First luxury designer cafe launching in South Africa
Maison Deux, the new luxury concept space, opened its doors in early 2026 at Hyde Park Corner in Johannesburg, featuring Marc’s by Marc Jacobs—the first upmarket designer café in Africa.
The department store was established by the luxury menswear retailer Al Capone Group, aiming to blend fashion, design, and hospitality.
“The concept was created to bring the spirit and energy of New York City to South Africa, with a subtle Parisian influence inspired by the café culture of Paris, while ensuring the menu and experience are suited to the South African palate,” said the group.
The luxury store houses a curated set of global apparel brands, including Etro, Missoni, Givenchy, KENZO, Marc Jacobs, Isabel Marant, Giuseppe Zanotti, Stella McCartney, and Al Capone.
In addition to apparel, the store features luxury home and living brands including Etro Home, Versace, Missoni Home, Lisa Corti, OW London, Zarina Tableware, Dolce & Gabbana Casa and Stories Of Italy.
The Marc Jacobs Café sits at the centre of the store, fully integrated into the retail environment through a ‘continuous architectural language’ that connects the store to the café.
“Welcoming a concept of this nature, together with South Africa’s first Marc Jacobs Café, adds something genuinely new to our retail mix and reinforces Hyde Park Corner’s focus on distinctive, well-considered brands,” said Hyde Park Corner’s General Manager Francois du Buisson.
The name Maison Deux, which means “the house of two,” in French, signifies the integration of Al Capone’s retail history with an experience-focused retail model.
Inspired by European department stores, the concept features a retail format still uncommon in South Africa that combines fashion, interiors, and café culture within a single space.
Designed as a social hub within the retail environment, the Marc Jacobs Café combines a design-focused interior and a curated menu to increase the time visitors spend in the space rather than just walking through the store.
Al Capone Group South Africa
Al Capone, a luxury men’s fashion retailer, was established in 2014 at Newtown Junction, Johannesburg.
“Our journey began with a simple yet profound mission: to offer a multi-branded shopping experience that combines luxury, quality, and style, all under one roof,” said the group.
The Al Capone stores feature a curated selection of imported brands from well-known global fashion houses. While this is common in markets like Europe, it is rare in South Africa, making the brand a unique luxury experience.
The brand categorises its stores as Premium and Fashion, with the Premium outlets located nationwide at Sandton City, Mall of Africa, V&A Waterfront, Gateway Mall, and Menlyn Park, in the provinces of Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg.
The Fashion stores by Al Capone are located at Westgate Mall and Mall of the South in Johannesburg, featuring well-known global brands such as Diesel, Vialli, and G-Star Raw.
“Al Capone is more than just a retail store; it is a brand that understands the nuances of men’s fashion,” said the group.
The group stated that its Al Capone brand is crafted from genuine leather, 100% authentic silk, and embroidery, producing items focused on durability and style.
“Our innovative approach includes experimenting with new techniques such as patchwork, 3D embossed printing, and puff printing, ensuring that our collection remains fresh and exciting,” said the group.
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