All scarlet walls and velvet curtains, gauzy drapes and silky plush sofas, with cutesy little tasselled bolster cushions, that once you’ve sunk into, you’ll struggle to escape, there’s something about Living Room 1 (and, indeed its sister establishment Living Room 2 (see Party) that feels more than a little boudoirish. With a pool table out back, a regular Russian language Mafia game
(see Play) and a cheap menu of Indian fusion snacks and light bites served up til late, there’s something on offer for pretty much everyone. Ultra-friendly, the twenty- and thirty-something creative crowd is mixed and, unusually for Baku, very gay-friendly. This is one living room where you’re as likely to rub shoulders with a chart-topping pop star as the Dean of Admissions at Baku University.