Singapore Now Has A Cafe Kitsune To Call Its Own
The boutique cafe, known for melding food, music and culture under one roof, makes its debut in the +65.
Cafe Kitsune opens its first Singapore outpost on Dec 1. Situated at #01-11 Capitol Singapore, this is the 22nd branch for the boutique cafe, which has been exporting its chain of artsy cool coffeeshops to major cities such as New York and Bangkok, since the original branch opened in 2013 in Tokyo’s Aoyama district.
The menu at the 40-seat establishment includes pastries, cakes, sandos and made-just-for-Singapore items such as the yuzu pistachio strawberry entremet and chilli chocolate tart. The fox-shaped shortbread – a Cafe Kitsune signature – is also available here. (For the uninitiated, kitsune means "fox" in Japanese.)
Cafe Kitsune Singapore (above) is the latest outpost for the brand, which has branches across 16 cities.
The cafe's French-Japanese influence reflects the heritage of its founders, Gildas Loaec and Masaya Kuroki. The former was the creative director and manager of Daft Punk, while the latter was a protege of famed architect Jean Nouvel.
In 2002, the duo launched their first project – a music label called Maison Kitsune. In a span of two decases, Kitsune has evolved to become a lifestyle and culture empire that encompasses the cult fashion line Maison Kitsune, a music label called Kitsune Musique, the art gallery and publishing house Galerie Kitsune, and of course, hospitality business Cafe Kitsune.
Various elements of the Kitsune brand are peppered throughout the Singapore cafe. Clock the piped tunes from Kitsune Musique's playlist – known for its roster of emerging artists – and retail merchandise such as tableware, tote bags, T-shirts and Japanese-style lunchboxes.
Ahead, we share what else are in store for visitors.
It's only fitting that the oak-wood fixtures and tables would be peppered with lush greenery to echo Singapore's rep as a garden city. The patterned flooring is inspired by Peranakan tiles, while the custom-made Maison Drucker cane and rattan chairs pay homage to Parisian cafes.
Cafe Kitsune takes its brews seriously. The single-origin speciality coffee beans are sourced from Brazil and Guatemala and are roasted in its Okayama roastery before being flown in here on a monthly basis. You can also grab a bag of the coffee beans – they boast hints of chocolate, honey and a dash of peach – in-store. And to ensure the baristas uphold these standards, they are sent to Paris for two weeks of training.
It's often the tiniest of details that often go unnoticed but make the most significant difference. If you take a closer look, you will notice that the tops of the chairs are slightly pointed, and the marble floor features a fox-shaped motif.
Besides pastries and coffee, customers can also shop the Cafe Kitsune Objects line. This curation of lifestyle items includes tableware, T-shirts and bags.