It was my second attempt to buy lunch at La Lola's on a busy weekday in St Nick's Market. On my first visit, the kitchen had already completely sold out of paella before 1.30pm and I was told to come back at 12pm sharp the next time.
La Lola first opened in November 2021 and is therefore one of the newest traders on the block. Curry house Spice Up Your Life has been based in the arcade for well over two decades as well as Moroccan vendor, Cafe Atlas. Royce Rolls Cafe for even longer, and has been serving vegetarian sandwiches, cakes and jacket potatoes since the late 1970s.
It's also one of the few stalls with a proper dining area, decked out with simple white and blue seating enough for around a dozen covers to imitate a tapas bar you might find on the Valencian coast. Although the near-freezing temperatures this week make that a difficult scene to manifest, with most customers choosing the takeaway option.
