The Mexico City–born concept from Grupo Carolo has officially arrived, delivering a dose of modern Mexican soul wrapped in California sunlight. The hum of Hollywood Boulevard fades as you step into La Popular, perched above the city inside Ovation Hollywood (formally Hollywood x Highland) with a front-row view of the Hollywood Sign.
Inside, Norr Architects and Greige Goods Studio built a room that feels cinematic yet grounded—magnesium-blue walls, sculpted wood-tile peaks, a bar that spills seamlessly onto a patio framed by palms and firelight. Locals lean into linen chairs; tourists order mezcal cocktails just to watch the skyline shift. The energy hums between elegance and ease, the kind of place you plan for lunch and stay through golden hour.
Flavor that Speaks in Color
Executive Chef Jhon Arevalo cooks like a storyteller—each plate a riff on memory and modernity. The ahi tuna tostadas arrive crisp, kissed with chipotle aioli and citrus; the seafood ceviche brightens with serrano heat. Comfort finds form in the tortilla soup thick with ancho chiles and chicharrón or the corn-off-the-cob salad dressed in Tajín-lime vinaigrette.
The taco menu reads like a mixtape—ribeye, carnitas, and the indulgent creamy chipotle shrimp taco filled with refried beans and rice. Enchiladas push tradition forward with smoky short rib colorado and suizas shrimp. For heartier appetites, the carne asada with chimichurri butter and chicken mole poblano carry the kind of depth that lingers.
Desserts turn indulgence into art: churros dipped in chocolate and cajeta, flan with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle, and a turtle pie layered in peanut butter and candied pecans. Every bite glows with the warmth that inspired founder Eduardo Gómez Senderos, whose brother Carolo’s joy in baking still shapes Grupo Carolo’s hospitality philosophy.
The Art of the Pour
If Arevalo’s food is the soul, Trevor Tyler’s bar is the heartbeat. His agave-forward cocktail program honors the craft—from the Yucatán Toucan, a clarified mezcal punch, to the smoke-kissed Oaxacan Jellyfish. The tequila and mezcal collection spans blancos to cristalinos, single-origin mezcals from Espadín, Tobalá, and Arroqueño, each telling its own terroir story.
Beyond agave, Tyler folds in modernity: a curated wine list, craft beers from Mexico and L.A., and low-ABV creations that invite a slower sip. His approach—rooted in authenticity, sharpened by technical fluency—redefines what a Hollywood cocktail can be: smart, soulful, and just a little mischievous.
Visit La Popular – Hollywood is located at Ovation Hollywood (formerly Hollywood & Highland), Hollywood – www.LAPopularCDMX.com
