Louis Vuitton is putting on its chef hat.
On February 1st, the French fashion house will open both a café and restaurant in its new Osaka, Japan maison. This is the first time the brand is venturing into culinary waters.
Both of the inevitable hotspots, Le Café V and Sugalabo V, will feature dishes from famed chef Yosuke Suga, once the protégé of the 32-Michelin star-earner Joël Robuchon.
Le Café V will be housed on the fourth (and top) floor of the store. There’s also a cocktail bar and outdoor terrace, making it an ideal post-shopping spree spot come spring.
At dinnertime, the doors to Sugalabo V will open. The concept is an offshoot of Suga’s critically acclaimed (and impossible to get into) restaurant of the same name in Tokyo, which is currently ranked the 47th best restaurant in the world.
Behind a speakeasy door, Louis Vuitton’s version of the hidden haunt has an open kitchen. Design details are similar to the original—so think warm woods and sleek gadgets—but distinctly LV: for example, Tokujin Yoshioka designed original charger plates for the table settings. A creator for Objets Nomades (Vuitton’s furniture and travel inspired accessories collection, a staple at design shows like Design Miami and Salone de Mobile), Yoshioka is known for his modern, nature-inspired works.
The interiors will also have nautical detailing in a nod to the building’s architecture as a whole. Designed by Jun Aoki, it’s meant to evoke a ship floating on water—the facade itself is reminiscent of billowing sails.
If you’re about ready to make a visit, prepare to make a reservation well, well in advance: Sugalabo V will only allow a few diners per night.
Louis Vuitton is among a number of luxury brands that have begun pairing their clothing with serious culinary stars. Tiffany opened its Blue Box Café in 2018 to lines around the block, and New York’s new Nordstrom teamed up with James Beard-nominated chef, Ethan Stowell, for its restaurant Wolff. Meanwhile, Saks Fifth Avenue has L’Avenue, the second outpost of the famed Parisian bistro, with its own entrance on 50th street. As retail seeks to separate itself from its online counterpart, it’s all about presenting a complete experience.
Below, take a first look inside Le Café V and Sugalabo V—and don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly dreaming about a trip to the seaside-city of Osaka.
Inside Le Café V. Hanging from the ceiling are Estudio Campaña’s cocoon chairs, part of Vuittion’s Objets Nomades collection 
The cocktail bar at Le Café V 
The dining area 
Le Café V includes an outdoor terrace 
The terrace at night 
An aerial view of Louis Vuitton’s Osaka maison—and Le Café V’s terrace 
Inside Sugalabo V, their private dining experience 
Colorful chairs at the bar
Source: Vogue.com
