Monocle reports on new food and drink finds in six global cities

Dan Graham Pavilion Relaunches as Day-Only Cafe

For the Berlin Biennale of 1998, the city’s KW Institute of Contemporary Art commissioned American artist Dan Graham to build a walk-in glass pavilion that doubled as Café Bravo. Nearly three decades later, that structure required updates, leading to the appointment of Clemens Roesch, Eva Alken, Sören Zuppke, and Vadim Otto Ursus to relaunch the space in July, monocle.com reported. The team, known for spots like Otto, Trio, and Pluto, created the first of their venues that lives entirely by day.

The menu emphasizes regional sourcing rather than standard local cuisine. Sören Zuppke noted that the institution’s international crowd prioritized local grower networks. Breakfast features sprouted-oat muesli with hazelnuts and compote, while lunch offers open sandwiches with Heggelbach cheese and tomato or Wiener sausages with goulash sauce.

Specialty Coffee Expansion in Marylebone

Coffee culture crossed borders again as Istanbul-established Cup of Joy expanded to London, opening a new location at 28 Blandford Street in Marylebone, monocle.com reported. Founded in Istanbul in 2013, the specialty coffee brand opened seven outposts before establishing its first international footprint in London with a terracotta and oak-panelled interior.

Hillside Bakery and Open-Fire Dining in Kuala Lumpur

DouDou Bake, which opened in Kuala Lumpur in 2020 and gained a following for its chocolate tart infused with Tie Guan Yin oolong tea, expanded to a second location named Hillside DouDou in the upscale Mont Kiara neighbourhood, monocle.com reported. The hilltop bakery offers classic croissants and shiopan, or Japanese salt bread. In the evening, the space transitions into Glou Glou at DouDou, a steakhouse operating in collaboration with open-fire restaurant Atelier Binchotan, serving aged meats such as Uruguayan Angus seared over charcoal alongside bone-marrow ice cream.

Parisian Crossover at Fondation Cartier

Anne-Sophie Pic opened a bar inside Paris’s Fondation Cartier, bridging hospitality and culture, monocle.com reported. Utopic features a speakeasy-style layout designed by Agence Moinard Bétaille, the firm that has fitted out more than 450 Cartier boutiques globally. The interior incorporates orange leather seats, marbled floors, and light-oak details. Anne-Sophie Pic stated that the concept originated in 2008 following a visit to Japanese cocktail bars in Tokyo.

Sensory Flagship Launch in Tokyo

Tokyo-based fragrance brand Sanva opened its first flagship store on Tomigaya’s main retail street in April, monocle.com reported. Founded by Fumiya Yoshiyama, the two-level complex features an all-day ground-floor café, a boutique offering oils, mists, and soaps, and a tucked-away gallery. Creative director Yusuke Nagai directed the design, which incorporates naturally dyed curtains, orb-like lights, and handcrafted wooden furniture. Fumiya Yoshiyama explained the aim was to create a space engaging all five senses across multiple levels.

Copenhagen Canned Cocktail Debut

Canned Mary entered the market following a collaboration between a Copenhagen duo, with design work by co-founder Åsmund Sollihøgda, monocle.com reported. The beverage combines organic tomato and lemon juices from a Danish fruit producer and importer, vodka from Nyborg, Cholula hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. A non-alcoholic Virgin Mary option is also available in the product line.