It's all Greek for Yorgo Tloupas at his new Paris café

When the designer realised there was nowhere in Paris serving ‘real' Greek coffee, he decided to open Yorgaki – the Parisian location for Greek food, Greek drinks, Greek magazines, Greek toothpaste, and naturally, traditional sand-cooked coffee

Visual identity for Yorgaki, Paris
Visual identity for Yorgaki, Paris
(Image credit: Yorgo Tloupas)

Yorgo Tloupas – co-founder of Paris-based design studio Yorgo&Co – has opened what's being billed as the city's first traditional Greek café. The multidisciplinary creator has had a hand in everything, from the graphic identity, to the menu, to the design of the space.

The napkins are a nod to traditional greek restaurant paper tablecloths, which often display a map of the island you’re on, drawn in thick blue lines. ‘I drew Paris instead, with each Arrondissement given a tongue-in-cheek nickname,' Tloupas explains. ‘For example, 16th is Parents Riches, 17th is Enfants Riches.'

Alongside the bubbling Ibrik coffee, which is brewed in copper pots over hot sand, authentic Greek delicacies are the order of the day. Enjoy rustic flavours served with delightfully little finesse: Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata, Taramasalata, Greek Choriatiki salad (based on tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, black olives, and spices), marinated anchovies and Kalamata olives. Even the WiFi code is ‘FetaLife’ – a play on words of the French saying fais ta life, which was suggested to Tloupas by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur.

Interior view of the counter at Yorgaki

(Image credit: Yorgo Tloupas)

Wide view of Yorgaki

(Image credit: Yorgo Tloupas)

The wall artwork and floor tiles inside Yorgaki

(Image credit: Yorgo Tloupas)

The counter and products at Yorgaki

(Image credit: Yorgo Tloupas)

INFORMATION
yorgaki.fr

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.