Opened in 2022 in the picturesque Grund by João and his partner Patrick Top (also behind Scott’s Pub), First Floor is built around a more laid-back way of dining. One sitting per night, there’s no pressure to rush, and for that, I truly have to commend them, because it does influence your evening.
You come for dinner, but you end up staying for longer, knowing that you have the time and leeway to do so. As João put it, they want people to “arrive for dinner… and end up staying the whole night”. And as the mantra goes, we obliged.
First Floor works with a “circular” system between kitchen and bar, where “nothing is wasted – ingredients evolve, transform, and find a second life”. The menu itself is a team effort and
changes regularly (roughly every two months), with chef Orlando Ribeiro leading the kitchen, while João focuses on the cocktail side. Everything is seasonal, mostly local, and sourced within Europe, something they’ve put thought into to keep things consistent.
We started with the sourdough bread with whipped Manzanilla butter and house preserves (€12). The bread itself was very good, no question, but for two pieces, it did feel slightly on the
pricey side. One of my absolute favourites was the oyster mushroom with savoy cabbage (€6 per piece). Very savoury, super juicy, and just one of those dishes that shows you how good vegetarian options can be!
We also had the roasted leeks with caramelised hazelnut and yogurt (€18), which was very flavourful, and again leaning into that savoury side. Then the salsify with bagna cauda and cédrat (€24). Worth noting: this version of bagna cauda didn’t include anchovies, so it goes in a slightly different direction than the classic. Still interesting, just not what you might expect if you know the original.
The vegetarian options in general are something that really stood out for me. It’s not often you get such an interesting variety or creativity! The cocktails definitely deserve a shout-out. My
friend went for Red Lips – Mezcal Ojo de Dios, Habanero, Red Cabbage, Orange (€14), she loved it so much she had a second one! Not many places manage to combine fine dining with genuinely solid cocktails, but this one does.
It also feels like a place that’s still evolving. João mentioned they’re working on making the experience even more immersive, less so just a seated dinner, more of a full evening that unfolds and we’re curious to see where that goes!
The goal, as he put it, is “to keep evolving, without ever becoming predictable.”
Food quality: 5/5
Family-friendly: 3/5
Budget-friendly: 3/5
Date-friendly: 5/5
Veggie-friendly: 5/5
Carolina Reinertz, former RTL Today editor turned contributor, is testing every hotspot in Luxembourg with honest reviews on whether a place is date-friendly, budget-friendly, or worth the hype – so you can spend your money wisely.
