As a wise woman once said: “I don’t do coffee dates…” Well, I might make an exception for Maison Margiela. The luxury French brand has opened a terrace café in the Middle East this week, in luxury retail space Mall of the Emirates, alongside a brand new flagship store. The UAE is the third country in the world to welcome the coveted coffee spot. Margiela already boasts cafés in South Korea and China.
The ultra-Instagrammable café, which is situated adjacent to the new flagship boutique, features a selection of hot and cold drinks (served on a tabi-shaped coaster) , as well as a variety of desserts, including a tabi-shaped cake made with pistachio and cardamom. Shoppers can also enjoy a range of baked goods, such as croissants, cinnamon rolls, and raspberry and custard swirls. Every element was thought-out, reflecting the brand’s identity, from the Margiela bottle lamps to the logo-printed cutlery.
The new store and café embodies Margiela’s signature cool aesthetic. Designed by the Dutch architecture studio Anne Holtrop, who are responsible for dreaming up several of the brand’s boutiques in Paris, London, Osaka and Shanghai, among others, the interior combines plush couches and sleek wood veneers with the iconic Margiela tire installation, creating a unique shopping experience.
The store showcases a soft, tonal color scheme that mirrors the Parisian label’s iconic all-white studio. It maintains a natural aesthetic with plaster walls and ceilings kept in their original finish, complemented by travertine floors and fixtures. Meanwhile, the facade is imprinted with the footprints of the brand’s iconic Tabi shoes.
Spanning 265 square meters, the new flagship showcases the brand’s latest co-ed Fall 2025 collection, including men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, handbags (including a limited-edition Snatched bag and small leather goods in a Thyme color conceived exclusively for the opening), shoes, accessories, and its iconic fragrance line.
The Middle East is a very exciting market for Maison Margiela, which continues to expand its presence in the region. Margiela already boasts a flagship at the Dubai Mall.
