When a cinema and palace joined forces
The city neighbourhood of Merl
A leafy district of the city, Merl is home to polo clubs, a manga and comic bookstore, and the Luxembourg Music Conservatory. It is also home to 100 nationalities and some 6,500 people.
Demand for property is high, with new apartments fetching more than €14,500 per square metre. Merl is also home to a Naturata bio supermarket selling fresh fruit and vegetables, organic bread, speciality cheeses and vegan products. Bodani sells wines, cured meats and oils.
Merl is also the location of four state secondary schools, including the Athenée de Luxembourg which runs an IB programme in English, and International School Gaston Thorn where the European Baccalaureate is offered in English, French, and German. The Music Conservatory gives lessons on a variety of instruments to 2,500 students from 60 countries.
Merl is well-served by public transport and has three Veloh bicycle stations, and five playgrounds – the biggest of these is Merl Park, home to a large play park, currently undergoing refurbishment to make it more accessible, a duck pond, rose garden and dog park. Future plans include a racetrack for bikes, a picnic area, splash pad and a pond for mini sailboats.
If you are horse mad, then Rue des Celtes is home to a riding school and two polo clubs. The quarter also has fitness, yoga and dance studios. The National Theatre of Luxembourg is based in Merl, and there are several bakeries, including Boulangerie Kremer. You can sample locally handmade Japanese craft Ramen at Manzoku, fusion sushi at Hakii, or some steak or fish in a classy setting at Brasserie des Jardins. The Pavilion in the park is also a restaurant serving burgers and poke bowls, whilst there are three artisanal ice cream parlours – Bonomaria, Gelateria Marcello and Nice.
If you fancy a glass of wine, head to Wine Not or the popular Pacha bar, which spills out onto the pavement in summer. Brasserie l'Arret holds salsa classes and is suitably adorned with flags and posters of Che Guevara.