The start of the 2021 school year is full of culinary and festive novelties in Luxembourg. Photo: Alamy Stock Pictures

The start of the 2021 school year is full of culinary and festive novelties in Luxembourg. Photo: Alamy Stock Pictures

While the pandemic and the floods in July have taken their toll on the hospitality sector in recent months, we have also seen new bars and restaurants make their arrival on the Luxembourg scene. Here’s a quick overview...

Whether in the form of an announcement on social networks, an actual opening or a notable mercato, the summer season has been synonymous with novelties in the Luxembourg hospitality sector! More details on these new establishments and the personalities behind them would follow in the coming weeks!

The Fin Gourmand family is growing

It was in doubt for a long time, but it is now certain: chef Nicolas Szele and his wife Pauline are taking over the family restaurant on the route d'Esch, the Fin Gourmand. That's good news! Aside from the success of their grocery shop in Mondercange, which had helped them through the confinements, the couple will also inaugurate their new restaurant this Friday "La Table de l'Épicerie”--formerly the Klensch--not far from there.

Le Fin Gourmand: 2 route d'Esch, Luxembourg (Hollerich/Belair), T. 45 39 91

La Table de l'Épicerie: 1A rue de Reckange, Mondercange, T. 26 55 02 23

More cocktails in the Gare district

A few steps from the central train station, rue de Strasbourg continues to buzz with the arrival of Madame Jeanette some weeks ago, a great cocktail bar where you can also eat great food. The decor is simple and tasteful with a large temporary terrace that allows you enjoy the last beautiful days just opposite another very sought-after establishment, the Partigiano. Behind the bar, we find James, whom the lovers of good cocktails would remember from The 18, the very chic bar in the Place d'Armes hotel. 

Madame Jeanette: 9 rue de Strasbourg, Luxembourg (Gare), T. 29 96 60 10

Osé

In the Moselle region of Luxembourg, and more precisely in Ellange, we have recently found an expert and promising chef, the young Jean-Baptiste Durand, who could very quickly become a reference not to be missed. The description on the restaurant's page immediately got us hooked. OSÉ stands for original, tasty and balanced (original, savoureux et équilibré in French). We’re all set to test all three acronyms!

Restaurant Osé: 11 rue de Mondorf, Mondorf-les-Bains (Ellange), T. 20 28 37 37

It's bubbling in Differdange

In the south, Le Dindon Dodu appeared at the end of last spring. The bar is owned by Fabrice Gauthier, the name behind the Luxembourg restaurant Njörd, and together with his executive chef Laurent Bouchend'Homme, it offers menus inspired by renowned  French chef Joël Robuchon, all 100% home-made.

Le Dindon Dodu: 241 rue Pierre Gansen, Differdange, T. 20 60 29 60

Morocco in Limpertsberg

Since Wednesday 15 September, avenue Pasteur has been home to a new place that invites you to travel to across the oceans, the Essaouira beach and the Majorelle garden: Caftan, a café-restaurant with a distinctly Moroccan feel, both in its decor and on its menu. It is also possible to bring back a decorative souvenir by going hunting for some treasures in the Souk boutique on the lower floor, where you could also stop to sip on some mint tea.... "Merhba bikom and bon voyage", the menu immediately promises us a treat!

Caftan: 37 avenue Pasteur, Luxembourg (Limpertsberg), T. 691 593 705

Hamilius has got the fries

Stéphanie Jauquet has opened an authentic and tasty 100% home-made Belgian fries restaurant in Hamilius, which has been busy ever since... If you haven't tried the homemade fricadelle or the shrimp croquette, don't hesitate for a second. The tram stops 20 metres away.

La Baraque: 15 rue Aldringen, Luxembourg (Centre-ville), T. 27 49 59 800

The Palms bar 

The open-air shopping centre Infinity, at the Porte de l'Europe, is still struggling to find its identity and a loyal clientele. It has to be said that teleworking, in this very "corporate" area, has not really helped since its opening. However, this will not prevent the Palms from opening in the coming weeks in the Infinity shopping center, right in the location of a former jewellery shop... This bar with Latino and old school hip-hop influences has already successfully tested its audience with a few well attended "Iconic" nights. It remains to be seen whether the concept will hold up in the long term. We can only wish them good luck!

Palms @ Infinity: rue du Fort Niedergruenewald /boulevard J.-F. Kennedy, Luxembourg (Porte de l'Europe, Kirchberg)

And soon, we'll meet at La Bergamote

Nothing has been announced yet, but Paperjam’s Foodzilla already has some exclusive insights: in a few weeks, the restaurant La Bergamote--a long-time favourite address in Hollerich/Belair (place de Nancy)--will rise from its ashes! Details to come, but party-goers and wine-lovers will find a key figure on the Luxembourg scene there: the charming Samuel Giovanardi. 

This article in French on Paperjam.lu. It has been translated and edited for Delano.lu