First Look: Wine Bar Lola’s Brings Smashable Share Plates (With a Side of Disco) to Norwood

“She’s a bit of a disco girl at heart who doesn’t mind a dance behind closed doors after a couple of wines.” That’s how operations manager Olivia Gorman describes Lola, the mystery woman whose name and Betty Boop-esque image greets you at the entrance of Norwood’s newest bar. “She’s taken on this personality of her own that everyone in Norwood is talking about,” says Gorman.

East End Cellars Norwood has been reborn as Lola’s, a wine bar that’s a little bit sexy and very vibey. There are burgundy and rose walls (it’s no coincidence the colours are also grape varieties); a bronze velvet curtain; low tables topped with pink marble surrounded by plush leather stools; and wines adorning the back wall as they did before. Adrian Condina is behind the new design. “When you walk in, you feel instantly relaxed,” Gorman tells Broadsheet.

Heading up the kitchen is Aaron Roberts, who was previously head chef at Stem (now Canopy Bar).

“Yes, it’s a wine bar with a great wine list, but the focus is very much on food,” says Gorman. The “refined, elegant and approachable” menu features “food that makes you feel good”. Think oysters with Japanese chilli oil; beef tartare with house-made crisps for scooping; pork Milanese with caper butter and remoulade; and mussels with sobrasada and charred fennel. The list reads snacky, but you can absolutely make a meal of it.

As for drinks, there’s an extensive wine list with rotating wines by the glass, including Krug champagne as a permanent fixture (Lola’s is one of only two so-called Krug embassies in Australia), plus a knockout cocktail list. Highlights include the Caramel Espresso Martini made with Australian Distilling Co’s Adelaide vodka; the Cherry Sour; and signature drink The Lola, a zesty pink number made with Never Never Ginache Gin, Aperol, strawberry and pink grapefruit soda.

Giving the Norwood space its own identity, distinct from East End Cellars, was important. “To try and emulate the 25 years of work that Michael [Andrewartha] has done at East End Cellars Vardon Avenue is just not possible,” says Gorman. “There is only one East End Cellars.”

There are plans to have DJs on the occasional Friday night, and the rest of the time the playlist will feature fun beats you can – and should – sing along to. And when your plates are cleared, no one’s stopping you from pushing your seat to the side and getting your groove on – it’s what Lola would want, after all.

Lola’s
88 Magill Road, Norwood
08 8102 0965

Hours:
Tue to Thu 4pm–late
Fri & Sat midday–late
Sun 11am–7.30pm

@lolasnorwood_
lolaswinebar.com.au