Hula Mula Bringing European-style All-day Cafe to Downtown Orlando

A new European-inspired all-day cafe is working toward a year-end opening in downtown Orlando. Hula Mula is taking over a 2,753-square-foot space at 201 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 105, where Steven Lorenz is planning the brand's first U.S. location. The concept will feature a globally inspired menu with bagels, bowls, sushi, pastries and other light fare. Lorenz previously described Hula Mula as a European cafe that pulls influences from several countries rather than sticking to one particular cuisine. The team had originally been targeting a late-summer opening but told Bungalower this week that it is now aiming to open toward the end of the year, with an official date coming later. The concept itself hasn't changed much, but coffee is getting a bigger spotlight. Hula Mula tells us it is developing an organic house coffee roasted in Italy, along with signature drinks featuring flavors made from scratch. 'We want the coffee itself to be a reason to stop by,' the team told us. Pastries and sweets are also playing a larger role than originally planned, with a seasonally changing selection throughout the year. The goal is to become part of the downtown routine, whether that means a morning coffee, lunch with coworkers or an afternoon pastry break. Hula Mula opened its first location in Germany in 2024, and Lorenz has operated restaurants in Europe since 2019. The Orlando cafe will mark the brand's first move into the U.S. We'll keep you posted once they put an official opening date on the calendar.