10 Corso Como Cafe Brings Milanese Chic to Beijing SKP

If you’ve walked past Beijing SKP’s first floor and wondered what makes the 10 Corso Como Cafe stand out among luxury retail cafés, the answer is both visual and experiential. This isn’t just another coffee shop inside a mall—it’s a carefully crafted extension of Milanese design culture with a playful, artistic twist.

The 10 Corso Como Cafe in Beijing SKP offers a fresh take on the brand’s signature aesthetic with a new ‘smiley face’ motif, replacing the usual ‘circles’ seen in other locations. Designed by Kris Ruhs, the space includes bespoke ceramic tableware made under his supervision in Jingdezhen, outdoor planters adorned with whimsical patterns, and a curated selection of 10 Corso Como home goods for purchase at the bar.

What Is 10 Corso Como?

Founded in 1990 by Carla Sozzani on Milan’s Corso Como 10, 10 Corso Como began as a gallery and evolved into a concept store blending art, fashion, design, and café culture. The original space included a bookstore, fashion boutique, and a relaxed café. Over time, it expanded to include a restaurant and a hotel. Today, 10 Corso Como maintains a global presence primarily in Asia, with stores in Seoul (two locations), Shanghai, and Beijing.

The Beijing Location: A Milan-to-China Adaptation

Located on the first floor of Beijing’s SKP mall, the 10 Corso Como Cafe complements the fashion and design offerings on the fourth floor. Unlike the circle motifs found in Shanghai, Beijing’s cafe features a new visual identity centered around smiley faces, created to offer a distinct local character. The space bridges the gap between the office crowd at China Central Place and SKP shoppers, functioning as both a quick coffee stop and a leisure lounge.

Designer Kris Ruhs, life partner of founder Carla Sozzani, oversaw the interior layout and the production of ceramic dishware in Jingdezhen. Large outdoor planters display his signature playful graphics, while the café’s walls are lined with an eye-catching display of porcelain. The café also features a curated retail shelf of 10 Corso Como homeware items available for purchase.

Space, Design & Hours

The café is designed by Kris Ruhs, whose portfolio spans sculpture and painting. His website is www.krisruhs.com/en/home. The space is open daily from 8am to 10pm, with an average spend of around ¥55 per person. The address is: 1st Floor, SKP New Sunshine World, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Call 010-65307229 for more information.

Kris Ruhs also designed the interiors for 10 Corso Como’s other locations. In Milan, the original store began as a gallery in 1990, added a bookstore in 1991, a café by 1991, a restaurant in 1998, and a hotel in 2003. The Seoul locations—on Apgujeong-ro and in Lotte Department Store—are popular with Korean celebrities. Shanghai’s branch, housed in a four-storey glass building, features custom circle designs and Fornasetti furnishings. Each location reflects local adaptation while retaining the brand’s core identity.

The 10 Corso Como Brand Legacy

Carla Sozzani, former special edition editor of Italian Vogue, envisioned 10 Corso Como as “opening the door to my room and inviting people in to share everything.” The brand embodies a lifestyle approach to retail, combining editorial curation with physical products. Sozzani’s philosophy rejects the idea of luxury as mere expense, defining it instead as cultural choice.

Kris Ruhs, known for working with discarded materials and blurring boundaries between 2D and 3D art, has designed all 10 Corso Como locations. His work lends a cohesive yet site-specific aesthetic to each shop. The Beijing cafe’s smiley motif is a case in point—distinct from Shanghai’s circles, yet aligned with the brand’s creative spirit.

What To Expect Inside the Cafe

Step inside and you’re greeted by walls adorned with vibrant ceramics, a visual feast that continues throughout the space. The outdoor area features oversized planters painted with Ruhs’ signature illustrations. Two entry points—one connecting to the office district and the other to SKP—make the cafe a convenient pause for both shoppers and professionals.

The bar area includes a display of 10 Corso Como’s branded home goods, available for purchase. The café serves as both a social hub and a design showcase, reflecting the brand’s fusion of commerce, culture, and creativity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the 10 Corso Como Cafe in Beijing located?

The 10 Corso Como Cafe is located on the first floor of SKP New Sunshine World, at 87 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. The nearest major landmark is SKP mall.

What are the opening hours of 10 Corso Como Cafe Beijing?

The cafe is open daily from 8:00am to 10:00pm.

What is the average price for a coffee or meal at 10 Corso Como Cafe?

The average spend per person is around ¥55, though this can vary depending on whether you're ordering coffee, food, or browsing the retail offerings.

Who designed the 10 Corso Como Cafe in Beijing?

The cafe was designed by Kris Ruhs, the longtime creative partner of founder Carla Sozzani. He also oversaw the production of the ceramic tableware in Jingdezhen, China.

Does the Beijing 10 Corso Como Cafe sell any merchandise?

Yes, the cafe features a retail shelf at the bar where you can purchase 10 Corso Como branded home goods and design items.

How is the Beijing location different from other 10 Corso Como stores?

While maintaining the brand’s core identity, the Beijing cafe introduces a new ‘smiley face’ visual theme, distinct from the ‘circles’ used in Shanghai, and includes locally produced ceramic pieces supervised by Kris Ruhs in Jingdezhen.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café Culture

Pair your visit to 10 Corso Como Cafe with a bag of FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera—bright, floral, and complex, with notes of jasmine and bergamot—or the Yirgacheffe for a classic citrus-forward Ethiopian profile. For something deeper, try the Brazil Queen Manor, offering nutty sweetness with a velvety body. These single origins complement the refined, artistic environment. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.