LE CAFÉ

Earlier this year, Nicolas Rouzaud opened Le Café beneath the historic arches of Burlington Arcade, marking a new and more personal chapter in his London story. Known to many as the creative force behind Nicolas Rouzaud at The Connaught Pâtisserie, Rouzaud has now turned his attention to an all-day café shaped by memory, seasonality and the everyday pleasures of French life.

For members of the Lodha community, Rouzaud’s work will already feel familiar. His collaboration with The Connaught on Mount Street has long been a favourite among residents and friends of No.1 Grosvenor Square, admired for its precision and quiet confidence. Le Café builds on that foundation, offering a space that feels more relaxed but no less considered.

Raised in Toulouse and surrounded by orchards, Rouzaud developed an early respect for fruit at its peak and for simple recipes made well. After refining his craft at Le Bristol Paris and spending eight years as Executive Pastry Chef at The Connaught, he became known for a style that balances technical mastery with restraint. At Le Café, he described returning to something instinctive. “Gourmandise,” he said, “is not an occasion; it is a daily language.

“At Le Café, he described returning to something instinctive. ‘Gourmandise,’ he said, ‘is not an occasion, it is a daily language.’”

The menu reflects this philosophy. The brioche à tête, offered in both sweet and savoury forms, sits at its heart, alongside a Victoria sponge reinterpreted through a French lens. Coffee is layered and textural, conceived almost as a dessert, while seasonal cocktails echo familiar pâtisserie notes. The emphasis throughout is on seasonality and craft rather than spectacle.

Burlington Arcade, Britain’s original shopping arcade dating back to 1819, provides a fitting setting. Designed by Sabrina Caisson, the café unfolds across three floors, with Rouzaud’s signature red softened by blush tones and antique mirrored surfaces. The atmosphere shifts gently from vibrant at street level to calmer and more intimate above, encouraging guests to linger.
For those who appreciate thoughtful design and craftsmanship at home, Le Café feels like a natural extension of the same values. It offers a place to pause between appointments, to meet friends, or simply to sit with a coffee and pastry — we recommend with a copy of The Lodha Times.