A slice of Paris on Piedmont Avenue

Walking into La Loulou on Piedmont Avenue is like being transported to a bright, modern cafe in Paris. The walls are decorated in vibrant pink and yellow. The chandeliers are made with feathers. There are tall doors that open onto a patio with French-style cafe furniture. Even the bathroom is fun, completely covered in disco ball material with disco balls hanging from the ceiling and a neon sign reading “you look good” above the mirror. If you’re lucky, the owner, Lou Beraud, might have brought her pomsky (Pomeranian-Siberian Husky mix), Capuche (meaning hoodie in French, a word Beraud just said she liked).

4250 Piedmont Ave. (between Echo and Entrada Avenues), Oakland; www.laloulouwinebar.com/

Open Wednesday through Thursday 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.,
Fridays and Saturdays 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays 12-8 p.m.

Originally from Paris, Beraud moved to the Bay in 2020. She was working for wine importers, selling wine to bars and restaurants, but wanted to have her own place, something more Parisian. Her inspiration was the old Art Nouveau wine bars found in the City of Light.

“I wanted to do something chic, a little fancy, but that’s also for everybody,” Beraud said. “Like in Paris, you have very pretty wine bars, and you can come for a drink and appreciate the atmosphere.”

The name of the bar was one of the first things Beraud figured out. She said her husband and she were walking in Paris, discussing what to call the bar, and her husband said right away, “La Loulou,” which is the nickname her mother-in-law calls her.

After finding the perfect spot on Piedmont Avenue, previously a real estate office, Beraud opened her bar in May. Due to paperwork and other complications with the city of Oakland, it took about a year for Beraud to open, but the reception from the neighborhood has been worth it.

La Loulou is brightly decorated from the entrances to the bathrooms. Credit: Estefany Gonzalez for East Bay Nosh

Beraud lives on Piedmont Avenue and was surprised that no wine bar existed in the neighborhood before her own.

“I thought it would be successful, but it was better than I thought,” Beraud said. Beraud was surprised by the number of Americans who speak good French who come in. She said that people dress up nicely, and she sees a lot of groups of women. One memorable group was all wearing berets, having a French-themed party.

In addition to Beraud, visitors to La Loulou might also meet her pomsky, Capuche. Credit: Estefany Gonzalez for East Bay Nosh

The wine bar also has a monthly wine club, which Beraud has been running since the beginning and has 40 members. There is an option between two or four bottles of either red or white, or both, each month, and there is generally a theme that connects the selections. When you pick up your box, you also get a free glass of wine. Two bottles are $48/month, and four bottles are $96. Beraud likes to theme by region; the October theme was Bordeaux. She also writes up a newsletter with photos, a fun fact, and a personal story to go along with it.

La Loulou offers small plates such as charcuterie and cheese boards, escargots, paté, sandwiches, French onion soup, and macarons. In August, they started offering a brunch menu on Sundays from noon to 2 p.m. The brunch menu includes a charcuterie board with pastries, cheese, and meats, bacon and waffles, as well as a salmon toast with goat cheese. Chef Hector Cobos helms the kitchen.

In addition to its extensive wine list and other beverages, La Loulou serves charcuterie boards and small plates. Credit: Estefany Gonzalez for East Bay Nosh

The wine list is extensive, but there are also non-alcoholic options, beers from Fieldwork Brewing, and frozen Aperol spritzes. The frozen Aperol spritz idea came from a “book of ideas” — a big book Beraud leaves on the bar with a pen for customers to sign, leave comments, or share a nice note.

Beraud said her favorite part of having the wine bar so far has been meeting everybody.

“It’s just so fun to actually meet all the neighbors and all the people that live around here,” Beruad said.

A slice of Paris on Piedmont Avenue

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