The first in what seems like a new collection of sets from LEGO® Icons has just been revealed: set 10362 French Café. Designed by Hoang Huy Dang, it will be released 1 March 2025.
Described as "a bookshelf decoration building kit for adults", it seems as though there is a lot packed into this little façade.
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10362 French Café
- Release date: 1 March 2025
- Pieces: 1101
Price:
The model
The official description from the LEGO Group says, "Delight in the elegance of a French café with this LEGO® Icons building set for adults. Capture the essence of a classic bistro with a picturesque facade, ornate seating and double doors that open to reveal a glimpse of a cozy interior with regal wallpaper and dark-wood furnishings."
This view of the rear shows that the set is more of a façade for display, rather than a 360-degree model for play.
This is confirmed in the description: "Its slim profile and flat back make it perfect for shelf display".
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Decorations
From looking at the PR images, it seems there are some new decorations which appear printed rather than stickers - fingers crossed!
There are a selection of trans clear window elements that have a new lattice design:
Not only is this a new lattice print, but actually it seems to be the first time the minifigure book cover (
24093, 29167) has been seen in trans-clear.
The cute blackboard sign seems to be a new print on Flag 2 x 2 Square with Flared Edge (
80326). Incidentally, did you spot the arched bricks used to make the pavement here? It's even realistically uneven!
Finally we have the Tile 2 x 4 Oval (
66857) sporting a new print with the restaurant's name.
Recoloured pieces
There seems to be a couple of new green elements:
- Window 1 x 4 x 1 2/3 with Spoked Rounded Top (20309)
- Window 1 x 6 x 6 Flat Front (42205)
We can also see some parts recoloured to light nougat for the first time on the architectural detailing around the door:
- Plate Special 2 x 3 with Cloud Edge (5518)
- Slope 18° 2 x 1 x 2/3 (5404)
Another new light nougat element is Brick Arch 1 x 4 (
3659), which are used all across the top of the building.
The fancy seats appear to have two elements that would be new in aqua:
- Plate Special 1 x 1 with Hole Through Stud, 3 Bars and 3 Bar Holes (1941)
- 2 x 2 Inverted Tile (3567)
Have you spotted any more? We will reveal all in our review of the set, coming soon.
Conclusion
This looks like it could be a great source of new elements, and although much smaller than sets in the Modular Buildings Collection, perhaps the techniques used will be just as satisfying for adult fans?
The lack of minifigures is notable: perhaps the LEGO Icons team were aiming for a display model that doesn't appear too toy-like? We will ask the designer about this, and if you have other questions we might pose, let us know in the comments.
The box mentions 'Restaurants of the World' which, while there is no confirmation, suggests that this may well be the first in a series of similarly sized restaurants.
Which restaurant of the world would you like to see next?
READ MORE: Five fabulous food-focused LEGO® Friends sets reviewed
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It’s a shame they didn’t at least finished the back. If you don’t place the directly up against a wall it won’t look as nice.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but you could say the same about the Mona Lisa. It is simply isn’t intended to be displayed anywhere other that against a wall, or back of a shelf.
DeleteYou could say that, but it would be invalid. There's nothing on the back of the original as it is a complete two-dimensional work. This is a three-dimensional building. Without a back, it's intentionally incomplete.
DeleteI think the sales of the Star Wars diorama sets show that it's fine to make intentionally incomplete sets for shelf display.
DeleteActually, that's the same equally invalid example. Those are based on a scene, a similarly complete two-dimensional work as the Mona Lisa. If this were an iconic facade, then perhaps it would work, but this is just a generic French cafe. Consumers/AFOLs are going to be disappointed that it cannot integrate into their modular cityscapes.
DeleteMight I suggest that there are many different people with different tastes?
DeleteI'm thinking of buying this because i like the challenge of modding something like this to fit in my City. But that may be just another invalid example of someone doing the hobby in the wrong way.
To which I'll reply, "And water makes its own sauce." ~F. Zappa.
DeleteThe explanatory examples above are equivalently illogical; concluding that pointing out the fallacy somehow implies that others are doing LEGO wrong is not just missing the point but also dishearteningly nonsensical. The examples are invalid, not people or how they LEGO.
psycho killer 🎵
ReplyDeleteIf this is going to be a collectible 'facade' line similar to the modular sets, I like the idea. But 80 bucks for something this size feels a little much. I'd rather have something less detailed and cheaper.
ReplyDeleteyou mean 1x3x2 ?
ReplyDeleteyes, we like to leave one or two out so our readers can feel good about spotting them :-)
ReplyDelete<3
ReplyDeleteWhy bother with a tchotchke theme? If it is in a line called "Icons", then make it an actual building/facade with a bit of history about it. Why make a set that not only feels incomplete but without a back actually is? Why have a minifig scale set that belongs in the modular line without minifigs and not able to integrate easily into the theme? Charming yet pointless.
ReplyDeleteI think the easy answer to this is a façade is cheaper than a full building, and that sets like the modulars already exist people who have the budget for a complete building at this level of detail. To me this set is aimed squarely at buyers who want a detailed display piece but might not have the budget for the kinds of $100+ sets that normally offer that.
DeleteCan't afford the twelve-piece bucket, but here's some chicken nuggets? Has there honestly been a massive push to get budget modulars out there? How much better will this do in sales compared to a city slice of life set FOR the modular theme? How about a newsstand, ice cream stand, falafel stand? Wouldn't mind a donner kebab right about now. How about normal cars in scale with the Speed Champions line? Those are magnificent, seeing some ubiquitous vehicles with similar attention given would get my money easier than a generic cafe. How about classic cars in that scale? Absolutely no shortage of inspirational material there. Plus, it would appeal to adults that like modulars AND cars. Two chickens with one fryer.
DeleteAnd if LEGO is coming out with a $1000 Death Star later this year, I doubt their concern for affordability.
This is sort of a mash up of sets like the Tranquil Garden (10315) and the Death Star Trench Run 75329. It's a display/build experience set for adults that is a slice of life scene and meant for shelf display. There's clearly a market for sets that don't need minifigs, including settings where you would normally expect them. By not having figs they are somewhat freed from having to make things like doors and chairs and whatever else fit that awkward scale.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's clearly a market for shelf-display diorama type sets that don't need to be seen in-the-round to be appreciated.
Fans have been making this kind of thing for years.