Lolo Wine Bar

If the golden age of tabloids wasn't already in the past, you'd probably see paparazzi lurking outside Lolo. This East Hollywood hangout is the kind of pasta-and-pét-nat spot where off-duty celebs have candlelit catch-ups with friends, singles get dressed up to strut across the checkered floor, and dates lock eyes under massive monstera trees. Lolo isn’t a crowded clubstaurant with hour-long waits on random weeknights, though. If you’re looking for a fun place to show off a new haircut without blowing a whole paycheck, this casual wine bar/dinner spot on Sunset is a fine option.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

There are two very different routes to a memorable night at Lolo: sit at the bar and clink glasses with a group of art school dropouts you’ll never see again, or a group dinner at a patio table surrounded by hot people on their third glass of chablis. Both paths lead directly to Lolo’s bottle shop around back, which has dozens of options in the $50 to $60 range. The selection spans from sparkling pinot gris made in some remote French village to orange wines aged in Catalonia—the staff is helpful, but don’t expect a ton of wine guidance. Most people just spring for their two-pack bottles bundle—it's a great value if you’re planning on getting a little rowdy.

The least exciting part of a night at Lolo will probably be the food. The menu of Italian-leaning, broadly European dishes is the stuff of many bistros across Hollywood. There is, of course, cacio e pepe and tuna tartare, as well as a plate of prawns charred in all the right places and doused in garlic and lemon. The juicy bar steak is a solid choice if you want to leave feeling full, without spending triple-digits on a small plate soirée. But that all feels sort of beside the point. You’re ultimately here to eavesdrop on Rachel Sennott and Kristen Stewart during a Wednesday night wine down.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Cacio e pepe

Yes, cacio e pepe is everywhere these days, but this one is worth ordering. The blanket of salty parmesan clings tightly to the pasta, the pepper has a serious bite (but doesn’t blow out your sinuses) and the chewy bucatini are the perfect match for the thick sauce.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Grilled Prawns

The best seafood dish here. The prawns are evenly seared, soaked in a lemon-and-garlic olive oil bath, and proof that simple cooking will never not be in fashion.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Bar Steak

A perfectly standard slab of beef, cooked well and slathered in bay leaf butter, that’s served with fried potatoes. After a couple glasses of chablis and staring at Paul Mescal from across the room, this will hit the spot though.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Chocolate Tart

The desserts at Lolo are pretty disappointing overall. This one is fine if the table wants something to share, but we’d advise you to pay up and walk a block north for taro cakes at Bhan Kanom or Thai gelato at Kanomwaan instead.