Lola

Beatriz Fernandez, or “Mama Bea” as she’s affectionately called, named Lola after her favourite flamenco dancer, whose imperious portrait dominates the otherwise muted interior.

The Portuguese native started this inner-west Spanish–Portuguese venue after selling her CBD cafe Lorca. She loved the area’s friendly, family-focused community, so Lola has a kids menu and activities corner to keep the kids occupied while parents relax with a morning coffee.

The menu has a fairly even spread of vegetarian, seafood and other meat dishes. Some recipes have been passed down from Fernandez’s mother, but Fernandez adds her own twists.

On the breakfast menu are classics such as Bircher muesli, smashed avocado, and French toast with Pedro Ximénez–soaked berries, as well as a selection of baked goods. There’s also a range of freshly squeezed juices and smoothies.

The extensive lunch and dinner menus include dishes such as ensalada de cordero – pulled lamb, glazed carrots and puy lentils with a lemon and mint yogurt dressing; and carne antijara, a Portuguese stew of twice-cooked pork belly, clams, potatoes and fresh coriander.

To drink, choose from a selection of beer and wine – both local and imported from Portugal and Spain – and house-made sangria.