Louis Vuitton Just Launched a Chic New Café Inside Heathrow Airport

23.10.2024 - 19:17 / cntraveler.com / Louis Vuitton

Over the past decade, Louis Vuitton has been gradually expanding its reach far beyond fashion. Since the launch of Fondation Louis Vuitton in 2014, the brand has firmly established itself as a major player in the art world, with biannual exhibitions and collaborations with top artists like Yayoi Kusama. In appointing Pharrell Williams as creative director in 2023, Louis Vuitton tapped further into the zeitgeist, refreshing the brand's image and broadening both its appeal and its dedication to cultural excellence.

Louis Vuitton has just opened a new café at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2, near Gate A17.

Naturally, this growth has also reached the culinary scene. In 2020, Louis Vuitton opened its first foray into hospitality: an invite-only cafe and restaurant in Osaka, followed by a slew of foodie openings in St Tropez, Paris, and Doha. Now, the brand is opening its first dining concept in the UK—at an unsuspecting location.

The chic design combines futuristic lines, retro details, and bright pops of color.

The first products Louis Vuitton ever sold were luxury travel trunks, like the ones pictured above.

Launching at London's Heathrow Airport in Terminal 2 this October, the latest venture will be an ode to Louis Vuitton's intimate relationship with travel. The brand's eponymous founder first started out with a selection of luxury luggage and travel trunks, so it makes perfect sense that the Maison has found a home within one of the UK's busiest airports. Today, Louis Vuitton remains the favorite designer luggage brand of Condé Nast Traveler readers.

A futuristic exterior uses aerodynamic curves for a subtle aviation feel.

Devised with Marc Fornes, founder of New York-born architecture studio THEVERYMANY, the restaurant has been created with the future of travel in mind. Think aerodynamic design, sleek, curved interiors, decadent red touches, golden hues, and leather accents scattered throughout. Look out for aviation-themed additions from the brand’s Objets Nomades collection—like a flock of birds flitting across the ceiling.

The menu was designed by famed French chef Cyril Lignac.

Pop in for a quick coffee and pastry or stay for a full sit-down meal.

Cyril Lignac, famed French chef and owner of London and Paris’ Bar des Prés, has been brought on board to design the menu. This is far from your typical airport food: expect elegant dishes at all hours of the day, from breakfast dishes such as Royal Eggs and freshly baked croissants to crab salads, croque monsieur, lobster rolls, and a selection of Louis Vuitton patisseries. For those looking to kick-start their holiday in luxury, it’s the perfect location for a pre-flight feast in a sophisticated setting–no lounge access required.

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