In this guide
SUGALABO V (Sugalabo V)
Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji newly opened in Osaka in February 2020. “LE CAFÉ V” is Louis Vuitton’s first restaurant in the world, and “SUGALABO V” is a referral-only restaurant located on the top floor of the Maison.
The shared concepts behind the architectural façade and the other retail floors are “ship” and “trip.” Osaka has long been known as the “City of Water,” having developed through water transportation thanks to its geomorphic characteristics—its many canals and rivers—and becoming a center of commerce and culture. Inspired by this history, both the café and the restaurant were designed around the concepts of “ship” and “travel.”
The café consists of three areas: the dining area, the bar area, and the terrace. Bright-colored furniture and boldly colored artworks were selected to express an open, lively atmosphere reminiscent of a ship’s deck.
Restaurant Information
- Style: Japanese-French fusion
- Address: 2-8-16 Shinsaibashi-suji, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Telephone: +81 120 416 910
- Menu price: Begins at 30,000 JPY
Restaurant Dining Area
SUGALABO V offers a similarly private atmosphere. Accessed via a hidden, “speakeasy-style” door, the restaurant comprises a couple of chocolate-brown dining rooms, where only small groups are permitted to dine each evening.
Guests can choose between formal tables or a high counter overlooking the open kitchen, offering a glimpse of the chefs at work. Jewel-tone leather seats are placed throughout, while the floor is clad in monochromatic rhombus-shaped tiles. Golden brass pipes snake across the walls, winding around shelves that display gleaming pots and pans.
Le Café V
“LE CAFÉ V” is Louis Vuitton’s first restaurant in the world. The top floor of Louis Vuitton’s Osaka Midosuji store also houses Le Café V, which is also overseen by Chef Suga. Finished in a much lighter palette of colors and materials, the café features creamy terrazzo flooring, huge yellow sofas, and iridescent discs hanging from the ceiling. Drink orders are taken at a large brass bar counter.
Outdoor Terrace
Beyond the tall glass doors on the top floor, visitors can step out onto an outdoor terrace dotted with aqua-blue and lime-green furnishings by Italian brand Paola Lenti.
From here, guests can see the store building up close—created by Japanese architect Jun Aoki to resemble the billowing sails of a ship.
Louis Vuitton’s Store
The opening of SUGALABO V is one of several recent notable events for Louis Vuitton. Two months earlier, the brand reopened its store on London’s New Bond Street after more than a year of renovation work. Designed by American architect Peter Marino to evoke “happiness with no feeling of intimidation,” the space features a colorful array of artworks by figures such as Tracey Emin and James Turrell.
In 2019, Louis Vuitton also opened a Frank Gehry–designed store in Seoul, South Korea, and launched an extensive exhibition in Los Angeles showcasing 180 items from the fashion house’s archive.
Chef
SUGALABO V is led by Japanese chef Yosuke Suga, who gained acclaim in 2015 when he opened the intimate Tokyo restaurant Sugalabo. Chef Suga spent 17 years working with the legendary 32-Michelin-star chef Joël Robuchon and was once his protégé.
At age 26, Chef Suga became Executive Chef of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Tokyo. He then consecutively opened Ateliers in LA, NY, Taipei, and Paris as the project leader. In 2015, he returned to Japan to launch his laboratory, “SUGALABO Inc.,” and has since worked creatively across several fields. The restaurant is exclusively open to gourmets, only on days known to them.
Social Media
- Website: https://sugalabo.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugalabo%20V/100890098214672
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugalabov/
- Instagram (LE CAFÉ V): https://www.instagram.com/lecafev/
