gotovac has manned the compact, one-man bar since the beginning, keeping drinks flowing, dividing the room into a front for those who want to be seen and a back for famous patrons who prize privacy, and acting as host, bartender and occasional protector when fans get pushy. The place is steeped in lore—table four is famously linked to the Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes”—and its legendary neon signage and packed red leather booths create a lively, nostalgic atmosphere. The late-night scene swelled in the 1970s after Troubadour shows, producing marathon hours and wild stories (including nights that stretched until dawn), though the bar has modernized as tastes shifted from gin martinis, Rob Roys and novelty drinks like Brandy Alexanders to vodka martinis and more wine, with Ubers now replacing the old practice of driving patrons home. Longtime regulars, some third- and fourth-generation, are fiercely loyal and help maintain the boisterous but protected vibe." - ByMaggie Lange
