Lulo Spice & Bar

Lulo Spice & Bar brings South American flavours and Indian spices together in a contemporary restaurant and cocktail bar on Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn. The menu is built around contrast and combination, with spice, fresh textures and traditional influences appearing across shareable small plates, larger mains and desserts. Guests can order à la carte, or choose a chef-led degustation or set menu, including a vegetarian option. There is also an express lunch offering on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with lunch service listed from 12pm to 3pm.

The food ranges across both cuisines without treating them as separate menus. Small plates include Colombian empanadas, vegetarian samosas, chicken seekh kebab rolls and patacones, while mains include beef short ribs slow-cooked in red wine and South American spices, charcoal tandoori butter chicken, dal bukhara, Peruvian-style aji de gallina and smoky eggplant mash. The kitchen also caters for different preferences with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices identified on the menu, as well as a dedicated kids’ selection. For dessert, the list includes gulab nest, quesillo, passionfruit tres leches and rasmalai royale.

Drinks are a major part of the offering. The bar serves cocktails influenced by South America and India, alongside modern takes on familiar classics, sangrias and a selection of South American and Australian wines. Standouts include the Lulo Margarita, made with tequila and lulo fruit, and Green Mango, which combines vodka with green mango, tamarind and cumin. There are also Indian-inspired options such as Nimbu Pani G&T and Chandni Chowk Sour, plus beer from Spain, India, Mexico and Australia. The drinks list includes non-alcoholic choices as well, although the website does not provide further detail about them.

Lulo’s story is tied to its owners, Ganeev Babra and Lorena Gómez, whose Indian and Colombian backgrounds shape the food and drinks. The venue says it has traded on Glenferrie Road for more than 15 years, evolving from Spanish and South American influences into its current fusion format. Its stated character is warm, lively and energetic, with an emphasis on hospitality, culture and connection. The shared-plate format and group-booking offering make it suited to social dinners and celebrations, while the kids’ menu gives families a practical option. A broad vegetarian selection and a dedicated vegetarian set menu may also appeal to mixed groups with different dietary preferences.