Who would have thought it would be possible to feel like you have jetted off to the Mediterranean when, in fact, you are on the outskirts of Luxembourg City, in Kockelscheuer?
Nazar, a restaurant on Route de Luxembourg, is decorated mainly in white and blue, with rattan lampshades and rugs, and tiny alcoves – taking you on a visual journey to an idyllic holiday destination.
This year, the focus is on the terrace at the front of the restaurant after it won the Luxembourg Times’ “restaurant terrace of the year” competition in a vote by readers.
“Because of my origins I wanted the place to ressemble me,” said owner Agit Taycimen, who is of Kurdish origins and grew up in France. “A place like this in Luxembourg gives people a real change of scenery. You don’t have the impression you’re in Luxembourg, you feel like you are in the Mediterranean.”
The terrace has several tables with chairs and a comfortable bench with colourful cushions. Its straw roof is a nod to the Mediterranean and the glass above it – to allow people to sit outside in any weather – is invisible.
The outside space is relaxing and colourful, offering a getaway while tucking into Mediterranean or traditional food, and a cocktail made by one of the restaurant’s mixologists.
© Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
© Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
© Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
© Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
Nazar opened a year and a half ago and Taycimen wanted to create a restaurant with a fun, vibrant feel to it. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening there is live entertainment by either a DJ, a saxophonist, a violinist, a singer or someone playing djembe.
“People of my generation, who are between 30 and 40 years old, tend not to go to a club any more but enjoy going to a restaurant,” Taycimen said. “There aren’t many places in Luxembourg which offer a restaurant and an upbeat atmosphere. Thursdays are more for after-work with quiet music and on Friday and Saturday people come for the atmosphere and we often have people coming to celebrate a birthday.”
The interior is decorated in white and blue with rattan lampshades © Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
© Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
© Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
© Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
Taycimen occasionally organises themed evenings, such as an “oriental” evening with someone playing tam tams, a “Greek” evening of plate smashing or a “Brazilian” evening of capoeira. In June, he held a “brunch with kids” and set up toys in a large corner of the restaurant where children could go to play after eating.
All items on the menu are homemade and offer mezze including hummus, tzatzíki, antep ezme, havuç tarator and labne. There is also a board to share, including cheese and meat borek. Main courses range from stuffed aubergine to grilled prawns, lamb shank, and asparagus and truffle risotto. The lunchtime dish of the day, at €15, varies and is always a Mediterranean specialty on a Wednesday.
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The restaurant also specialises in cocktails. The “nazar” cocktail comes with an edible blue and white evil eye on top – a nod to the restaurant’s name, which means “evil eye” in Turkish. Some cultures believe the evil eye can protect them against bad luck. The “Ibiza” mocktail comes with a froth dome on top, and the “la vie en rose” is served in a glass resembling a triangular breaker in a science lab.
The terrace is open all year and has heaters for the winter. Information on themed evenings and the weekly programme of live entertainment are listed on the restaurant’s social media accounts.
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