Lolo, the latest venture by renowned Spanish Chef José Pizarro, has officially opened its doors on Bermondsey Street. Named as a tongue-in-cheek reference to José’s middle name, Manuel, Lolo has been designed to capture the warmth, togetherness and joy that José feels from preparing his favourite dishes at home. The restaurant aims to bring a fresh, innovative approach to the José Pizarro brand with a carefully curated all-day menu that brings together José’s personal favourites and exciting new creations.
The concept centres around the communal essence of dining and offers a versatile, all-day destination on Bermondsey Street, neighbouring José’s first London restaurant, José Tapas. The menu is divided into two parts: ‘all-day gathering’ and ‘lunch and dinner,’ perfect for everything from leisurely breakfasts and long lunches to casual sandwiches and wine, or evening bites with expertly crafted cocktails.
Starting at 8am, the ‘all-day gathering’ menu features a delightful array of egg dishes. Devilled eggs feature Catalina salted anchovy, Salted cod and saffron sauce, Smoked eel, or Sobrasada, and the Tortilla Vigas, José’s playful take on the “lazy omelette” comes with toppings like crips, caramelised onions and 100% paleta Ibérica 5J, or cured salmon, dill, crème fraîche, Lilliput capers and lemon. The menu also includes a selection of sandwiches, with the Bikini already dubbed a fan favourite, featuring 100% plateta Ibérica 5J, melted cheese, and black truffle, all sandwiched between perfectly toasted triangles of bread. Sweets include the Red Wine Torrija, caramelised sourdough and cheese ice cream, a Chocolate Mousse with vermouth-marinated cherries, and a refreshing Fruit Salad with mint, black pepper and JP’s EVOO.
Then, from noon, guests can additionally order from the ‘lunch and dinner’ menu. The ‘Pica-Pica’ section, which means ‘a little bit of this, a little bit of that,’ includes Tinned mussels in escabeche served with crisps and chive, Chicken Liver Parfait with PX vinegar, with sweet potato buns, red onion & parsley salad, as well as Gildas, traditional Basque pintxos. Highlights from the Crudos section are Gadira Tuna Loin Tartare with peaches, and a Mediterranean Red Prawn Carpaccio dressed with orange and chilli. Additionally, there are small and big plates, featuring Roasted red peppers with confit Gadira tuna belly, Home-made fresh cheese with tomato and preserved lemon, Kokotxas – a traditional dish of hake’s tongue in pil pil sauce – and a succulent Rubia Gallega Sirloin. In addition, there is a whole section on tinned fish, all served with fresh bread. There are “Catalina” Cantabrian Reserva anchovies and a selection from “Los Peperetes” such as razor clams, cockles and chipirones, all complemented by boards of charcuterie and cheese.
The drinks menu at Lolo has been carefully curated to include a succinct list of wines and cocktails. Guests can enjoy brunch cocktails and aperitifs, including a signature Bloody Mary, Negronis, and a Dirty Martini, alongside a refreshing range of sparkling, white, red, orange, and rosé wines sourced from across the Mediterranean.
The creation of Lolo’s menu has been a collaborative effort with José’s friends and trusted suppliers across the UK and Spain, reflecting his deep connections with and love of both nations alike. With a focus on the highest quality ingredients, Lolo highlights José’s relationship with some of the UK’s best suppliers, featuring coffee from Extract Coffee in Brixton, cured meat from Tempus Charcuterie, cheeses from London’s Muswell Hill, and tinned fish and seafood from Rockfish in Devon.
Expressing his excitement about the new opening, which makes his third restaurant on the street he has such an adoration for, José said, “I am thrilled to be bringing Lolo to Bermondsey Street as I have felt that an all-day dining spot is what is missing for locals. The menu features dishes straight from my home kitchen and I am incredibly passionate about bringing these recipes to life within Lolo.”
The restaurant offers a refreshing new look for the José Pizarro brand, with a Mediterranean-inspired design that evolves throughout the day—from a light and airy café atmosphere during the day to a low-lit, intimate wine bar in the evening. Warm tones of cream and dusty pink create a welcoming ambiance, enhanced by authentic tiling, rich timber, and stone accents. The walls are adorned with art pieces, carefully selected through José’s connections and interest in the art world, with pieces from local artist Norman Ackroyd, close-friend Tracy Emin, his partner, Peter Meades, as well as Peter Layton and Sam Henning.