Boston’s South End is getting a fresh shot of European café culture, as Kawa, a new concept from local restaurateurs Arnaud Abdoun and Loic Le Garrec, prepares to move into the former FoMu space at 655 Tremont St. The team has been quietly teasing the project online, hinting at a menu built around serious coffee, local ingredients and the kind of all-day hangout you usually have to cross the Atlantic to find.
Owners Go Public With Their Next Act
Abdoun and Le Garrec, the duo behind PRB Boulangerie and Petit Robert Bistro, unveiled Kawa on Instagram and described it as “a European-inspired coffee shop” that will be “more than just a coffee shop,” according to What Now Boston. The outlet notes that the pair has been sharing video snippets of construction, permitting progress and early design choices as they build out the corner spot.
Why These Two Are A Safe Bet
The partners already run a small network of French-style spots around Greater Boston, from PRB Boulangerie to Petit Robert Bistro and Batifol. Their existing projects lean hard into pastries, crepes and classic coffee programs, Time Out Boston reports. That background points to Kawa operating as a true neighborhood café where you can linger, not just a grab-your-latte-and-go counter.
FoMu Out, Kawa In
Kawa is set to take over the prominent corner storefront at 655 Tremont St., which most recently housed a FoMu location that closed earlier this year, according to Eater Boston. Local blog Boston Restaurant Talk first spotted Kawa’s Instagram announcement and connected it to the Tremont Street address.
Opening Timeline Still Under Wraps
The owners have not revealed an opening date. What Now Boston reports it has reached out to the team for more information. A recent commercial listing for 655 Tremont St. mentions “KAWA (coming soon),” a detail included in materials from Elliman, suggesting at least the paperwork and signage are moving along. For now, South End residents will have to keep refreshing those Instagram updates while they wait for the first pour.
