LEGO Reviews Friends42691

Garden Restaurant

Name: LEGO Garden Restaurant 42691
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 42691
Rating: 4.35 (11 reviews)

83 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: A20251,465 pcsHigh agreement · 98%

Expert reviews

3analyzed

Owner ratings

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"42691 Garden Restaurant earns its BrickScore of 83.4 through genuinely exceptional architecture: three expert reviewers independently called it modular-quality work for a Friends set, with the new Warm Pink debut and Moroccan riad-inspired design making it the most distinctive Friends building in years."

42691 Garden Restaurant is the standout building of the 2026 Friends wave according to reviewers from Brickset, New Elementary, and Rebrickable, all of whom praised its Moroccan riad-inspired architecture, sophisticated color palette, and build techniques they described as modular-quality. The debut of the new Warm Pink (color 430) across 146 pieces and a set of new printed Islamic geometric tiles were the most discussed parts achievements. With a BrickScore of 83.4 and a Highly Recommended tier, owner ratings are still sparse at 11 reviews averaging 4.35, with a would-recommend rate of only 58% at this early stage.

Where they split: The early owner data shows a slightly lower would-recommend rate of 58% against strong critical praise, likely a result of the small sample size of 11 ratings. The set name causing confusion (restaurant vs. resort aesthetic) appears across multiple reviews, though all reviewers still recommended purchase despite that mismatch.

Where to Buy

Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Max Profit Opinion PREMIUM

Is this a smart buy? BrickPicker's data-grounded investment verdict.

Unlock the Max Profit Opinion: our stance (buy / accumulate / hold / pass), the reasoning, the exact data behind it (eBay + BrickLink comps, CAGR vs MSRP, our retirement model), and whether the reviewer community agrees.

Unlock with Collector or Reseller

LOVED (9)

01Moroccan riad-inspired architecture: central courtyard, water feature, multi-level layout
02New Warm Pink color (430) making its debut in volume with 146 pieces
03New printed Islamic/Moorish geometric tiles tying the color palette together
04Build techniques described as modular-worthy by Brickset
05Creative part repurposing: Tin Man hat used as tagine pots, metallic teapot, saucer
06New weeping willow leaf mold creating layered foliage
07Clever roofing technique using green curved bricks to represent Moroccan clay tiles
08New exclusive character Zahra with nougat skin tone and detailed magenta/gold dress
09Strong price-per-piece at approximately $0.089 for 1,465 pieces at $129.99

CRITICIZED (7)

01Set name is misleading: no kitchen, pool occupies the front, and the interior reads more as a luxury resort or guest house than a restaurant
02No stairs connecting the multiple floors
03Bathroom has no door connection to adjoining rooms
04Absence of host and waiter minidolls: all figures are visitors
05Standard clothing on most minidolls other than Zahra
06Repetitive 1x1 curved brick roof construction can feel tedious
07Only seven stickers for a set of this size

What reviewers are saying

"When the LEGO® Friends 2026 sets were first revealed, one in particular caught my eye. 42691 Garden Restaurant seemed to be a standout in terms of the building style as well as showcasing the new 430 Warm Pink colour."

New Elementary

"You can almost feel the North African breeze while building"

Brickset Reviews

"The model just breathes atmosphere, and the style is really unique for the city."

Rebrickable Reviews

Ecosystem

10359 Fountain Garden (LEGO Icons) — Both sets share inspiration from Islamic and Moorish architectural styles and zellij geometric patterns; the Friends set applies these design principles at a different scale and price point

42670 Heartlake City Apartments and Stores — This year's Garden Restaurant entry rivals last year's Apartments set in terms of interesting design and build techniques, continuing the Friends tradition of competing with modulars

LEGO Modular Sets (generic) — Build techniques rival modulars; can function as lower-cost modular alternative (modular-quality at modular-adjacent pricing)

42666 Cat Birthday Party — Printed tile that Autumn is carrying appears to be the same invitation as in Cat Birthday Party, creating thematic continuity

FriendsTier 1Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 3

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

New Elementary

Expert Video Source

BUY

Key Pros

✓Rich colour combination of dark pink and new warm pink looks sophisticated and non-generic
✓New printed Islamic/Moorish geometric tiles tie colours together perfectly and have wider MOC potential
✓Authentic riad architecture with central courtyard and water feature design

Key Cons

✕Set name 'Garden Restaurant' is misleading; more accurately a guest house with only half the building shown
✕Toilet positioned adjacent to food preparation area raises hygiene concerns

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"You can almost feel the North African breeze while building"

Key Pros

✓Absolutely beautiful building with modular-worthy building techniques
✓Excellent use of the new warm pink colour
✓Welcome addition of north African architecture to Heartlake City

Key Cons

✕Questionable whether it functions as a restaurant (no kitchen, pool in front, minimal restaurant functionality)
✕Only restaurant indication is stickers and a sign; interior ambiguous

READ FULL REVIEW

Rebrickable Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"The model just breathes atmosphere, and the style is really unique for the city."

Key Pros

✓Beautiful, atmospheric design with unique style for Heartlake City
✓Excellent use of new Warm Pink color
✓Printed mosaic tiles (not stickered)

Key Cons

✕Absence of hosts and waiters (only visitors to restaurant)
✕Standard clothing on most minidolls aside from Zahra

READ FULL REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (2)Wait for sale (0)

Value drivers

New Elementary: Exclusive Zahra minidoll with nougat skin tone and new printed torso/skirt

Brickset Reviews: Zahra (newly introduced character in exclusive fuchsia dress with gold trim) and Poppy (first appearance cat) are the primary value drivers; also Olly's exclusive appearance and metallic sneakers.

Exclusivity

New Elementary: Wide retail release (LEGO.com, multiple regions); not exclusive to retailer

Brickset Reviews: LEGO exclusive retail (mentioned via 'This is probably a Lego exclusive knowing my luck though' comment)

Resale

Brickset Reviews: Likely stable; Friends sets maintain reasonable secondary market value. New colour and modular-quality design may drive collector interest, but standard Friends release trajectory expected.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (5)

Friends Autumn - Medium Lavender Jumpsuit Shorts, Dark Blue Sandals

Friends Aliya - Coral, Medium Azure and Bright Light Yellow Top, White Skirt, Tan Sandals, Trans-Purple Sunglasses

Friends Zahra - Magenta Dress with Gold and Dark Blue Trim

Friends Zac - Dark Tuquoise Shirt with Motorcycle, Yellow Cropped Trousers, Dark Green Sandals

Friends Olly - Bright Light Blue Open Shirt, Dark Orange Shorts, Metallic Light Blue Shoes

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Plant, Leaf Weeping Willow in Green and Lime (new mould 7741)
New mould released across multiple January 2026 sets; creates layered foliage effect when stacked and rotated
Brick 1 x 2 in Warm Pink (430 new colour)
New 2026 colour; set contains 146 pieces in Warm Pink, showcasing the colour extensively
Tile 1 x 2 with print in Trans-Clear (6581618)Value
New printed tile with Islamic/Moorish geometric design; used for ornate lights and could work as detailed windows or microscale rose windows
Tile 2 x 2 with print in White and Blue (6581616, 6581617)Value
New printed tiles featuring vibrant geometric designs inspired by Islamic zellij and Moorish styles
Brick Curved 2 x 1 with Inverted Cutout in Warm Pink (6584824 | 78666)
Newly recoloured element used for scalloped archway interior, highly effective for the architectural design
Equipment Cup/Teacup Saucer in Dark Orange (6584833 | 3576) and Hat/Funnel Tin Man in Dark Orange (6584834 | 45756)
First recolour of the Tin Man hat; both used as tagine pots and decorative elements, 'absolutely perfect' for North African theme

What Owners Say · summarized from 11 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners overwhelmingly praise the vibrant colors, unique Moroccan-inspired design, and engaging build quality, appealing to both children and adult collectors, though a few cite pricing concerns and occasional missing parts issues.

COMMON PRAISE