Review: LEGO Icons French Café 10362

LEGO Icons French Café - 10362 - March 2025

LEGO Icons French Café (Aka. Fleur Cafe) Reviewed By Fleur!

Mark your calendars for the LEGO Icons French Café! On March 1st, 2025, the LEGO team whisks us away to France with the 1,101-piece French Café. Designed with intricate details and set on a charming brick-built sidewalk, this set captures the essence of a classic Parisian café experience.

Ironically, I don’t drink coffee, nor have I spent much time in French cafés. But with a name like this, I feel fully qualified to dive into this build. Bonjour! Je m’appelle Fleur, LEGO brick enthusiast and certified hot chocolate lover.

French Cafe Facade

The LEGO Icons French Café is all about the front façade, starting with the sleek, brick-built pavement. A distinct departure from the modular building series. Clearly designed for display, it feels like the first in what could become a collection of international fine dining creations.

With a color palette similar to the Boutique Hotel, the LEGO Icons French Café stands out with its ornate doors, elegant windows, and striped awnings. The curved entrance is beautifully crafted, drawing attention to the printed tile that proudly displays the name Café Fleur.

Multiple shades of green are used to great effect, complementing the delicate hanging baskets and perfectly placed potted trees that frame the doorway. The overall aesthetic of the LEGO Icons French Café feels soft and feminine, thanks to the pastel tones and gentle curves.

From the side, the French Café has a narrow footprint, reinforcing its ideal placement on a bookshelf or windowsill. It could even be wall-mounted in a deep picture frame for a unique display.

The back of the façade is clearly meant to sit flush against a shelf, lacking the intricate details of the front. If this set were a flower arrangement, the back would be the soil—providing structure and support but not meant to be on display.

Detailed Exterior

The exterior of the LEGO Icons French Café is rich in detail and full of character. With a narrow build, there isn’t much space for furniture, but the designers have maximised every inch with thoughtful touches. The chairs and tables, crafted with elements that mimic wrought iron lattice, would look right at home in a charming cottage garden.

No French café is complete without a croissant, and this set delivers. Along with an adorable coffee cup, almost tempting enough to make me try a latte.

The tri-legged menu board on the corner is a delightful addition, adding to the authenticity of the scene.

The LEGO Icons French Café lamp post stands tall, perhaps a bit more than expected. But its elegant design perfectly captures the charm of a European cobblestone street, with a beautiful mix of pearl lights and black accents.

Inside the French Cafe

Opening the doors you get a hint of the café interior with its till and another table boasting more baked goods.

The LEGO Icons French Café interior is very narrow. Through this you can see the red and green wallpaper of the back wall of the set. I dare say it would be a little tight for any Minifigures.

Verdict

I should start by admitting that I’m a diehard fan of modular buildings. I love uncovering the clever techniques used to create intricate exteriors. So while reviewing this set, I had to remind myself, it’s an entirely different concept.

Unlike modular buildings, which are designed for interactive play, the French Café is meant to be a display piece. The scale feels a bit unusual, with oversized food items taking up entire tables, an exceptionally tall lamp post. Plus an interior that lacks the space needed for real playability. But as a decorative showcase, it excels, offering plenty of street-front charm.

The back of the façade does feel like a missed opportunity. Carrying the colour palette through or adding a fun Easter egg, like a poster of the Eiffel Tower would have added extra depth and cohesion.

Since the set is narrow and designed as a façade, I’d personally display it with the doors closed. The intricate detailing on the doors and window awnings is stunning on its own, making the interior feel almost unnecessary.

That said, the designers have truly captured the charm of French café culture. I can easily imagine minifigures parking their flower-filled bicycles next to the lamp post, sipping coffee, and watching the world go by as they indulge in fresh pastries.