Lola's is a Spanish tapas restaurant on Commercial Road, on the West Cliff edge of Bournemouth town centre. It was opened in 2015 by two friends from Spain with a simple aim, homemade tapas made from fresh ingredients, served in generous, shareable portions.
The food
The menu follows the classic tapas format: small plates designed for grazing and sharing across the table. Expect bread and alioli, four styles of patatas, and croquetas in ham, chicken, spinach & blue cheese and mushroom versions. From there it moves into more substantial dishes, garlic cream baked hake, Galician-style octopus, chorizo, pork loin, ox cheeks and a run of Ibérico cured ham selections, alongside Spanish omelette, Padron peppers and Manchego cheese. Desserts stick to Spanish classics: crema catalana, churros with chocolate and almond cake.
Vegan and dietary options
Dietary choice runs right through the menu rather than being an afterthought. All four patatas styles, the mushroom croquetas and the Padron peppers are vegan, with further vegetarian dishes such as goat's cheese salad and the tortilla. Gluten-free bread and flour are available to substitute across a number of dishes, so mixed groups with different needs tend to be well catered for.
Good to know
Lola's has built a strong local following, it's regularly cited among Bournemouth's highest-rated restaurants on TripAdvisor, with reviews numbering in the thousands. Booking is sensible, particularly for evening tables, and can be made online through the restaurant's website. It sits within easy walking distance of the town centre and the Lower Gardens, making it a straightforward stop before or after a look around Bournemouth.
For more places to eat nearby, browse our food & drink guide, or plan the rest of a day out in our things to do guide.