India Mahdavi’s Instagram dreamworld in a Tokyo tea salon

Wide view of Laduree salon de the in Tokyo, designed by India Mahdavi

(Image credit: press)

last updated 26 October 2022

India Mahdavi – the design-eye behind Ladurée in Geneva (2016) and Los Angeles (2017), as well as the Gallery restaurant at London’s Sketch (2014) – has again lent her elegantly eccentric vision to Ladurée’s new salon de thé in Tokyo.

The Paris-based macaron and pastry specialist has become a world leader in Versailles-inspired whimsy, no small thanks to Mahdavi, who’s on a sugar high this year. Her candy-hued Salone del Mobile 2018 offerings for Bisazza promise to be as pop-tastic as ever.

Known as the ‘queen of colour’, Mahdavi uses a palette of celadon-greens and bonbon pinks. With typical brilliance, she elevates what could be a kawaii-cute tone with sophisticated, tongue-in-cheek flourishes. Twisting candy-stick tables sprout from a graphic, grey and white marble floor; blown glass floret lamps bloom from the cherry blossom-pink walls, and meringue-shaped ceiling lamps soften the down lighting.

Furniture is rendered in plush velvet — *Bespoke, scalloped furniture is rendered in plush velvet*

‘Ladurée is a garden of delights,’ she says. ‘I am here to bring joy, and Ladurée’s essence is closely connected to enjoyment. I wanted to bring some French-ness to Tokyo and make this place a full experience.’

Full experience is right. Visitors are encased by walls of Marie Antoinette-inspired white garden latticework, and they lounge upon bespoke, scalloped furniture, plumped with plush velvet cushions fit for a Parisian banquette.

The fare? Think typical French delicacies with contemporary twists. Strawberry and coconut délice, pistachio saint honoré, and fluffy macarons in every conceivable flavour, washed down the rabbit-hole with a china thimble-full of aromatic tea.

The space – like stepping inside a mille feuille – is set-like, an Instagram dreamworld, a fully-realised mise en scène. On International Women’s Day 2018, Mahdavi told us it was her ultimate goal to make a movie. When she does, we hope there’s a love scene in this cinematic salon de thé.

Inside Laduree salon de the in Tokyo, designed by India Mahdavi — Twisting candy-stick tables sprout from a graphic, grey and white marble floor; blown glass lamps bloom from the celadon-green walls

Outside Laduree Salon de The in Tokyo — Known as the ‘queen of colour’, designer India Mahdavi uses a palette of mint-green and bonbon pink

INFORMATION

For more information visit the Ladurée website

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Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.

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