Café Mulberry — a cozy French restaurant in downtown New York City — has quietly emerged as an exclusive escape for high-profile figures like Rita Ora, Jason Momoa, Ed Sheeran and so many more.
Co-owners Justin Sievers and Leo Jacob gave Page Six an inside look inside the Nolita hot spot featuring a secret garden, fancy French fair and an ultra-VIP cocktail lounge known for hosting star-studded, late-night afterparties.
“We’ve tried to create a place that is discreet and intimate, but also a place where they know us and they know that we can make sure that they’re safe, that they’re happy, and that there’s a fun place to be,” Sievers said.
“It’s an intimate place. It’s not a huge club downstairs. It’s not a huge restaurant upstairs.”
The pint-sized, 25-seat candlelit dining room is lined with exposed brick walls showcasing photos of celebrity guests and regular customers who have wined and dined there over the years.
In one photo, Jason Momoa is seen behind the bar while pouring partiers some beer. Another image captures Rita Ora, who frequents the eatery with husband Taika Waititi.
Fortunately for A-listers, there aren’t many rules to follow, creating a laid-back, private setting where elite diners can truly let loose.
“We have the ability to kind of say [to a celebrity,] you want to throw an afterparty, no problem,” Sievers said. “We’ll close the books that night. And you have a beautiful space here to hang out and be intimate with your friends and family and cast.”
Along with its effortlessly cool ambiance, visitors get to enjoy a refined French menu dreamed up by Chef Nicole Gajadhar. The dishes most beloved by the stars include French onion soup, steak au poivre with a side of pomme purée and their 48-hour brined chicken (the latter was a favorite for Momoa and his “The Wrecking Crew” cast and crew).
Initially, the founders envisioned Café Mulberry as a daytime café and coffee destination that would transition to wine and light bites in the evening, but strong customer demand quickly created an appetite for a full dinner service.
“We got Chef Nicole involved and she was able to work some magic in that tiny kitchen and started cranking out some beautiful dishes,” Sievers said.
Their café’s roots remain evident at the front of the space, where a small counter serves lattes, sandwiches and pastries for customers on the go.
Tucked behind the restaurant, a secret garden offers notable patrons a stylish outdoor getaway from the noisy city streets and prying eyes.
“We wanted it to feel old-world and special, like you feel like you’re in the South of France,” Sievers said of the patio, where scalloped umbrellas, brick flooring and abundant greenery evoke a French Riviera-inspired atmosphere.
The sun-drenched setting provides the perfect backdrop for kicking back with a chilled glass of the restaurant’s signature Frosé.
“This summer marks the 10-year anniversary of when I invented Frosé at Bar Primi,” Sievers said, recalling, “It went viral all over the world.”
To commemorate the milestone, The Mulberry is introducing a new twist on the beloved frozen drink: the Fratcha Frosé, a matcha-infused version created especially for the occasion.
Descend a narrow staircase below the restaurant, past the velvet rope, and you’ll find The Mulberry, one of Manhattan’s most exclusive nightclubs.
The subteranean cocktail lounge boasts a disco ball dance floor, DJ booth, sleek bar and a preserved 200-foot bread oven dating back to the 1800s. Tucked behind curtains is a private space known as the Whisper Room, named for both its remarkable acoustics and the many secrets said to have been shared within its walls.
Jacob said the late-night hub came to life nearly four years ago when the owners’ actor and musician friends kept turning to them for recommendations on where to go after hours.
“We’ve had everything from wrap parties here to engagement parties, birthday parties. We’ve had, you know, nights that never ended to where we don’t even know necessarily what time they ended, where the sun came up,” Jacob said.
As Page Six reported in 2023, Beck celebrated their Madison Square Garden concert at the bouji bar with a private show. While there, Jon Hamm joined the singer on the mic to sing duets of the Cars 1978 hit, “Just What I Needed.” Sofia Coppola, Emma Roberts, Sarah Hyland and the Arctic Monkeys were also there.
Last year, Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell celebrated the premiere of their film, “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” by hitting the dance floor. Two years prior, Chris Evans had an impromptu afterparty following the premiere of his 2023 film, “Ghosted.”
“[Chris is] like, ‘Hey, we want to come by, just my close mates,’” Jacob said. “And I was like, ‘cool.’ And we just closed the bar and they just came in, put a card down and had their after-after here.”
“That kind of stuff is what happens here,” he added. “And then we have a regular, nicer service that, you know, cater to the New Yorkers that can get in.”
Getting in isn’t so easy. Even one of the club’s investors couldn’t get in when a certain actor from “Oceans 11” came through one night, Jacob said, without naming any names.
“The door is pretty tight. We try and keep it tight as possible,” Jacob said, before explaining, “We’re geared towards the creatives, the fashion [people], the cool kids, the club kids, but also just people who want to listen to good music.”
While the venue continues to draw stars like Taylor Swift, Sophie Turner, Jenna Ortega and Saweetie, Jacob and Sievers ultimately aim to cultivate the multifaceted property into a go-to destination for locals as well.
“I think we’re looking forward to becoming a staple in the neighborhood, and really just being a place where people can come hang out, have a good time and have some delicious food, drink Frosé and have fun with their friends,” Sievers said.
