Let’s Get Lo

Amongst the rowdy scene on East 6th, there’s a bar for those wanting more to sip and savor than a vodka soda.

Words by Deven Wilson

Stepping inside LoLo and immediately there’s a temptation to make a joking connection between the low ceilings and the bar’s name. The cozy space radiates that warmth unique to visiting a trusted friend’s place. Overall, it is minimally appointed, sparing a few fantastic details that catch the eye. There’s none of the pretension or stuffiness that one might associate with a typical wine bar.

“That I mean, that’s the goal,” Adam Wells, one of the four partners behind LoLo, explains. LoLo’s atmosphere reflects the founders’ concerted effort to make fine wine approachable. The idea to create a relaxed wine bar one could visit for any occasion (or no occasion at all) was born when Adam, his partner Christian Moses, and friends Charles Farro and Matt Bowen found themselves habitually grabbing a glass or two at Bufalina. They would try not to stay too long, given the popularity of the pizza joint, but had nowhere else to go to enjoy a glass that wasn’t also a restaurant. Recognizing the dearth of wine bars in Austin at the time, the industrious group decided that if they were to stay in Austin, they would need to open their kind of wine bar. The rebellious spirit behind natural wines struck a chord with these former musicians, so they turned to the attitudes of small winemakers bucking industry trends for inspiration,. wanting to return to something simplistic and unaffected.

Bartenders enthusiastically take guests through their natural wines in a manner that a friend might introduce their new favorite bottle at a dinner party. The staff share their passion for the punk rock nature of natural wines with Austinites who come into LoLo, their exuberance creating a distinct atmosphere.

Whether a patron wants to let loose or unwind, LoLo’s guides guests on whatever journey they desire for the night. Be it a chill game of chess or a chance at an intimate setting with a live band, LoLo lets the good times flow.