The cocktail bar at Le Café V
The new Louis Vuitton flagship store in Osaka , located in a spectacular building by the architect Jun Aoki , has two delicious spaces: Le Café V and Sugalabo V.
Both will be located on the top floor of the boutique, named Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji , and will be headed by the Japanese chef Yusuke Suga , protégé of internationally known French chef Joël Robuchon.
But the surprises do not end there: the interior of the flagship bears the signature of Peter Marino and in addition, it has 20 works of contemporary art and a selection of old pieces from the archives of the maison.
Le Café V and Sugalabo V: Louis Vuitton's first café and restaurant
ALL TO PORT!
The architect Jun Aoki has been inspired by the maritime heritage of the city of Osaka to create this building that emulates the shape of the sails of the traditional Higaki-Kaisen cargo ship.
It is not the first time that Aoki has collaborated with Louis Vuitton to build a store, as he also signs the buildings that house the firm's boutiques in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Nagoya, Fukuoka and New York's Fifth Avenue.
The same inspiration is the one that he has taken Peter Marino , another regular collaborator of the firm, to design the interior of the building in Osaka, whose wooden floors emulate the decks of a ship and Japanese nods are not lacking, such as the use of washi paper, used in traditional arts such as origami.
To enter Sugalavo V, you will have to find the clandestine door
IN FASHION AS WELL AS IN ART
At Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji we can find, in addition to the firm's collections, some of its emblematic trunks distributed throughout the four floors of the building, as well as twenty works of art selected by Marino himself.
Thus, fashion and art dialogue again thanks to Louis Vuiton and artists such as Vik Muniz, Polly Apfelbaum, Kimiko Fujimura, Ida Tursic and Wilfried Mille, and Nicola De Maria.
Iconic pieces from the collection will also be on display Object Nomads of Louis Vuitton created by the Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka.
Japanese chef Yosuke Suga is in charge of both spaces
LE COFFEE V AND SUGALABO V
On the top floor of the building we find Le Cafe V , which takes advantage of its proximity to the sky and has colored decorations on the ceiling that reflect and refract the sun's rays on a terrazzo floor similar to the sea.
In the spring space of Le Café V you can enjoy its exquisite Turzum and Kagoshima teas , the juices –pay attention to the satsuma tangerine and the pink grape– or the gin and tonic infused with Earl Grey.
Next stop 'foodie-fashion': Osaka!
To eat, you could not miss the famous Japanese meat, wagyu; in addition to the macaroni and crab gratin, the selection of cheeses, the mille-feuille with essence of vanilla from Madagascar or the Fraisier cake made with strawberries from Mr. Nakai.
Le Café V has a bow-shaped cocktail bar and terrace, open day and night and a clandestine door through which access to Sugalabo V, an exclusive space –so exclusive that it can only be accessed by invitation– for a small group of 24 people it will be open only at night.
In charge of both kitchens is the Japanese chef Yosuke Suga, from the Sugalabo restaurant in Tokyo, considered one of the best in the world by the publication La Liste.
A terrace dominated by the colors of the ocean
Sugalabo V has a open kitchen –like its Tokyo namesake– and with architectural details from the original building, as well as nautical materials and elements that reflect the central theme of the block's design.
The price of the tasting menu is 30,000 yen (about 250 euros) per diner and includes delicacies such as Matsubagani crab, black truffle and hazelnut praline.
Dear Yosuke, can you send us an invitation?
The terrace of Le Café V, at the top of the ship