On the Shelf With Lulu's

A Herne Hill neighbourhood deli, café and wine bar with a shelf full of independent producers

On the Shelf With is our series turning its attention to the shops, delis and grocers that Honest Toil calls home. We meet the people behind some of our favourite stockists, take a closer look at how they curate their shelves and discover the products, producers and stories sitting alongside our oil.

Described as Llewelyn's “younger sister (cheekier and sassier)”, Lulu's is a neighbourhood deli, café and wine bar in Herne Hill, south London. By day, it's a place for morning coffees, pastries, freshly made sandwiches and a selection of four changing salads. Come evening, the space transforms into an intimate wine bar, serving seasonal small plates and a carefully considered selection of drinks.

The younger sibling of nearby restaurant Llewelyn's, Lulu's shares the same love of good food, thoughtful ingredients and bringing people together. As Amelia tells us, the team is something of a little family, united by their enthusiasm for food and drink and the environment they've created together.

The kitchen follows the seasons, with a regularly changing menu built around the best ingredients available. This time of year brings everything from Yorkshire sausage sandwiches with brown sauce and shoestring fries to festive mince pies, while the daily salads are dressed generously with good olive oil.

Beyond the kitchen, Lulu's shelves are stocked with a colourful collection of pantry staples, independent producers and little treats. When it comes to choosing what makes the cut, appearance is often the first consideration. “Honestly, for me it really does start with the packaging,” Amelia explains. “People are really drawn to the beautifully packaged items, whether it's a gift for someone or simply themselves.”

Of course, what's inside matters just as much. Amelia and the team try to taste everything before it reaches the shelves, with a particular enthusiasm for supporting smaller independent businesses. Among their favourites are Berthe tuna fillets in lemon, Mama Yu's, whose products have become firm customer favourites over the past six months, chocolate sardines for a sweet little stocking filler, and Honest Toil's miniature olive oil tins.

“We love seeing our regulars every day for a coffee and chit chat!”

It's a fitting approach for a neighbourhood with such a strong independent food scene. With Brockwell Park and its lido just around the corner, Herne Hill has become home to an ever-growing collection of places to eat, drink and spend time.

But for Amelia, the real appeal lies in the people who return day after day. “We love seeing our regulars every day for a coffee and chit chat!” It's this familiarity, alongside the close relationships between local businesses, that makes the neighbourhood feel like home.

From morning coffee to evening wine, Lulu's has created a little space for both the everyday and the occasional indulgence, with plenty of good things to discover along the way.