Bazaar (Luxembourg City, Luxembourg)

City Hall and the equestrian statue of Grand Duke William II dominate the wide-open Place Guillaume II as it flows gently into the short street that runs directly to the Grand Ducal Palace. It’s a lovely spot for a little rest on a bench, or to dart in and out of and around the burbling fountains that spurt from the ground and that are illuminated in different colors at night. It’s also a great place for dinner at Bazaar.

At the corner of the square, Bazaar operates in Maison Lassner, a beautiful building from 1905 that used to be a toy and homeware shop, and then a telephone store, with a domed rounded corner with ocular windows and sporting green tiles with floral motifs from the city’s Belle Époque era. Abundant outdoor seating spills into the square, but I opted for an indoor window table. There’s a subtle Art Deco vibe, and the circular bar in the center attracts a steady crowd. Proudly proclaiming itself “a place where Mediterranean, Greek, Persian and even the Barbary Coast influences provide a magnificent playground for cooks and bartenders,” Bazaar delivers on that statement in the most delicious way.

Try This: I ordered a Luxembourg Pinot Blanc, but that’s where I ended my connection with where I was and dove into the exotic dishes of the Mideast and the Mediterranean. Start with the creamy hummus, accompanied by avocado and peanut harissa and some flatbread—the portion is quite unexpected, easily enough for at least two people. There are plenty of main dishes, but I opted for a couple of items from Bazaar’s long list of mezze, smaller appetizers that encourage a broad tasting experience. Small, here, is subjective—servings, to me, are quite massive. The perfectly spiced lamb keftas with a creamy tahini sauce would have been more than enough on its own, but I added the bourrek, a trio of crispy cigar rolls stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. If, somehow, you’re still hungry and would like some dessert, choose the baklava cheesecake, with pistachios, cream cheese, cashews, and orange blossom.