Zizou Seeks To Be ‘Urban Oasis’ Serving Tapas in Lincoln Heights

An upcoming tapas bar called Zizou is currently putting together the funds in order to renovate its planned Lincoln Heights space and open to the neighborhood, at 2425 Daly St. There is a WeFunder seeking investors for the project and a GoFundMe looking for crowdsourcing support, both created by Zizou Co-Owner Maureen Hennigan, in which the restaurateur outlines the plans for the business. Last week, a conditional use beverage permit was submitted to the City of Los Angeles for Zizou.

Hennigan is partnered up with architect and restaurateur Maati Zouitina, who will bring his own sense of taste and beauty, and Boris Macquin, a wine and hospitality expert. Together, they developed the main idea of Zizou around the goal of providing a cozy and relaxed atmosphere that acts as a Mediterranean diner, serving a plethora of wine, beer, cocktails, along with plenty of non-alcoholic options — including pressed juice and espresso. Their smoked meat and fish-centered meals are inspired by authentic Greek recipes in small plate servings. Zizou’s business plan greatly emphasized their pickled and fresh veggies, which are sourced both locally and organically. Menu items are displayed immediately upon entry, surely enticing patrons to try everything.

They went from space to space, searching for the right one and their Lincoln Heights property is the one that called out to them. Hennigan is describing the place as an “urban oasis.” Zizou will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight every day, with a happy hour landing Mondays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The 2,000 square-foot space has an ample amount of foot traffic, a back patio they also plan on renovating, a large parking lot, and a building ready for a full makeover. The unit has been an ice cream shop, a sandwich shop, and now a bar, over the course of 70 years. 

Hennigan said on the site that they instantly fell in love with the space, located in the center of their target neighborhoods — Chinatown, Silverlake, Echo Park, and Elysian Park. What Now Los Angeles has reached out to Zizou reps who confirmed the plans saying an opening was likely in summer 2021 but did not comment further.