There's a new place to drink Downtown and, boy, is it terrific. It's at 157 Lafayette Street at Grand. The lounge's name is Moomia, which is Russian for "Mummy". Why a bar whose theme is Egyptian would have a name that is the Russian translation of a well-known Egyptian word is probably because of its owner, Andrei Lazarev. Now, this begs us to ask why a Russian guy would create an Egyptian bar. Andrei's response to this inquiry had something to do with a book he read as a young boy in Russia. It was a book about two brothers in Egypt and Andrei loved the pictures. So, BOT! (that's Russian for voila), a Russian Egyptian bar was born!

Anyway…

Lazarev knows the bar business, believe me. He was formerly the head bartender at the infamous Café Tabac and owned this amazing bar/restaurant in Sheepshead Bay called Taboo. My husband and I used to love going out there because the martinis were beyond belief, there was a Sushi chef working until the wee hours and the ambiance was very Middle Eastern cave-like and cozy. Needless to say, Andrei knows his vodka, being a native of St. Petersburg … and I ain't talking Florida…

Moomia covers two floors, with comfy banquettes, hieroglyphics adorning the walls (created by Andrei), over 20 mind-blowing martinis (the blueberry is a personal fave), and featuring over 17 hookah flavors. (Take that Herr Bloomberg!). The waitresses wear sexy "I Dream of Jeannie" harem outfits and, for added kitsch appeal, there's a lovely mummy case resting on the floor below street level.

The official opening was April 17th, where Andrei was joined by fellow Russian, the former Olympic gold medalist and figure skating world champion, Oksana Baiul, who grooved along with the rest of the packed house to the glorious musical stylings of DJ Erzen. Even a world-class crasher followed the scent of the open bar. A benediction, if there ever was one.

Check this place out. It's not very easy to find, but well worth the effort. Actually, last I heard, Lazarev was looking for a palm tree to put out front as a marker. Perhaps he might think twice about that; doesn't Keith Richards live in the neighborhood?