The first Monday in May. To the uninitiated, just another date on the calendar; to the fashion set, it’s the biggest night out. The Met Gala is not just a party—it’s a pilgrimage, an annual coronation where couture meets culture, where the world’s most famous faces ascend the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s grand staircase in outfits engineered for history.
This year’s theme? "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," exploring the rich history and influence of Black fashion. Expect a celebration of fashion’s most precious, fragile, and archived wonders—particularly through the lens of Black dandyism in tailored suits, vibrant patterns, luxurious fabrics, and intricate detailing that pay homage to the sartorial excellence of Black style icons.
And after the last camera clicks and the final canapé vanishes? The city calls once again. But where do these impossibly chic attendees retreat for sustenance and slumber? We imagine the post-Gala dining and dwelling choices of 2025’s most anticipated guests—each selection as carefully curated as their red-carpet ensembles.
The Co-Chairs
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna
Hotel: The Greenwich HotelA queen deserves a fortress. Rihanna, the reigning empress of effortless cool, opts for the understated yet hyper-luxurious Greenwich Hotel. With its hand-laid Moroccan tiles and a no-two-rooms-alike philosophy, it’s the kind of place where privacy reigns supreme—perfect for a new mom, mogul, and Met Gala MVP.
Restaurant: Caviar Russe
A luxe, low-lit caviar temple just off Madison Ave—Rihanna’s been spotted here before, and the moody elegance fits both of their tastes. Beluga by the spoonful? A$AP’s in.
Colman Domingo
Hotel: The Whitby HotelA theater kid at heart, Domingo opts for Whitby’s set-designed maximalism—a Wes Anderson fantasia of florals and lacquer. Bold and warm, just like him.
Restaurant: The Modern
Colman strikes us as a man who appreciates a clean line and a composed plate. MoMA-adjacent and Michelin-approved, The Modern delivers mid-century glamour in edible form.
Lewis Hamilton
Hotel: Casa Cipriani
Gentlemen racers need their space. Lewis pulls up riverside in his hybrid McLaren, zips past the hoi polloi, and ascends into Cipriani’s wood-paneled temple of old-world splendor. It’s Monaco with better bagels.
Restaurant: Saga
Tower views, tasting menu, tailored suiting. He’ll dine thirty-eight floors above the chaos in something custom and Italian, naturally.
Pharrell Williams
Hotel: Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards
Pharrell is no stranger to biohacking, bespoke tailoring, or billion-dollar views. The Equinox Hotel—equal parts spaceship and spa—caters to all three. He’s not staying so much as optimizing. The beds track REM cycles. The minibar stocks magnesium. The showers have water pressure strong enough to exfoliate your aura. It's not rest; it's restoration. And for Pharrell, who exists somewhere between Chanel and the Jetsons, that’s just about right.
Restaurant: Nami Nori
Open-faced temaki, minimalist interiors, and casual cool—welcome to Pharrell’s next venture (literally). The artist-designer-creative director is opening his own version of Nami Nori in Miami and his hometown of Virginia Beach this year, making the West Village original a fitting prelude. It's unfussy but immaculate, just like his taste. For post-Gala sustenance, it’s light, luxe, and photogenic—because even dinner should be dressed for Instagram.
Our Wishlist Guest List
Timothée Chalamet
Hotel: The Ned NoMad Hotel
Parisian elegance meets downtown edge. Chalamet—equal parts indie darling and blockbuster heartthrob—needs a place that reflects his contradiction: refined, yet unpretentious. The NoMad’s moody, library-filled corners? A perfect fit for his brooding charm.
Restaurant: Momofuku Noodle Bar
Artfully messy, effortlessly cool, and unexpectedly complex—if Chalamet were a dish, he’d be a bowl of David Chang’s signature ramen. Plus, Momofuku is just chaotic enough to match his social energy.
Gigi Hadid
Hotel: The Mercer
Downtown cool with just the right amount of polish. Gigi has spent enough time in this city to know that The Mercer’s loft-like rooms and proximity to SoHo’s best shopping make for the ideal post-Gala hideaway.
Restaurant: César
César’s seafood-heavy menu and stylish but relaxed setting are tailor-made for an off-duty supermodel’s post-red carpet refuel. After hours in couture, she’s earned a beautifully plated crudo (and maybe a glass of champagne).
Zendaya
Hotel: The St. Regis New York
An icon needs an institution. The St. Regis is timeless luxury incarnate, much like Zendaya’s Met Gala looks. Butler service? Naturally. Classic New York glamour? Always.
Restaurant: Jean-Georges
Sophisticated, sleek, and a little avant-garde—Jean-Georges mirrors Zendaya’s ability to blend old-school elegance with modern, high-impact choices. Plus, the tasting menu is basically couture in edible form.
Ayo Edebiri
Hotel: Nine Orchard
Funny girl, serious taste. Ayo’s effortlessly cool and often delightfully unpredictable vibe is perfectly captured at Nine Orchard. This former bank turned chic boutique hotel offers a blend of understated luxury and creative edge that’s right up her alley. With its sleek design, artistic atmosphere, and inviting spaces, Nine Orchard is the ideal setting for Ayo—somewhere she can retreat after a star-studded night, unwind in a place that feels exclusive but never pretentious. It’s the kind of spot that champions both style and substance, much like Ayo herself.
Restaurant: Estela
Unfussy, perfectly executed, kind of genius. Like Ayo’s comic timing, Estela gets better with every bite.
Doechii
Hotel: The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel
Gothic elegance and old-world charm collide at The Beekman, and it’s practically tailor-made for Doechii’s avant-garde style. With its soaring atrium, hidden nooks, and a bit of a haunted allure, this hotel mirrors the same raw intensity and mystery that infuses her music. A place where drama isn’t just a vibe, it’s the mood. Here, the singer-songwriter can retreat from the flashing lights and slip into something as bold and layered as her art.
Restaurant: Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi
Tatiana is where Harlem's rich culinary tradition meets high-concept elegance—and Doechii, always at the crossroads of bold and creative, couldn’t be more at home. This is a place where culture, flavor, and innovation are on full display, and the energy matches Doechii’s own fearless approach to her craft. Expect a night that’s as dynamic as her artistry—with flavor that’s equally high and a camera crew in tow, capturing her next big moment.
Hailey Bieber
Hotel: 1 Hotel
The 1 Hotel encapsulates Hailey’s signature "clean girl" aesthetic with a dose of bright, airy charm. Its pastel hues and design-forward spaces channel a minimalist elegance that speaks to her polished, effortlessly chic persona. Perfectly situated near central park, a neighborhood where style and sophistication meet, it’s the perfect spot for Hailey to unwind post-Gala while staying connected to the heartbeat of fashion and culture.
Restaurant: L’Abeille
French-accented, minimalist plating, and just photogenic enough to justify a repost. Très chic.
Usher
Hotel: The Bowery Hotel
Usher’s swagger requires a place as stylish and storied as he is. The Bowery Hotel, with its velvet-draped, vintage-inspired interiors, is the perfect blend of luxe and grit—just like Usher’s enduring influence in both music and fashion. It’s a space where the rhythm of the city never sleeps, and with a buzzing nightlife scene to match, it’s the ideal retreat for the man whose sound is as timeless as the hotel’s old-school cool.
Restaurant: Cote
Cote’s unique blend of Korean steakhouse meets modern American cuisine provides the perfect spot for Usher to refuel in between performances. Much like his music, the experience here is a mix of tradition and innovation, with Cote’s sleek, sophisticated atmosphere perfectly matching his boundary-pushing approach to music and style. Whether it’s the high-end dry-aged steaks or the buzz of a vibrant dining room, Usher fits seamlessly into the dynamic energy of Cote.
The Creatives
Miuccia Prada
Hotel: Aman New York
The designer who defined intellectual minimalism wouldn’t settle for anything less than Aman’s hushed, hyper-exclusive world of muted opulence.
Restaurant: Le Bernardin
Where others might seek the clamor of a sceney dining room—Prada prefers a quieter brilliance. Le Bernardin is elegance by subtraction: no flash, no fuss, just the ecclesiastical devotion of a kitchen that speaks fluent nuance. A single scallop arrives, lacquered with citrus like a haiku. The room, like her clothes, whispers. Which is to say: perfect.
Olivier Rousteing
Hotel: The Baccarat Hotel
Balmain’s creative director loves extravagance, and the Baccarat Hotel is nothing if not dazzling. Crystal chandeliers, mirror-polished surfaces, and rooms that feel like they belong in a Parisian palace—it’s a perfect match.
Restaurant: Torrisi
Modern Italian-American excess meets exacting precision. Much like Balmain, Torrisi is bold, statement-making, and deeply indulgent.
Dapper Dan
Hotel: The Langham, Fifth Avenue
A legend like Dapper Dan needs a hotel that marries classic luxury with a dash of bold, Harlem-infused charisma. The Langham, with its opulent, timeless feel, speaks to the designer’s elevated taste, while its proximity to Fifth Avenue provides the perfect backdrop for his high-profile lifestyle. Dapper Dan’s suite? Absolutely personalized with custom monogrammed touches that scream luxury and individuality—a perfect reflection of his own style, both timeless and fiercely unique.
Restaurant: Melba's
After the Met Gala, Dapper Dan would likely head to Melba’s, a Harlem institution that combines soulful flavors with sophisticated service. Known for its comforting, upscale takes on classic Southern dishes like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and macaroni and cheese, Melba’s is both a culinary staple and a cultural landmark in Harlem. With its welcoming vibe and rich history, it offers a homegrown experience that mirrors Dan’s deep roots in Harlem and his cultural influence.
Rashid Johnson
Hotel: The Ludlow Hotel
Known for his art-world sensibility, Rashid Johnson finds inspiration in spaces that have as much character as his work. The Ludlow Hotel is just that—a gritty, artistically charged space that feels more like a loft gallery than a traditional hotel. Its exposed brick and minimalist vibes mirror his own aesthetic, while the ambiance—smelling of palo santo and creativity—offers the perfect environment for a creative mind to unwind. This downtown haunt is where he’ll recharge before diving back into the next project that blends art, culture, and a touch of rebellion.
Restaurant: Eleven Madison Park
The match writes itself. Johnson literally created the striking mosaic behind the restaurant’s bar—his signature mark on EMP’s new era. The space is heady, design-forward, and in constant conversation with nature, which is exactly what his art, and the menu, both aim to do.
Hero image: rmbarricarte / Adobe Stock - Metropolitan Museum of Art
