Lula Lounge
Lula Lounge was formerly a Portuguese catering hall-slash-sports bar called Hollywood Nights.
The owners comes from drastically varied backgrounds - Jose Ortega was previously an illustrator, Jose Nieves was a real estate agent (and Ortega's landlord), while Tracey Jenkins worked as the managing editor of a literary magazine.
The purchasing deal was completed over espresso in what must have been a record five minutes and seemed at first to be a perfect match - the space was big and cheap but they quickly realized they had no idea what they were doing.
"We were just making it up," Ortega tells me, "and we drew from our friends: one said 'I'll be the chef,' another, 'I'll be the bartender,' but at first it was a disaster."
Perhaps it might have something to do with their screening process, with their head bartender having been selected for holding a major in Dostoevsky studies - a strange prerequisite for mixing drinks.
After going through several menu edits, they settled on what Jenkins terms "Latin soul food," such as vegetarian tamales and chicken dressed in a bourbon barbecue sauce with traditional Latin rice.
Dancing takes place Friday and Saturday evenings, following dinner and lessons from professional salsa teachers. As for the rest of the week, the space is open if there's a band booked, although they also frequently host fundraisers.
The space is dim, faintly lit by coloured paper lanterns and neon chandeliers. The large stage sits at the back of the dining room, and tables are lined on either side of a central corridor where the dance lessons take place.
The musicians range from jazz, to electronic, to big band, with each night offering a different flavor of Latin-inspired tunes.
Lula Lounge offers an array of tropical drinks in which Havana Club rum figures heavily, martinis like the Miss Lula ($9.30) - a mix of vodka, lychee liqueur and pineapple juice - shooters for $5.75 and specialty coffee.
Mojitos ($9.30) are considered their crown jewel, but to my taste buds, the simple mojito is not as flavourful as I typically prefer. It tastes strongly of only Havana Club rum and soda water rather than striking that ideal balance between mint, sugar, and liquor, but other varieties like the Green Apple or Cherry Bomb mojitos might fare better.
Domestic beers run between $4 for Pabst and $6.45, while imports top out at $6.45 for Guinness. They also offer a Sunday brunch with live music and a salsa lesson from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Jesse Milns
Enjoy an energy filled Sunday morning - Hosted by Champagna! Drink mimosas and eat a delicious brunch featuring some of the best drag Queens in the city! This week we have Boa from Canada’s Drag Race Season 1 and Phoenix Black from Call Me Mother Season 2. Tickets $55, Doors at noon, show at 1PM
SPECIAL: Take 12 or more friends to one of the best Drag Brunch Extravaganzas in Toronto for your...
Have you ever dreamt of witnessing the impossible? Edllusion, Toronto’s most celebrated magician, is here to make those dreams a reality.
Show Details
To reserve a table please call Lula Lounge at 416-588-0307 or book online at www.lula.ca/reservations
Check out the Lula dinner menu: lula.ca/menu
6:30pm - Doors open for dinner & drinks
8:00pm - Show
About The Grand Illusion
...As part of both the 2024 Lulaworld festival and the Small World Music's 2024 Concert Series, Toronto-based artists Nastasia Y and Ahmed Moneka team up to celebrate their new releases on the Lulaworld Records label.
Don't miss this special night of Ukranian indie jazz and soul alongside Afro Iraqi Sufi jazz, soul and funk with many surprises and special guests, presented in collaboration with...
As part of the 2024 Lulaworld festival, Lula welcomes 'El Sonero de Cuba', the celebrated composer and singer Bernardo Ramirez.
Known for his stellar vocal improvizations, Havana-born Bernardo Ramirez is inspired by the Cuban greats such as Beny Moré, Roberto Faz, Celia Cruz and Aragon Orquesta.
Ramirez recently recorded a full length album in Lima. Peru, co-produced with Manuel Pecho, an...
Memories: Voices from the Trojan Horse reunites musicians, performers, and writers from the famous Danforth coffeehouse, the Trojan Horse. Presented by Theatre Gargantua as part of the 2024 Lulaworld Festival.
Featuring amazing talents from a time of cultural hybridity when Greek musicians in Toronto embraced Chileans in exile to form the legendary musical group, Compañeros, this performance...
The 2024 Lulaworld festival continues with an afternoon reuniting musicians, performers, and writers from the famous Danforth coffeehouse.
About this event
Memories: Voices from the Trojan Horse
Memories: Voices from the Trojan Horse reunites musicians, performers, and writers from the famous Danforth coffeehouse, the Trojan Horse. Presented by Theatre Gargantua as part of the 2024 Lul...
A special Lulaworld festival edition of our Salsa Saturday series featuring Salsotika with special guest vocalist Dru Grange.
EVENT ITINERARY
7:00PM – Arrive between 7-9PM for a delicious three course meal, including your choice of appetizer main and dessert!
9:00PM – Get ready to have some fun and break the ice with a beginners dance lesson provided some of the best dance schools in t...
Arrive between 7pm and 8pm to indulge in a delectable three-course dinner and sip on delicious tropical drinks. At 9pm, our dance lesson will help you get into the groove and prepare you for a night of dancing to the beat of one of Lula's world-famous live salsa bands, who will be performing two sets starting at 10pm.
In between sets, our skilled DJ will keep the party going with a mix of to...
Known as the fashion icon of Toronto, Champagna is the Bent Beauty Supreme 2019, has walked the runway for Hayley Elsaeser and opened for the likes of: Detox, Bob the Drag Queen, Kimchi, Thorgy Thor and Alyssa Edwards. When she’s not holding court in Toronto’s west end, Champagna spends her time focusing on queer storytelling in film and television with an emphasis on real life stories and norm...
As part of the 2024 Lulaworld festival, Lagos-born singer & songwriter Oladipupo Olugbode, AKA Dipo is celebrated as a leading Canadian Nigerian vocalist, delivering a soulful, Afro-jazzy sound inspired by legends such as Al Green, Fela Kuti and Stevie Wonder.
Having opened for the Nigerian superstar Asa, Dipo has released an EP and several singles, including the most recent Missing Sunshine...
Join us for a family-friendly Toronto film premiere celebrating the life’s work of Pernambuco's first female documentary filmmaker Katia Mesel. A collection of primarily short films most featuring Mestre Sérgio Xocolate, will be screened followed by an artist Q&A and a taste of live traditional music by XOCÔ & friends celebrating the culture of North Eastern Brazil.
Katia Mesel
The self-t...
LA DANZA DE LOS MIRLOS
Directed by Alvaro Luque
2022 - Peru - 84’ - Documentary
Best Documentary Film - Trujillo Film Festival 2022
Special Mention - Tucuman Film Festival 2023
In the heat of the jungle in Moyobamba the capital of the San Martin region in northern Peru, a group of young people gather at the Rodríguez Grández home for an event that will change the history of Latin...
As part of the 2024 Lulaworld festival, the South Asian vocalist Nishat Khair and guitarist Shallum Xavier embark on a musical odyssey transcending borders and genres as they fuse ghazals, qawalis, Bangla folk, iconic Indian and Pakistani songs with western rock and pop.
As part of the 2024 Lulaworld festival, MARSM Canada presents Palestinian independent pop singer songwriter Lina Makoul. A passionate advocate for reistance, inspiring hope through the evocative storytelling of her songs, Lina has become a leading artist on the Palestian music scene. Presented in collaboration with Uma Nota Culture.
Opening Night Concert:
Featuring Stonda, Hamilton Beat Harmonic Japa System, Mestre Eden Paulo, Sandoval Melodia, Dandha da Hora and the Samba Reggae All Stars, as part of the 2024 Lulaworld festival.
With Opening set by Joyce Brandt
A special edition of Lula's Cuban Fridays featuring Cuban vocalist Barbara Ruiz with Toronto's own Yani Borrell.
Barbara Ruiz with the Yani Borrell Orchestra.
As part of the 2024 Lulaworld festival, Lula welcomes Quebec-based Cuban salsa singer Barbara Ruiz.
Event Itinerary
7:00PM – Arrive between 7-9PM for a delicious three course meal, including your choice of appetizer main and desse...
Arrive between 7 pm and 8 pm to indulge in a delectable three-course dinner and explore the carefully curated Lula bar menu, featuring signature tropical cocktails. The beginner dance lesson at 9 pm will ease you into the Lula Latin groove, preparing you for a night of dancing to the tropical rhythms of one of Lula's world-famous live salsa orchestras, performing two sets starting at 10 pm and ...
Arrive between 7pm and 8pm to indulge in a delectable three-course dinner and sip on delicious tropical drinks. At 9pm, our dance lesson will help you get into the groove and prepare you for a night of dancing to the beat of one of Lula's world-famous live salsa bands, who will be performing two sets starting at 10pm.
In between sets, our skilled DJ will keep the party going with a mix of to...
A special Lulaworld festival edition of our Salsa Saturdays paying tribute to the repertoire & performers of the legendary Fania All Stars!
EVENT ITINERARY
7:00PM – Arrive between 7-9PM for a delicious three course meal, including your choice of appetizer main and dessert!
9:00PM – Get ready to have some fun and break the ice with a beginners dance lesson provided some of the best dance sch...
Mehmet Akyazi & The Turkish Canadian Orchestra presents ‘Once Upon a Time’ & ’Trakia' on the closing night of the 2024 Lulaworld Festival
About this event
Mehmet Akyazi & The Turkish Canadian Orchestra presents ‘Once Upon a Time’ & ’Trakia'
7:30 pm - Doors open for dinner and drinks
8:30 pm - Concert begins
As part of the 2024 Lulaworld Festival, critically acclaimed, To...
As part of the 2024 Lulaworld Festival, critically acclaimed, Toronto-based, Turkish musician and dancer Mehmet Akyazı leads a stellar 12-piece orchestra comprised of graduates of the Turkish Music Conservatory, alongside special guests performing a one-night-only double concert evening of Turkish, Balkan and international repertoire.