Grand Café (Luxembourg City, Luxembourg)

At the end of 1894, Grand Café opened at the height of Luxembourg’s Belle Epoque as the only café on two floors in the city. It was an attractive addition to Place d’Amres, with its beautiful tilework above the arched first-floor windows.

Now, more than a century later, Grand Café is still a major culinary draw. I took a seat in the corner, next to the giant window that had been raised to allow plenty of fresh air to circulate inside. Lots of globe pendants hung over the tables, and enlarged black-and-white photographs of café scenes adorned the walls. This was a perfect spot to observe the activity in the square as well as in the restaurant itself, and to enjoy a delectable dinner.

Try This: Snack on the complementary nuts, including perfectly salted peanuts. Then order up the beef tenderloin, cooked to your specifications, with an herb butter sauce and accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes, a vegetable medley, and an adorably cute grilled mini corn on the cob. For dessert, treat yourself to the exceptional sorbet—the melon and raspberry flavors will trick you into thinking you’re having the actual fruits.