The most interesting thing about the recently opened Barista Lavazza is its location.

Situated in the Karachi Dolmen Mall's Designer Avenue, the cafe is closer to high end designer boutiques than the rest of the food court.

Fashion includes taste and style beyond clothes and this cafe appears to be specifically designed for those with impeccable taste. This strategic positioning allows for people-watching while providing a peaceful and relatively quiet place to relax after shopping at the likes of Sania Maskatiya and Deepak Perwani.

The launch of the chic new café, organised brilliantly by Golin, was dutifully attended by the trendiest people who fit right in with the swanky environment. Loud music, courtesy DJ Shakir, and atmospheric dim lights added to the laid back mood.

The vibe is hip and modern with comfy leather couches and funky art. The casual but upscale backdrop makes it almost impossible to leave without snapping an Instagram or two.

The infectiously vivacious Ayesha Omar hosted the event, enthusiastically extolling the virtues of the Lavazza franchise.

The Italian brand is the sixth largest coffee roaster in the world and operates in over 80 countries.

Bringing to Pakistan a truly Italian coffeehouse, owner Azar Kalvar may succeed in raising the bar for good coffee.

Considering the size of the crowd at the opening, any glitches in service were forgivable.

It took some time for our party to get seated and waiters needed to be flagged down, but once we got their attention they were attentive and friendly.

The fear when visiting any new cafe, especially one that's a part of a franchise, is that the menu will consist of over-priced coffee and bland sandwiches, perhaps a couple of salads. Luckily, this isn't completely accurate here.

The coffee is indeed pricey, but its quality justifies the expense. Smooth and velvety, the coffee is rich without any trace of bitterness or acidity. The entire cafe is infused with the delicious aroma of this brew.

The food menu is thankfully not too extensive with pages of very similar offerings. Rather, it is thoughtful and selective, including snacks that complement the coffee with the requisite salt crunch and fat combo.

Pizzas, paninis, and mini burgers are standard and predictable café staples, but they are decently prepared and fresh tasting.

The mall location necessitates crowd pleasing fare that sticks to the basics. People looking to sit back and unwind are rarely looking for adventurous challenging cuisine.

All good things end with a great dessert and the selection on offer consists of well presented classics.

The mini cheesecake is creamy but the base lets it down. The chocolate fudge cake is moist and has an intense chocolate flavour, but the frosting is too sweet and there is too much of it.

The exquisite red velvet cake is undoubtedly the star of the menu. It is tender, softly flavoured with subtle cocoa undertones and a delightful cream-cheese tang. I'm normally sceptical about red velvet cakes because of the artificial colouring and its gimmickiness, but after tasting it here I’ve been converted into an advocate for it.

Coffee shops are not unique, of course, but a decent cup of coffee will always be in demand and caffeine addicts will make the effort to find the best. Non-coffee drinkers on the other hand may not find much to enjoy – the tea is weak and the vanilla and chocolate gelatos are both disappointing.

Barista Lavazza is aiming for a niche market among stiff competition. It manages to deliver in all the aspects that it is trying to succeed in. The caveat that it is slightly pricier than a normal coffeehouse may be overcome if the atmosphere and customer service are able to make up for that over time. Italian coffee actually has a lot in common with designer clothing – neither are necessities, but for the discerning, their value is immeasurable as these little indulgences can greatly enhance everyday life.

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