Yesterday in London, inside the Harrods department store, the first Prada Caffè opened.
The house of luxury had an encore in the English capital, after bringing Marchesi 1824 to Mayfair, the London version of the eighteenth-century Milanese pastry shop, owned by the Prada group since 2014.
Prada Caffè, which will remain open from 31 March to 7 January 2024, marks the restaurant debut of the Italian brand, now led by manager Andrea Guerra (ex Eataly), with its own name.
Unlike what has happened so far in Milan, both with Marchesi 1824 and with the Bar Luce of the Prada Foundation.
How is it inside
As you can easily guess, Prada Caffè is a very elegant place in all respects. The first images, write the design experts in London, invite you to think about the aesthetic dear to Wes Anderson, with a pastel palette, retro details and a touch of kitsch.
Walls, ceilings, sofas and armchairs are in the iconic sage green color of the brand. Combined with the black and white of the checkered floor and the black of the marble tables. Dishes, cups, teapots, plates, trays and glasses in blue blown crystal are decorated with the Prada “triangle” logo.
Menu and prices of the first Prada Caffè in the world
The menu is inspired by the Italian tradition with a touch of modernity. They range from the classic saffron risotto (£38) to beef fillet with mushrooms and pistachios (£45), up to unmistakably Italian products such as buffalo mozzarella (£15).
For quick lunches there is no shortage of sandwiches and sandwiches (8-9.50 pounds). The Prada Caffè wine list ranges throughout Italy, with bottles from Sicily to Piedmont.
More than a real café, it is a “Cafè” in the English sense of the term, that is, a small bistro restaurant.
But the sweets, the dominant element of the place, steal the eye. The pastry shop, arranged on a large central counter and on the back wall in spectacular sky-earth columns, offers high-level creations.
Chocolate cakes with raspberry jelly and chocolate mousse; apricot sacher torte; fresh fruit tartlets and custard; lemon cake with Sicilian lemon jelly and vanilla Bavarian cream. According to the British media, “Caffè Prada is the nirvana of gourmands”.
The Prada Caffè service covers the whole day and closes at 21. Breakfast, lunch and aperitif with a long list of international cocktails, also in this case with an Italian touch.
The luxury brands in exclusive catering
Prada confirms the trend highlighted by other luxury brands that embark on the world of the most exclusive catering.
Like for example Gucci with the Osteria project together with Massimo Bottura or Louis Vuitton with “Mory Sacko“, a restaurant run by the starred chef of the same name in Saint-Tropez.
In fact, the Prada Caffè does not share the main entrance with Harrods, which is often clogged by hordes of tourists on pilgrimage.
The new venue is accessed from the rear entrance on Hans Road, where the Knightsbridge millionaire homes are located.
