Upstairs at Shouk Lounge
The recent cold snap calls for an exotic trip – immediately and preferably somewhere with waving date trees.
As it turns out, you don’t need a Daddy Warbucks to travel to Marrakesh – just enough cash to get you to Queen’s Village. Here you’ll find a wormhole to
Once inside, the dimly lit spot is filled with hanging glass lanterns, flickering candlelight and a mixed bag of furniture that successfully (though one suspects accidentally) results in some sort of happy bazaar-meets-boho decorating accident. Downstairs, diners nosh on an assortment of small plates – creamy hummus, juicy kabobs, flatbreads and assorted other mezza. Upstairs, in a small bird’s nest of a room overlooking the ground floor, laidback trendsetters smoke flavored tobacco from hookahs. Decked out with plush banquette seating and moody lighting, the upstairs room is preferable for sipping cocktails and smoking as it affords more privacy, while the downstairs tables closest to the door are more suitable for eating. DJ’s spin fun 80’s remixes, new favorites and a variety of upbeat party music late into the night. It’s sexy, romantic and extremely relaxed.
Shouk succeeds as a late night spot to drink Red Turks, nibble on warm pita and smoke sheesha. However, its service falls miserably short of the mark (woefully understaffed) and the music can be overwhelmingly loud. But given the upside and Shouk’s mean Moroccan martinis, it’s a place I’d gladly travel back to, no passport required.
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