Le Café Louis Vuitton dazzles like a giant snowflake on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. According to numerous customers, this stylish and elegant restaurant on the fourth floor of Louis Vuitton’s store is the finest dining spot to coexist with $10,700 Capucines BB handbags and $1,460 LV sneakers.
Undoubtedly, no conversation about the fashion industry is complete without highlighting Louis Vuitton’s significance. According to estimates, LVMH Group has experienced consistent annual revenue growth globally from 2008 to 2020, expressed in millions of euros. In 2020, the prestigious French luxury brand, which owns iconic labels like Louis Vuitton and Bvlgari, reported revenues close to €44.6 billion. However, this figure marked a decline of approximately €9 billion compared to the previous year.
Inside Le Café Louis Vuitton
Reviews acclaim this new café as more luxurious than the Blue Box by Daniel Boulud at Tiffany next door, boasting a far more sophisticated menu than L’Avenue at Saks. Open for just two weeks, it has already become a must-visit destination—not only for fashionable ladies who lunch but also for gourmets from uptown, downtown, and beyond.
It was no secret that Vuitton’s sleek store (once home to a Nike store, believe it or not) was planning to open a serious restaurant.
But no one expected anything like this French-themed collaboration between mega-restaurateur Stephen Starr, executive chef Christophe Bellanca, and Louis Vuitton’s parent company, LVMH.
This café joins a lineage of sophisticated venues: Starr’s jewel downtown, Le Coucou, and Bellanca’s Essential by Christophe in the Upper West Side, both boasting Michelin stars. Adding to this Michelin-starred brilliance, pastry chef Mary George, formerly of the two-starred Daniel, leads the dessert offerings.
Bellanca joined the venture after his friend Arnaud Donckele, chef of Louis Vuitton’s renowned restaurant in St. Tropez, reached out earlier this year. Donckele connected him with Starr, who visited Essential “to see what I’m doing,” Bellanca shared. The two immediately hit it off.
Morning Elegance and Michelin Stardom
Le Café Louis Vuitton buzzes with activity in the morning and early afternoon, so arriving early is recommended. Later in the day, Bellanca heads to Essential, which opens exclusively for dinner. The Café boasts a long waitlist for lunchtime reservations, often accompanied by winding lines—for good reason.
Many reviewers describe the café as transporting guests to a cozy December afternoon. The library-style dining room features hundreds of books on shelves, inviting chairs you won’t want to leave, and plush fabric banquettes adorned with more cushions than those at Scully & Scully on Park Avenue. Warm wood tones, orange accents, and natural light pouring through a mullioned window complete the cozy elegance.
A Taste of French Elegance
Bellanca’s French-inspired menu (appetizers from $24 to $48; mains from $39 to $62) caters to diverse palates. Highlights range from a morning waffle with smoked salmon and cream cheese to a classic, perfectly executed Dover sole meunière. “I’m an old-school guy. The only way I know how to cook it is on the bone,” Bellanca said.
The top seller, “monogram flower” ravioli, features a quartet of spinach ravioli as beautiful as they are delicious. Filled with fontina, gruyere, taleggio, and finely chopped spinach, they are topped with black truffles and bathed in a truffle emulsion. Decadent yet light, they deliver a surprising balance of richness and delicacy.
For burger lovers weary of the trendy “smash” variety, the Café’s offering ($32) is a revelation. Made with dry-aged Pat LaFrieda sirloin and veal chop, the thick burger is packed with flavor, complemented by Vermont cheddar, crisp lettuce, sliced onions, tomato, and pickles, all on a warm potato bun.
Sweet Endings
Among George’s desserts ($18 to $24), the standout is the vanilla entremet—a textural marvel featuring Madagascar vanilla cubes, caramelized milk jam, and caramelized almonds. Not overly sweet, it’s the perfect conclusion to a luxurious meal, tempting diners to splurge on sneakers more refined than Nike ever imagined.
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