Food, merch, and price tags: What to expect from your first visit to Café Kitsuné Manila
Café Kitsuné is finally here in the Philippines!
The French-Japanese brand has opened its doors to the public on the ground floor of The Podium, showcasing the food, drinks, and merchandise that it has long been loved for.
Acquired by the Fredley Group of Companies, which already has a myriad of brands under its name (including New York Fries and Dips, Liang Crispy Roll, Nabe Japanese Izakaya, and more), the project took three years in the making due to the bumps they encountered amid the pandemic.
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, CEO Avin Ong revealed that everything—from the food to the interiors—needed a green light from the Paris team so that it could maintain its Paris-Tokyo aesthetic, with the same concept of putting up a space that blends the simplicity and beauty of intimate coffee shops with its style and elements.
While the PH branch had to be consistent with the branding, Café Kitsuné made it a point that it would still look different somehow. “They want every branch to tell a story of its own,” said Ong. “There are two models: one that’s purely café and another one that’s a café plus restaurant. In our case, we’re also serving food, just like in Jakarta.”
To give the Manila community the best dining experience, the CK team in the metro is working with a chef who has showcased his brilliance at a renowned French restaurant in Paris. Among the must-tries on the menu are the French onion soup, chicken confit, and tuna tartare.
There are also drinks that are exclusively available in the Philippines such as the flavored lattes in Coconut & Caramel, Banana & Caramel, and Mango as well as coolers like the Matcha & Yuzu Fizz and the Strawberry & Peach Fizz. The rest are exactly the same as the ones being served in its many branches across the globe—with coffee offerings made of 100% single-origin Arabica.
Everything on the lineup is affordable, with prices ranging from P250 to P680 for food, P130 to P240 for drinks, and P95 to P425 for cakes and pastries.
Ong hopes that when Filipinos dine at Café Kitsuné, they would be able to “disconnect to connect.”
“We want them to disconnect to connect. Unlike other coffee shops, we don’t encourage people to bring their laptop and work here. That’s really the way to enjoy our coffee, the ambiance, the environment, and conversations,” he explained.
Since CK also stands out for its bags, sweaters, and other merchandise, the Manila team had to seal the deal with it. They allotted a certain portion for various aesthetically pleasing items—tableware with mug, tumbler, water bottles, Assiette Café Kitsuné x Alix D. Reynis Plate, and lunchbox ranging from P895 to P4,995; stationary with stickers, fox magnet, notebooks, and pens ranging from P195 to P1345; and accessories, from bags to sweatshirts and beyond, ranging from P645 to P6,645.
What else is there to expect at Café Kitsuné Manila, apart from good coffee and cozy atmosphere? “Instagrammable spots,” Ong said quickly. “We made sure there are at least three Instagrammable spots. We want people to leave Café Kitsuné with at least one IG-worthy post.”
