About Lala's
In the heart of North Austin, Lala's Little Nugget has been a beacon of Christmas cheer since 1972, founded by the beloved Frances Lala. The bar's perpetual holiday decorations have long been the subject of local lore, with tales as heartwarming as they are bittersweet. Some say Lala’s husband left her on Christmas, plunging her into a sadness that only the festive decorations could alleviate. Others whisper that the bar felt too naked without the holiday trimmings, prompting her to redecorate post-holidays. The most poignant story is that of Lala's son, who went off to fight in Vietnam and never returned, leaving the decorations up as a perpetual reminder of his hoped-for return.
Whether you believe in the old stories or the new, one thing is certain: the spirit of Christmas will always have a home in Austin, thanks to the enduring legacy of Frances Lala.
Our Crew
Nick
My name is Nick.
I’m from El Paso Texas, but have been an Austin transplant for 15 years now. I’ve been at Lala’s for 3 years- I love my coworkers, my regulars, and a good dive bar.
I really enjoying riding and building bikes. Fun fact about me- I’m an artist and love supporting my friends in local bands. Come through!
Amanda
Hey there! I'm Amanda, a professional dog enthusiast and longtime Lala’s devotee. I’m from DFW originally, but I've been lucky enough to call Austin my home since 2011. I started bartending that same year and have been fortunate to work in various types of places since—music venues, dive bars, breweries, speakeasies, etc. I took a two-year detour into the corporate world where I quickly realized I belong behind the bar and not a computer screen
In my spare time, I love taking my dog, Nelson, out on the water or to the park—really anywhere he can burn off all of his Husky energy—belting out off-key tunes at a karaoke bar with my friends, or curled up on the couch indulging in some seriously cringeworthy reality TV.
Working at Lala’s is a blast, and I’m thrilled to be part of this wild, weird, and wonderful team. Come by and say hi – let’s make some memories, share some laughs, and talk about our dogs. (Bonus points if you bring your dog with you!)
Erik
I am a native Texan, and graduated from UT. After college I spent 4+ years traveling overseas where I worked various jobs, including a lot of slinging drinks! I finally returned to Austin and planted roots at LaLa’s. I’ve bartended all over the world but LaLa’s feels like home
In my spare time I enjoy welding weird and funky steel sculptures. The ones I don’t keep for myself I sell around Austin and across the country. However, shipping gets pricey when you’re sending large steel objectI love a good joke so come make me laugh and I’ll return the favor.