CAFÉ KITSUNÉ: An exercise in balance and beauty

Coffee shops are everywhere these days, each vying for the attention of discerning tea and coffee drinkers. And while trends come and go, certain drinks endure. Among them, matcha has captured the hearts and taste buds of tea lovers worldwide. Yet not every café manages to strike that delicate balance of umami, sweetness, gentle bitterness, and grassy freshness, layered with creamy, nutty, and oceanic notes.

Since 2014, Café Kitsuné in Paris has been perfecting this art, pioneering matcha in the city while also serving exceptional speciality coffee. At the heart of every cup is a meticulous process: beans are directly sourced from producers, roasted on-site, and crafted with precision that reflects the Maison's ethos of traceability and quality, whilst delivering a truly elevated café experience. This Japanese lifestyle brand from Maison Kitsuné also extends its experience beyond drinks, offering an exclusive line of homeware.

With salons across France, Japan, New York, Southeast Asia, and a London branch in Belgravia's Pantechnicon building, Café Kitsuné has now opened a second London location at 55 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden. Among the cobbled streets of Seven Dials, filled with independent boutiques and restaurants, the new café fits in well, seamlessly merging Parisian sophistication with Japanese minimalism.

Spread across two floors, in a 530 sq. ft. space, the interior accommodates 15 guests. Upstairs, art by the French duo Sacrée Frangine adorns the walls of this light-filled room, complemented by minimal wooden panelling that evokes a calm atmosphere while the wooden counter echoes the design of the Beijing branch. Meanwhile, downstairs, a cosy lounge with matcha-green panelling, punctuated by red cushions and lit shelves, is lined with books and features signature homeware, making it the perfect spot for a rest-stop or matcha catch-up.

Johanna Lellouche, General Deputy Director of the Kitsuné Group, commented: “The concept behind Café Kitsuné is to create and operate a space that marries the simplistic beauty of the small and intimate coffee shops with the style and cool of everything Café Kitsuné undertakes – we felt this new Covent Garden location was the perfect destination to match this.”

And of course, surroundings this good must only mean exceptional drinks and pastries. Our standouts include the beautifully layered pistachio croissant, with its delicate glazed layers a work of art, and the matcha and raspberry financier, which pairs perfectly with our iced strawberry matcha — a fruity, creamy, and delicate treat. The menu also offers a variety of other matchas, teas, and fresh juices, including a deliciously refreshing strawberry mint lemonade as well as the café's signature fox biscuits.

From our vantage at the upstairs window seat, we took in the rhythm of Covent Garden to the taste of matcha mastery and baking brilliance, making this small but carefully crafted café a perfect addition to the Kitsuné family and Covent Garden. It is the ideal place to stop, unwind, and for those who love that most distinctive of teas, it surely is matcha unmatched!