Kings Cross may not be what it once was in terms of clubbing destination, but there is a bright restaurant scene bubbling under its surface. The latest addition to the suburb’s eateries is Chula (translated to beautiful in slang) – a refined take on Mexican dining.

The Barrio Chino team is behind the new venue – duo and couple Nicole Galloway and Peter Lew are captaining the ship, with Reece Griffiths on bar duty and talent straight out of Mexico City expected to join the kitchen shortly.

Chula will sit on the site of the former Hugo’s Pizza venue, directly opposite the original Barrio Chino. The Mexican’s offerings are intended to be a big sister to the hospitality team’s much beloved CBD tequileria and eatery Barrio Cellar. It’s a step up from the street food on offer at the latter but will similarly celebrate regional latino cuisine.

The restaurant has been a long time coming says owner Nicole. “Over the past six years we’ve been inspired through our travels to the different regions of Mexico, working with like-minded chefs, restaurateurs and producers”, she explains. “Mexican is a very special culture and cuisine so we wanted to create a menu that celebrates the rich traditions and flavours, while treating it with a contemporary hand. Simple food that’s seriously flavourful and visual.”

Chula is a haven for seafood and vegetables as well as traditional Mexican fare. Oaxacan tortilla dish Tlayuda will also feature. It’s a Mexican take on the pizza that will be served in homage to Hugo’s, where Nicole and Peter first met in 2009. Accompanying the cuisine will be a list curated by Reece Griffiths – the founder of The Agave Cartel. As is fitting of a Mexican venue, the cocktails will have a strong focus on agave spirits and ingredients indigenous to the nation. This lavish list of latino dishes will be enjoyed in suitably Mexican surrounds, with the interior styled by Steel + Stitch. Expect a country-style Mexican vibe, complete with succulents, tiling, and bright fabrics.

Chula is what both Nicole and Peter hope will be a firm boost to the burgeoning Kings Cross hospitality scene. “Kings Cross is our home, we raise our children here, we’ve had four businesses in the area (now, almost five),” Nicole explains. “Kings Cross has gone through an enormous amount of change over the last few years, and the idea of it coming back to life with new residential projects, bars, eateries and retail is an incredibly exciting prospect.”