It’s 2025… Car brands are building condos, pop stars are becoming “astronauts,” and fashion houses are opening restaurants. But should they? Let’s take a look at Louis Vuitton’s café on the fourth floor of their New York City flagship store at 6 East 57th Street.
The space is undoubtedly beautiful, but it doesn’t come across as iconic or unique in the way some of the other fashion brands’ restaurants do. Polo Bar has a mystique to it, while Louis Vuitton seems to have gone in the interior design direction of many high-end lounges found around the city. Yes, they’ve created a warm, inviting space; yes, they’ve incorporated the neutral tones that invite guests to linger and indulge; and yes, they curate the furniture so that you are reminded you’re dining in a fine fashion house. But it’s missing that je ne sais quoi. There’s nothing wrong with the interior, but when Casa Tua’s lounge, Le Café Louis Vuitton, and Casa Cipriani’s library lounge all start to feel similar on the inside, we have a creativity problem. It doesn’t scream LV like its food does.
The snacks are very stylish, albeit small. Expect monograms everywhere. They’ve managed to accomplish this in a tasteful way, both literally and figuratively. This is thanks to the top-tier team of Executive Chef Christophe Bellanca (formerly of Essential by Christophe) and Pastry Chef Mary George (formerly of Daniel), who are guided by French culinary masters Arnaud Donckele and Maxime Frédéric, alongside hospitality legend Stephen Starr. You’ll feel this expertise in the bill, and the portions are on the smaller side, but hey, you still want to fit in the clothes you just bought downstairs, right?
The cocktails are the best part of this experience. My suggestion is to go on a weekday with no reservation, put your name down, and sit at the bar. The bartenders were great to talk to and made some top-tier cocktails. I think it’s against the law to not get the LV espresso martini. Try the Speedy Spicy mezcal passionfruit margarita too, and then head somewhere else if you want a full meal.
Personally, I’m not in love with these fashion houses diving into the restaurant scene, and it doesn’t seem like they’re stopping anytime soon. Not to mention, Soho is losing the beloved Lure Fishbar for Prada Café. I say Michael Jordan shouldn’t have played baseball, Doughnut Plant shouldn’t try to make handbags, and Louis Vuitton should stick to fashion. If you’re looking for a better vibe in Midtown, you can’t go wrong with Bergdorf Goodman’s restaurant overlooking the park. Classier crowd, better view, more timeless feel.
6 out of 10 – Take Your Tourist Parents
Leave a Reply