Maison Ladurée is returning to the Philippines once again, but this time offering its premium Salon de Thé experience on top of the beloved classic Ladurée Café. Now under the Gastronova Hospitality Group Corporation, Ladurée will introduce a full-service dining experience from breakfast through dinner, proudly bringing a sophisticated slice of Parisian fare and ambience to our shores.
“This will be the first Ladurée flagship in Southeast Asia when it opens in 2025, highlighting our strong belief in the potential of the Philippines,” shares Karan Gopwani, CEO and chairman of Gastronova Hospitality Group Corporation.
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Ladurée Paris, Royale
Working tightly with Maison Ladurée’s global team, Gopwani and the Gastronova group are dedicated to providing the Philippines with an exquisitely authentic French experience. The Ladurée Café will be the brand’s more casual eatery for diners seeking a more laid-back and quicker meal. Here, they are focused on beverages, light bites, and a curated café selection of delicate viennoiserie finds, macarons, eugénies, langue de chat, freshly baked pastries, and delectable Parisian cakes. Through the café, diners will be immersed in the true essence of Ladurée while in a vibrant yet relaxed environment, decorated with the utmost care.
This concept was originally launched in Paris and was designed to deliver a more pared-back version of the total Ladurée experience so that even those on the go will be able to indulge in a quick respite from the everyday hustle and bustle. “It’s a great way to enjoy our signature products in a modern, convenient format,” adds Gopwani. “With our iconic pastry and drink recipes, we open a new category, complete with a gourmet range of food and beverages, designed to eat on the go. With the coffee shop concept, we create new opportunities to be with people–something closer, easier and faster,” he expounds.
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The brand’s re-entry to the country brings much more than the macarons you know and love. They are introducing the first Ladurée Salon de Thé experience in Asia, featuring a meticulously crafted French menu that has been curated with the Philippine palate in mind. Here, diners can indulge in Ladurée’s signature dishes like a savoury Mediterranean avocado toast, decadent French toast chocolate hazelnut treat, and a quintessential eggs benedict. “This elegant restaurant will bring the full Parisian dining experience, with a strong focus on exceptional service and an immersive dining journey. The aim is to make our customers feel like they are dining in Paris itself,” shares Gopwani.
The new Ladurée Philippines will be helmed by executive chef Katrina Torres. Since her time at Enderun, she has trained in prestigious kitchens around the world, from Alain Ducasse, Paris, to Jean-George Vongerichten, New York. Back in the Philippines, she was part of the core teams at Palate, Lemuria, One World Kitchen and La Picara. Today she spearheads the menu development and execution at the soon-to-open Ladurée Philippines. Over and above her already fine-tuned skillset, she will still undergo specialised training and certification in Paris to ensure that the quality of Ladurée Philippines remains up to global standards. In fact, to maintain quality control in all of their locations around the world, Ladurée HQ conducts regular audits and site visits.
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Ladurée Paris, Champs-Élysées
Ladurée Paris, Royale
Thanks to their clear vision and dedication to spreading the Ladurée ethos while adhering to fine-tuned standards, guests can trust that the experience they will be treated to at both the Café and Salon de Thé is one matched by the original branches in Paris. Diners can also rest assured knowing that a majority of their ingredients are sourced directly from France. “Our offerings include a wide variety of macarons, pastries, cakes, and breads, all prepared to the highest standard. Signature items such as the ispahan or plaisir sucrée pastry, Ladurée croissant, pain au chocolat, éclairs, langue de chat, eugénies, palmier, and madeleines will be served fresh, ensuring a premium French patisserie experience,” explains Gopwani. All their macarons, chocolates, and retail items are imported directly from Switzerland where they are handmade, and perfected for global distribution. “Nearly 70 per cent of our products will be sourced from our European centres to guarantee an authentic Ladurée experience,” he adds.
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“Our beverage menu will be a delightful treat, featuring unique drinks such as special lattes with unique infusions, and creative teas featuring the Laduree mix Marie Antoinette which has Chinese black tea, citrus, flowers, light spices, and vanilla,” Gopwani elaborates. On top of that and their extensive range of classics like soothing cups of aromatic coffee blends and hearty hot chocolates, the Salon de Thé will also offer a curated selection of cocktails, crafted by their carefully selected French mixologists, making it the perfect spot for both coffee lovers and cocktail enthusiasts.
“We believe the Philippines is the ideal market for Ladurée’s offerings. Filipinos have a strong affinity for sweet flavours, and with the increasing demand for luxury brands, we are confident that Ladurée will flourish here,” Gopwani comments. Ladurée is a respected global F&B brand that rose to fame for its iconic green interiors, delicate and imposing French aesthetic and artisanal products that are each made with intense attention to detail. Their beloved macarons and pastries are all handmade and crafted with flown-in French butter. “Our decision [to bring back Ladurée] was further validated by the overwhelming response we received during our initial market engagement,” Gopwani reveals.
Maison Ladurée will be opening two flagship locations in the Philippines in 2025. The first store will open in Bonifacio Global City in May 2025, followed by a second location in SM Mall of Asia to celebrate the holiday season. While the exact locations remain a surprise, the brand, along with Gastronova Hospitality Group Corporation are committed to bringing the best of Ladurée to the Filipino market.
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