Baku Bar Review
by Secret Sarah.
Think of ice and the image conjured up is generally one of cold, bleak and aloof but the kaleidoscope of colours that surround you as you enter the newly opened Ice Lounge are anything but.
Exterior at night
In a beautiful location in Park Ofiserov (Park of Officers) at 77 Samed Vurgun Street, the recently opened Ice Lounge could be anywhere in the world. In the midst of the lush greenery and sculptures of this recently renovated park, it is a great place to stop off for a margarita and a bite to eat. While there is no outdoor seating area, through the frosted glass and “ice”, you are still able to enjoy the greenery of the park while maintaining the exclusive feel that the bar allows.
Cocktails
No need to worry about warming up in the Ice Lounge. The ever-changing prismatic effect of colour is not limited to the lights, but also to the extensive selection of cocktails ranging from 6 – 10 AZN and there is ample opportunity to try your favourites in frozen or traditional form, giving you the ultimate excuse to chill – in more ways than one.
Food
The menu offers dishes with a contemporary European twist. For starters, the salmon rolls were fresh and delicious. Salads were all under 10 AZN and the Greek salad we tried was a beautiful mix of fresh vegetables and parmesan cheese – if not your standard Greek salad, still delicious. We sampled a few mains including some heartier meat portions as well as vegetarian options. The mushroom risotto struck the perfect balance of al dente and creaminess.
Greek salad
The menu is in Azerbaijani and Russian which could be frustrating for the newbies in Baku, but the attentive, amiable staff speak English and are more than happy to translate. This is a rather time consuming but rewarding experience once you taste the dishes. The medley of culinary options, which range from 6 – 12 AZN, accommodate both a wide range of palettes and budgets without forfeiting style.
Risotto
The place for a “pink” party!
The Ice Lounge recently played host to a theme “Pink Party”, perhaps an indication of the direction it hopes to head towards – providing a nightspot for Baku’s hip and trendy. With an open, futuristic concept, there is little space on the dance floor, but this perhaps creates the intended intimate atmosphere for the young and hip out to enjoy the latest on offer from Baku’s most recent nightspot. Beware if you are looking for a quiet dinner on the weekend. On certain evenings it can become the playground of the young fashionistas. It is recommended to check ahead to see if there is an event planned.
This is not your typical park chai house but patrons are able to experience some of the traditional delights that Baku has to offer with the sheesha (or galliyan) that is available. This is a signature of the Ice Lounger in offering a glimpse of tradition within an uber- contemporary setting while managing to keep its prices within the midrange of Baku fine dining.
Changing light display
Ice Lounge is open 6pm until 2am Monday to Thursday, 6pm until very late (or very early) Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Tel: 050-5161401 for more information.
