Illu Zion
Bars
By Anatol Steven.
21.05.2014
The new club and restaurant Illu Zion has international and local DJs, atmosphere, magic, and lots of glitz.
Recently unveiled on a side street a little way out of the city center is an intriguing addition to Riga’s nightlife and dining scenes. With a mix of international and local DJs, throbbing deep house, live music, themed party nights, magic acts, and plenty of razzamatazz, it’s a place to dress up for – and reserve ahead.
Relatively quiet by day, by night towards and during the weekend the place is heaving. Clearly trying to offer entertainment that’s a little different every weekend, Illu Zion pulls out all the stops when it comes to keeping its customers satisfied.
You might see dancers in Rio-style feathered costumes, exotic Arabian parties complete with palm trees, DJs from London, magicians doing dangerous-looking things to foolhardy volunteers, or everyone in the house dancing hip-to-hip in a sexy dancefloor melee.
Weekend evenings it’s essential to book if you want a table, otherwise it’s standing room only. Which is no bad thing. Another option is to spy on the throng from a circular gallery-bar upstairs. Beneath the bar is a communal round table with eight chairs, surrounded by sofas.
In fact the entire premises have a circular aspect; no wall is straight. On one is projected widescreen films of panoramic views of nature from around the world. Strings of multi-sized glass bubbles hang from the wall, adding to the feeling you’re in a giant fishbowl.
Illu Zion has sumptuous décor – rococo-esque wall paintings of masks and feathers, shiny floral designs, multicolored chimes, purple, pink and red paper-and-fluff butterflies, white plaster animal heads, and wire models of the Eiffel Tower. Each table is laid with glasses, candles, black serviettes and tablemats with pictures of spectral trees. For some, it may all feel just a bit too eclectic.
Illu Zion also tries hard with the food. Enjoy (take a breath) grilled South American shrimps marinated in herbs with avocado tatare in lime juice and Parmesan (€22), or Lombardi pepper steak (€18). Get a “chef’s plate” of multi-varied meats or seafood (€80-85), or simply a pasta dish, fish bisque or a Caesar salad. Like the menu, the wines have an Italian accent. And if you can’t afford a bottle of Dom Perignon 2003 (€220), the Bristot coffee is excellent.
