Luxury label Louis Vuitton has ventured into the dining scene with its very first restaurant and café, located inside its new flagship store in Osaka. The massive store was designed in collaboration with architects Jun Aoki and Peter Marino and is known as the Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji. You’ll find it in the city’s glitzy Shinsaibashi neighbourhood.
Officially opened back in February, the new restaurant, Sugalabo V, and its sibling Le Café V are situated above the retail space and are accompanied by a breezy outdoor terrace and a cocktail bar. Now that Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions have eased throughout Japan, there’s no doubt these two spaces will be a hotspot for fashion foodies looking to dine out again.
Joël Robuchon protégé Yosuke Suga, known for his highly-acclaimed Tokyo restaurant Sugalabo, is the chef in charge of both the restaurant and café, delivering dishes that blend French and Japanese flavours. The menu also uses ingredients and products sourced from across Japan.
The immaculate interior design is an attraction in itself. Sugalabo V’s discreet entrance is reminiscent of a speakeasy, which opens into a rich chocolate-brown dining room featuring table and counter seating overlooking the open kitchen. The café, on the other hand, is light and airy, dotted with colourful furniture and a stunning brass cocktail bar. There is also an outdoor terrace which offers an up-close look at the building’s unique facade.
Currently, the restaurant is open on a referral-only system, with no word on when that will change. The more casual Le Café V, however, is already open to the public, so you can stop by for a post-shopping snack while you’re in the area.
For helpful tips on how to go out safely while in Japan, read our guide.
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