Lily Olpindo, the owner of BELA, grew up cooking with her mother and aunt in the Philippines. Over the years she learned many cooking techniques from both women. 

After moving to the United States, Lily worked in many different restaurants. As her experience grew, she began to feel unsatisfied with being told what to cook and how to cook it. She came to realize she would only be happy if she could be in control of the recipes and techniques. Lily realized it was time to create something new. She worked with the Small Business Administration and designed a business plan for her new restaurant. She knew right away what to call her new space. Thinking of her family, Lily took the first letter from her sister Bella’s name, the "E" from her sister Edna, the "L" from her own name, and the "A" from Amor, her mother’s name. On October 21st, 1991 BELA Restaurant was born.

There were many hurdles to overcome to receive approval and funding. But with the help of beloved friends and her partner Carol, BELA was able to open its doors, becoming the first exclusively vegetarian restaurant in the area. BELA has never moved from its original location of 68 Masonic St. Northampton, MA.

In the spring of 2020, when the pandemic hit, we switched to take-out orders only and were able to keep the restaurant running with the love and support of the community. Now, just over three years later, we are excited to welcome you back to dine in person in our cozy dining room! 

To read more about us, check out this article from Northampton.live who called us, "One of the most beloved eateries in Northampton."