'The French Dispatch' Pop-Ups: All About LA and New York's Wes Anderson Experiences

Fans of The French Dispatch can experience the world Wes Anderson created in real life by attending one of the new pop-up cafés based on the movie.

To support the launch of Anderson's tenth movie, New York, Los Angeles and London have played host to special pop-up experiences based on an iconic location from the new movie The French Dispatch.

The French Dispatch, starring the likes of Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand and Jeffrey Wright, is out in movie theaters now. Fans of the film and of Anderson's work have been documenting their experiences at the pop-up shops which, in some locations, will be available to visit until mid-November.

Le Sans Blague pop-up cafes

Makeshift cafés have opened up in two central locations in both Los Angeles and New York. Both also double up as an exhibition for The French Dispatch, featuring props and artwork from the movie.

Each of the locations are strikingly yellow, and have been designed to imitate the typically French café Le Sans Blague which we see in the section of the movie called "Revisions to a Manifesto." In the movie, Timothée Chalamet and his band of rebel students plan their revolution from the café. If you were wondering, Le Sans Blague translated into English means The No Joke.

The French Dispatch cafe
Le Sans Blague as it appears in "The French Connection," Wes Anderson's latest movie. Searchlight Pictures

In Los Angeles, the pop up café is taking over Dayglow Coffee, which is found at 3206 Sunset Blvd. It's available to visit now and will remain there until November 15.

In New York, the pop up café was found at Whalebone on Bleecker, located at 328 Bleecker St, New York. Unfortunately the fully immersive experience ended here on October 24.

Inside, guests could pick up their own free copy of The French Dispatch magazine, which is similar in style to The New Yorker magazine.

Social media reactions to The French Dispatch pop up

The official social media accounts for The French Dispatch shared videos and images from the event, while the Twitter account also retweeted the reactions of some fans who attended the immersive experience.

Tomorrow, readers, writers, and film lovers alike are invited to Le Sans Blague Café—an experiential pop-up in New York City inspired by Wes Anderson's new film, @french_dispatch. pic.twitter.com/GiqcZ0gmPu

— Warby Parker (@WarbyParker) October 21, 2021

Visitor @caladanarrakis shared images of the pop up in New York while it was still on, showing the yellow theme and classic jukebox.

. @french_dispatch pop up in NYC ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4WqxfPROyf

— ☁️🍂☕️c (@caladanarrakis) October 22, 2021

Writer Lexi Lane also stopped by and complimented the café's choice of cups.

french dispatch pop-up! comes with a nice mug set pic.twitter.com/oK40HwsnK6

— lexi lane (@lexiIane) October 22, 2021

The popular Instagram account @accidentallywesanderson visited the New York location and shared small clips which could have been taken straight out of one of Anderson's movies. The video showed the pinball machine inside the café as well as the art gallery, working illustrators, branded merch and more.

In London, the pop-up can be found at 180 Studios on the famous shopping street The Strand. The Instagram account @180.studios previewed The French Dispatch goods inside by sharing three pictures.

If you missed out on the New York pop-up site, or can't make it to the London and Los Angeles locations, you can experience The French Dispatch at the movie theater instead. The French Dispatch is out in theaters everywhere now.

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About the writer


Jamie Burton is a Newsweek Senior TV and Film Reporter (Interviews) based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more

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