In several major cities around the world, luxury fashion houses are making their mark outside of their usual territory through upscale cafès and elegant eateries designed to reflect their signature look, leaving no stone unturned in their design and dining experience. From Ralph Lauren’s equestrian-style bar to Prada Caffé’s sensational pop-up at Harrods, Design Dispatch has rounded up six striking spaces.
The Bar at Ralph Lauren
After Chicago, Paris and New York City, American fashion label Ralph Lauren opened its Milanese flagship bar at Via Della Spiga, on the ground floor of a multi-floor building dedicated to the brand. Its sophisticated interiors recall the style of noble English country life and classic American cottages, including a timber bar, flooring and ceiling, studded leather seating and sports memorabilia hung up on the walls.
Prada Caffé
Earlier this year, Prada brought its signature pale green and chequered flooring – both synonymous with its stores, particularly its first which opened in 1913 at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan – to the iconic Harrods in London with its pop-up café. Among the many sensorial surprises to expect here are velvet green sofas and armchairs, floral bass reliefs on the walls and a grand, imposing counter and display.
Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura
Found in various cities around the world is a series of Gucci Osteria restaurants, including its flagship eatery in the brand’s birthplace of Florence. Spearheaded by celebrated Italian chef Massimo Bottura, the osteria is designed to mirror the atmosphere of old Florence, seen through its antique furniture and classic crockery, as well as the various shades of green adorning the walls, restored wood panelling and velvet chairs.
Caffè dell'Oro by Ferragamo
Forming part of the Lungarno Collection rooted in the Ferragamo family’s empire, Caffè dell’Oro located in the heart of Florence boasts front-row views of the Ponte Vecchio and charming pedestrian streets. Inside, the café channels a 1950s style interpreted in a contemporary manner, including vintage furnishings, coffee table books and plenty of elegant details.
Louis Vuitton restaurant
The self-titled Louis Vuitton restaurant in St Tropez, housed within the White 1921 Saint-Tropez Hotel in the south of France, is the fashion brand’s second seasonal eatery within the exclusive boutique lodging, after launching its first ever stand-alone restaurant on the same premises in 2022. Featured in the upscale space is a blue-and-white tile motif inspired by the brand’s resort collection, as well as manicured hedges displaying its familiar fleur de lis.
Café Fleurs by Jacquemus
French fashion house Jacquemus modelled a pop-up cafè in South Korea on one of its signature handbags. Named Café Fleurs for its coffee-and-flower-shop combo, its façade is designed after the brand’s puff flap handbag, Le Bambimou. The accurate representation includes stitching on the flap and soft fabric dents, giving it a padded, tactile appearance.
