HolyJala (pronounced Holy-ha-la, as in short for jalapeno) draws upon Andrea’s Spanish heritage and ingrained love of tequila. Housed in the former Greenhouse Canteen and Bar space along Marine Parade, the venue boasts a bright and colourful new look with one-of-a-kind artwork adorning the walls and a newly created chill-out area out the front of the venue – the perfect setting for long, lingering lunches and afternoon sundowners that roll effortlessly into evenings. For those who are familiar with the space, you will be pleased to know the stunning glass ceiling (a hallmark of its predecessor) remains a feature in the back dining room, accentuated with colourful sombreros, plenty of hanging plants and pops of neon.
The menu isn’t beholden to the limitations of any one cuisine – you’ll spy Greek-style fish-roe dip sitting happily alongside Spanish patatas rancheras. Plenty of Mexican bites feature, of course, including cheesy chimichangas, prawn-topped tostadas and six different types of tacos. By now, you’ve probably gotten the hint that tequila forms a significant chunk of the drinks list at HolyJala with the view to expand the selection in coming months. For now, diners can sip summery concoctions such as the Coco Chanel, which is a coconut cosmo of sorts with 100-percent Agave tequila, 1800 coconut tequila, unsweetened coconut water (because it’s always important to hydrate whilst drinking), lime, hibiscus and rose-petal jelly. Black Hops graces the taps and there is also a selection of white, red, rosé and sparkling wine for the vino lovers.
Ready to eat your body weight in tacos? Skip over to our Stumble Guide for opening times.
