Louis Vuitton has launched The Louis – an architectural and experiential statement moored in the heart of Shanghai. Situated along Wujiang Road in the city’s central business district, this ship-like structure weaves together a luxury boutique, Le Café Louis Vuitton, and an immersive exhibition titled Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys.
The venue – shaped like a gleaming modern vessel – not only references Shanghai’s port legacy but also pays tribute to the brand’s 19th-century roots in crafting travel trunks for oceanic voyages. From its hull clad in Monogram to the stacked trunk-inspired upper decks, The Louis is part sculpture, part landmark, and all Louis Vuitton.
A Cultural Docking Point
More than just a retail concept, The Louis embodies a fluid blend of history, design, and innovation. Echoing Shanghai’s centuries-old maritime spirit, the space nods to the city’s rise as a key international port, tracing roots from the Tang dynasty through to its 19th-century boom as a treaty port.
Louis Vuitton, born during the steamship era in 1854, mirrors this trajectory of movement and modernity. Now, with this striking new Shanghai outpost, the House anchors its story of craftsmanship and exploration in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.
Inside The Louis: Where Past Meets Present
Visitors step into a sleek, trunk-like structure housing a mix of cultural experiences. The building unfolds across multiple floors, beginning with the Visionary Journeys exhibition, followed by a café and an expansive retail area showcasing Women’s and Men’s collections, accessories, and travel pieces.
Designed by Shohei Shigematsu of architecture firm OMA, the exhibition journey begins with Trunkscape – a surreal archway made of Monogram trunks suspended over shifting natural landscapes. This visual entry point sets the tone for the rest of the exhibition, where stories of Louis Vuitton’s heritage are told through artefacts, multimedia, and historic touchstones.
From a room dedicated to its Asnières workshop to displays of perfume bottles and sports trophies, each section highlights a distinct facet of the House’s creative and cultural legacy.
Highlights include rare travel trunks, the literary collections of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, and tributes to past artistic directors such as Marc Jacobs and Virgil Abloh. In the Workshop zone, visitors can even catch live artisan demonstrations.
A Taste of Travel at Le Café Louis Vuitton
Perched on the third floor with an outdoor terrace, Le Café Louis Vuitton presents a refined menu blending European and Shanghainese influences. Helmed by Chefs Leonardo Zambrino and Zoe Zhou – protégés of renowned chefs Arnaud Donckele and Maxime Frédéric – the café offers both familiar Louis Vuitton staples and location-specific creations.
Notable dishes include the Monogram Raviolis-styled after traditional jiaozi, the Cesar Salad Eclipse with Shanghai yuja dressing, and the Louis Hao seabream carpaccio with bergamot sabayon. Desserts such as the Jasmine Peach Charlotte and Exotic Fruit Pavlova round out the menu – each plated with the signature Louis Vuitton touch.
This culinary concept continues the maison’s growing hospitality footprint, which includes its Michelin-starred restaurant The Hall in Chengdu.
Everything Under the Sun at The Louis
Beyond shopping, dining, and culture, The Louis positions Louis Vuitton as a modern-day curator of stories and experiences. Visitors can personalise leather goods with exclusive Shanghai-themed hot stamps, or simply wander the space as one would an art gallery.
The venue serves as both a cultural ambassador and public interface – a place where global luxury and local heritage meet.
The Louis
HKRI Taikoo Hui, No. 789 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai, China
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Admission is free. Register via the My LV WeChat mini programme)
Website
Read more about other luxury pop-ups here.
