Looking to get a taste of Parisian café culture? Vancouver is now home to the world's newest outpost of a popular Japanese-inspired coffee shop and boutique, direct from France.
Café Kitsuné - and its retail counterpart Maison Kitsuné - have launched their first Canadian venture, located in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood, at 157 Water St.
The brand confirmed last summer its plans to open in Vancouver, and quietly opened the doors for a soft launch just as 2021 came to a close.
Launched in 2014 in Paris, Café Kitsuné is a high-concept coffee shop with locations around the globe.
The Vancouver location joins the ranks of another 15 Café Kitsunés around the world - including in Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, and London - and just one other so far in North America, in New York City.
"Café Kitsuné pays tribute to the pleasure of enjoying a quality coffee in iconic locations - Tokyo’s Aoyama district and Paris’ gardens of the Palais Royal," describes the coffee shop, adding: "Loyal to its origins, Café Kitsuné’s menu also offers in addition to coffee, French-Japanese specialties."
The company has its own coffee roastery in Okayama’s district of Izushi in Japan, and its own house blend roast featuring South American beans.
In addition to its sophisticated coffee program featuring brewed and espresso beverages, Café Kitsuné guests may find savoury items like Japanese-style egg salad sandwiches, and elegant French pastries. You'll also spot the brand's fox logo - kitsune is Japanese for "fox" including in its signature fox cookies.
While at Café Kitsuné, you'll hear tunes from Kitsuné's "Musique" arm of the biz.
Many Café Kitsuné locations, including the new Vancouver one, are teamed up with Maison Kitsuné, their fashion boutique that started it all for the "Art de Vivre" brand in 2002. And don't be confused; while nearly a decade ago there was a popular local café also called Kitsune on West 2nd in Olympic Village, that was not affiliated with the French business.
Take a look at some images shared from the recently-opened cafe and boutique:
