Most people’s next chance to see Ryan Gosling will come in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land, opening in the U.S. on December 9. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman described the film as “the most audacious big-screen musical in a long time.” For those who would rather see Gosling in the flesh, here’s where you might look.
Tagine – 132 North Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles – Gosling is an investor in this upscale Beverly Hills Moroccan restaurant, where guests dine to a jazzsoundtrack by candlelight. The kitchen is run by chef Abdessamad “Ben” Benameur, whose “earliest memories were clinging to his grandmother Zhora as she prepared meals for the family in their small home in Morocco,” explains Tagine’s website. Benameur brought her recipes with him to L.A., sharing them with close friends only. When Gosling told Benameur it was the food he wanted to eat for “the rest of my life,” Tagine was born.
Cha Cha Lounge – 2375 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles – This Silver Lake Mexicali-themed tiki bar is the Southern California outpost of a popular Seattle spot-and one of Ryan Gosling’s regular hangouts. A life-size Willie Nelson cutout greets guests at the door, and U-shaped banquettes line the walls. “The place packs in the locals on any given night along with a few celebrities”-including Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, and Gosling-“for its super cheap happy hour, foosball tables, photobooth, and vending machine packed with eclectic items,” boasts the lounge.
Jit lada – 5233 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles – A Thai restaurant in a West Sunset Boulevard strip mall may not seem like the most likely place to bump into Hollywood royalty, but the Drive star is said to be a die-hard fan of the food at Jitlada. According to a waitress interviewed by Conde Nast Traveler, Gosling apparently has a weak spot for Jitiada’s crispy chicken, which is sauteed in chili paste with basil leaves, and the tom yum soup, specially prepared with “no herbs, no chili paste, and only fish.” Chef Tui’s “Dynamite Spicy Challenge” is for the bravest of palates.
Fig & Olive – 8490 Melrose PL, West Hollywood – Get an assortment of Mediterranean tasting plates with a Gos sighting on the side. He’s been spotted here numerous times over the years, and was said to have been “especially charming and nice to the waitstaff and fellow diners,” according to People magazine. Added bonus: You may spot other Tinseltown boldface names, such as Johnny Depp, Paul McCartney, and Halle Berry.
