Hong Kong's retail sales fell by 42% in March from a year earlier, as travel restrictions kept tourists away and most residents steered clear of shops and restaurants for fear of catching the coronavirus.

Restaurants are reopening, factories are stirring, and in one of the clearest signs yet that China is awakening from its coronavirus coma, the country's "dancing aunties" are once again gathering in parks and squares.

As shops shut their doors across Europe and the United States, in China the sharp drop in new coronavirus cases has encouraged consumers to venture back into malls and restaurants.

Set to open to the public on February 17, the new Osteria is located on the roof of Gucci's Los Angeles store and is led by Michelin-star chef, Massimo Bottura, the chef patron of Osteria Francescana.

LVMH brand Louis Vuitton will open its largest flagship store in Japan in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi on February 1 and will open its first café and restaurant inside the flagship store on February 15.  

Fans of Holly Golightly rejoice – Tiffany is bringing the Breakfast at Tiffany’s experience to London this February.

Luxe British retailer Fortnum & Mason saw its profits rising 26% in the year to mid-July as the luxury market prospered despite “the most challenging domestic retail backdrop in years”.

From Maison Kitsuné to L’Exception, Archive 18-20 and Yves Saint Laurent, many Parisian fashion labels and stores have introduced a café area, the latest being A.P.C., opening its café from November 20 to January 31.

French fashion influencer-turned-designer Jeanne Damas has launched two establishments in one, the first boutique for her womenswear brand Rouje and a restaurant, both on Rue Bachaumont in Paris’ 2nd arrondissement.

The Saint Laurent Rive Droite store, located at 213 rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, is about to unveil its new café and the ‘African Art’ exhibition, both open to the public from September 15.

Fendi has opened an Italian café on the fifth floor of Harrods as part of an exclusive summer takeover at the Knightsbridge store.

This spring Bethany Williams received the latest Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. On Monday afternoon the LVMH Prize finalist for 2019 staged her latest show at an archbishop’s palace.

This week’s launch of Eataly in the hip Paris neighbourhood of the Marais by the Galeries Lafayette group marks an important new chapter for the high-end French retail group –  its entrance into the experiential era.

Bernard Arnault’s eldest son, in charge of image and communication for the LVMH group, has bought a minority stake in Parisian restaurant Lapérouse, owned by Benjamin Patou’s Moma Group since last year.

​Fortnum & Mason will open its first international store this year with a debut in Hong Kong to tap into the growing Chinese appetite for luxury as well as Hong Kong’s destination status for tourists.

On Friday, the Ralph Lauren store in boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, is opening a café for the duration of the Fashion Week only, a concept the US label already tested in Tokyo, Hong Kong and New York.