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LYFE SATURDAY | JUNE 21, 2025

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H OT on the heels of Longchamp, Lacoste is the latest French luxury label to announce the opening of its own cafe. Although these stylish new hangouts have not signed up any famous French chefs, its opening highlights the growing crossover between the high fashion world and gastronomy, all while bringing the brands closer to their followers. The date is set for July 10 in Monaco. Tennis fans, and in particular spectators of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, have already had a sneak preview of the new Cafe Lacoste – a location bearing the logo of the famous crocodile brand, now helmed by British designer Pelagia Kolotouros. The cafe promises visitors a chic coffee break at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza hotel. On the menu are a revisited club sandwich with tarragon mayonnaise, a Caesar salad 2.0 topped with grated beef karasumi and a miso sauce, as well as a bowl of grains and green vegetables seasoned with a Menton lemon vinaigrette. The dishes are created by restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi and are served in a lawn-green setting, echoing Lacoste’s signature shade. The green crocodile has also inspired a pistachio dessert, while the clay courts on which many of the brand’s sponsored tennis players shine – such as at Roland Garros and Monte Carlo – have inspired a delightfully retro tiramisu. And since this is a cafe, the new venue will serve a range of lattes, including pistachio and vanilla versions. Cafe Lacoste will be open all summer until 2am until September, then from 9am to midnight between October and April. And, this is not the only place to share a cappuccino or grab a quick bite to eat while looking stylish around France and its environs Cafe Longchamp offers pastries, croque-monsieur sandwiches and more.

Runways to kitchen o Luxury brands embrace hospitality to stay relevant Longchamp has opened its first cafe in Paris in early June. – PICS FROM INSTAGRAM @LONGCHAMP

The almost simultaneous opening of these chic new venues is not entirely coincidental. It is very much indicative of the fashion industry’s appetite for venturing into the food world, in the form of cafes and restaurants. And this is not a recent phenomenon. Trailblazer Ralph Lauren opened his first cafes in 2014. And his flagship store in Saint Germain-des-Pres was launched in 2017. The union of gastronomy and fashion has also become self-evident with the collaboration between one of the most talented French pastry chefs of his generation Maxime Frederic, and Louis Vuitton. The chef at Cheval Blanc Paris brings gourmet flair to the French label at Cafe Maxime Frederic at Louis Vuitton, which opened just over two years ago. Meanwhile, in London’s Heathrow Airport, Louis Vuitton chose another well-known French chef Cyril Lignac to spearhead its cafe. There are plenty of other examples, such as

this summer. Earlier this month, Longchamp opened its very first cafe in Paris. Located at 45 rue Vieille du Temple, this new spot is ideal for meeting up with friends or taking a break, and aims to be a place to hang out at any time of day, from breakfast to after work. Designed in the spirit of a bookshop-cafe, Cafe Longchamp offers pastries, croque monsieur sandwiches made with cooked ham and six-month-old Comte cheese, and a selection of salads made with carefully-sourced ingredients, such as Ortiz tuna belly. Everything is intentionally refined, in keeping with the design of the location, whose artistic direction was entrusted to Constantin Riant, a Parisian illustrator and ceramist. The famous cobalt blue, reminiscent of the colour that once adorned the shopfronts of the capital’s artisans, gives the cafe its unique atmosphere and charm. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm or 8pm on weekends, until Sept 2.

the partnership between Anne-Sophie Pic and Dior, not in Paris, but in Japan (Tokyo and Osaka) and China (Chengdu). In the French capital, the Dior restaurant was in the spotlight when it opened in 2022 thanks to the aura of the chef responsible for giving the eatery its culinary identity: Jean Imbert. – AFP Luxury brands ditch exclusivity to raise brand awareness.

Coffee rave culture brews in Singapore

SWAYING to dance music and TikTok fuelled pop under a disco ball, young punters are packed shoulder to shoulder while sipping on coffee, their energy powered by pour-overs rather than pints. This is no underground rave, nor a brunch gone wild. It is a caffeine powered daytime“clubbing”sesh – part of a growing wave of alcohol-free, Gen Z-driven events gaining traction in Singapore and elsewhere in the world. At a recent event in Singapore’s Duxton district, the space was jammed by 4pm, with baristas churning out fancy coffees and DJs spinning back-to-back sets. Alcohol-free vibe The crowd grooved with energy, even without the usual liquid courage. “A lot of people think alcohol gives you the high, but caffeine sometimes can do that too,” said Beans and Beats

observed in population surveys and cohort studies. Generally, alcohol use among young adults has decreased,” the World Health Organisation said in a 2024 report. Club culture update From London to Los Angeles and Melbourne, similar coffee raves have swept up the social scene, appealing to young partygoers who also want to avoid hangovers. Ashley Chean, a 21-year-old Singaporean student who has been alcohol-free for a year, said she appreciates these sober gatherings. “When I lived in Paris, I realised I had a lot of alcoholic tendencies and I did not want that to be my lifestyle.” The coffee clubbing events are usually held in cafes and other spaces such as rooftop bars – as long as there’s room for DJs and baristas to do their thing while people dance. – AFP

co-founder Aden Low, 21, whose cafe organises coffee raves at different venues. “That is why the atmosphere at our events tends to be quite energetic.” The parties blend curated music with specialty coffee served in white paper cups. The vibe is light, friendly and very Gen Z. “It is also the idea that this is a safe space. When you go to a club setting, there is usually this underlying intention to hook up. So, for me, that is personally why I would prefer this,”said Esther Low, 31, who was at the event in Duxton. Several reports said Gen Z is chugging fewer pints than previous generations, with the sober curious movement gaining popularity on social media. Sober curious people cut back on drinking or abstain altogether, often citing health reasons and better mental acuity. “Changes in alcohol use have been

A barista preparing coffee drinks at an alcohol-free clubbing event in Singapore. – AFPPIC