Inside the Vogue Café—Where the Pre-Met Gala Buzz Was Fueled All Weekend Long

“How many Vogue editors does it take to name café menu items? Well, more than you would think,” laughed Chloe Malle, the magazine’s American head of editorial content, to a crowd gathered at the first-ever Manhattan iteration of the Vogue Café, presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Alas, with a line down the block of those ready to sip on That’s All espressos and The Glacial Pace iced coffees—the collective effort was worth it.

“It’s a big year for nostalgia, with the 10 year anniversary of The First Monday in May and the return of The Devil Wears Prada,” Malle continued—even likening the current mood around the city (ahead of Monday’s Met Gala) to the fabled aughts-era Fashion Night Out.

After popping up in SoHo, the Vogue Café doors opened on Saturday morning to welcome guests to a live taping of The Run-Through podcast featuring designer Tory Burch in conversation with Nicole Phelps.

Making for an utterly wholesome weekend day out, the café remained open until sun down as attendees stopped by with their dogs, tots and toddlers, friends, and partners in tow. Some partook in a build-your-own charm bar with Brooklyn-based jewelry line Don’t Let Disco or ordered customized totes by Alex Mill. Meanwhile, waiters, dressed in striped aprons by Tanner Fletcher, ensured the java demand was met while people hung out and shopped merch—expect to see a lot of navy-hued DOGUE caps on your commute this week.

On Saturday evening, the space transformed from local coffee spot into a Euro-feeling neighborhood bar, as the likes of Grace Gummer, Coco Jones, Alex Consani, and Tommy Dorfman popped by for an aperitif. As Nikki Kynard manned the decks, a group stayed until closing time enjoying food by Altro Paradiso. To go, a Vogue-emblazoned tote bag filled with items from Flamingo Estate, Jennifer Fisher, Emi Jay, and Maison Louis Marie made for a fun keepsake of the opening party. Of course, a copy of the new issue was tucked inside too.

On Sunday afternoon, Malle and Vogue contributing editor Lilah Ramzi welcomed a group to come by, feast on treats by Hani’s Bakery, and watch a screening of The First Monday in May—noting that they both briefly appear in some scenes from the footage shot back in 2014. Also in attendance was the beloved documentary’s producer, Fabiola Beracasa Beckman, who received a warm round of applause when the credits rolled.

With hours to go before the Met Gala red carpet, art-lovers flocked to the Vogue Café on Monday afternoon for a relaxing drawing class hosted by Happy Medium. Later that evening, a live-stream hosted by actress Issa Rae beamed the best looks of the night directly into the space, as stylish guests including Liv Perez gathered for a fun-filled watch party and cocktail reception.

Catch a glimpse inside the weekend, below: