{shortcode-5d50d06e537306bcf18f7135ba96f3a62cc94e2f}

Since opening late this July, Lou’s — located on 13 Brattle St. — has been turning the tables on Cambridge’s diners and music lovers alike.

The restaurant features a 1920s-inspired lounge space and nightly music from live artists and DJs, making it a unique addition to the food, music, and nightlife scene in an area densely populated by students.

“We love the idea of live music. We need more of that. So we really want to support really good artists,” John P. DiGiovanni, who owns the Lou’s property, said.

“We also have a DJ night. I think there’ll even be some dancing. A lot of that was missing in the Square that we wanted this to add to the vibrancy of this place,” he added.

Upcoming performances span a range of musical traditions, including reggae, Brazilian music, and Senegalese afropop.

Megan B. McNamara, a local resident who dined at Lou’s with a friend, said she appreciated the ambiance and decor.

“It’s absolutely amazing. What they’ve done with the space is so beautiful,” McNamara said. “Whoever designed it, it is absolutely gorgeous. The books, the couches, it’s so good.”

“This is such a good space in Harvard Square that’s gone to waste for so many years, as a local,” she added.

After the pandemic slowed foot traffic and in-person gatherings in the Square, DiGiovanni said he wanted his property to become a venue of conversation and connection. The property had been vacant since 2022, when bar and restaurant Beat Brew Hall closed.

“We want people to engage,” DiGiovanni said. “Honestly, part of the inspiration for me was creating a place where people want to talk and be in a place to socialize. We’re in a time where there’s not enough of that personal contact.”

Lou’s is named after DiGiovanni’s late father, Louis F. “Lou” DiGiovanni, who was a powerful entrepreneur and real estate agent in Harvard Square. Thomas J. Keane — a friend of DiGiovanni’s and a co-owner of the restaurant — suggested the new venue be named in honor of Lou DiGiovanni and his impact on the Square.

DiGiovanni said he hopes Lou’s becomes a lasting institution for Harvard affiliates and Cambridge residents.

“When you come back for your 10th and 25th, you want to go to Lou’s. I want this to be here,” DiGiovanni said. “I want it to be part of the life of the Square.”

For now, Marisa F. Gann ’26, who visited Lou’s over the summer, agreed that the new venue can play a role in nightlife at Harvard.

“It definitely has a lot of potential to be the reliable dance scene in Harvard Square,” she said.

— Staff writer Jaya N. Karamcheti can be reached at jaya.karamcheti@thecrimson.com.

— Staff writer Kevin Zhong can be reached at kevin.zhong@thecrimson.com.