Step into 18th-century decadence with The Berkeley’s latest collaboration with Manolo Blahnik, celebrating the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the V&A South Kensington. Think couture cocktails, royal-worthy cakes, and a stay in one of London’s most stylish hotels
A Royal Rendezvous in Knightsbridge
When it comes to London’s luxury hotels, The Berkeley has always been ahead of the curve—whether redefining afternoon tea with the iconic Prêt-à-Portea or transforming cocktail hour into a high-design affair. This September, the Knightsbridge landmark raises the bar (quite literally) with a collaboration that marries couture, cocktails, and cake in the most regal way imaginable.
In celebration of the V&A South Kensington’s blockbuster exhibition, Marie Antoinette Style, The Berkeley teams up with none other than Manolo Blahnik—the designer whose shoes are themselves objets d’art—to create an exclusive experience: Cakes & Cocktails Fit for a Queen.
The Snug: A Versailles-Inspired Hideaway
The setting is as glamorous as the concept. Guests are ushered into The Snug at The Berkeley Bar, an intimate, blush-toned retreat adorned with a hypnotic mural by New York artist TM Davy. Its mysterious female faces echo the secretive soirées and whispered alliances of Marie Antoinette’s Versailles—though here, the intrigue is served with rosé and a side of croissant air.
Couture Cocktails with a Royal Twist
Curated by The Berkeley’s master of mixology, Marcello Cauda, the menu blends Blahnik’s personal favourites with nods to the last queen of France. Expect cocktails that are as theatrical as they are delicious:
Manolo’s Martini – A Grey Goose vodka base kissed with bergamot, beeswax, and orange blossom, a fragrant homage to the queen’s scented bathing rituals.
La Reine Privée – A decadent mix of toffee vodka, pisco, apricot, almond, white chocolate, and croissant air (yes, really).
The Versailles Spritz – Grey Goose vodka, Provence rosé, Lillet Blanc, berries, jasmine, and coconut—summer in a crystal coupe.
La Dauphine’s Garden – A botanical fantasy of rose-infused gin, St Germain elderflower, violet, butterfly pea flower, and champagne, also available as a mocktail.
And because no royal gathering is complete without sweet temptation, the drinks are paired with a seasonal selection of exquisitely crafted cakes, making this an indulgence that straddles both patisserie and mixology.
Manolo Blahnik on The Berkeley
“The Berkeley is a beacon of luxury in London, and I am delighted to celebrate our partnership with this exquisite collection of cakes and cocktails inspired by Marie Antoinette,” says Manolo Blahnik, whose own flair for extravagance made him the natural partner for this fête. “It is a delicious way to bring her spirit of elegance, indulgence and creativity to life.”
This is far from the designer’s first rendezvous with the ill-fated queen. He famously created the ornate footwear for Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette, cementing his role as custodian of 18th-century shoe glamour.
Beyond the Bar: A Fashion Overnight at The Berkeley
For those who want to extend the fantasy, The Berkeley offers a Marie Antoinette Style overnight experience. Priced from £1,020 per night for two, the package includes:
- A stay in one of The Berkeley’s luxurious suites
- Two coveted tickets to the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the V&A
- A specially commissioned exhibition book
- A chilled bottle of Billecart-Salmon champagne on arrival
- An indulgent English breakfast the following morning
- It’s the perfect way to combine a cultural outing with a cocooned Knightsbridge escape.
Book Your Place at the Court
‘Cakes & Cocktails Fit for a Queen’ runs from 19 September 2025 to 22 March 2026. Each reservation is set within The Snug and is exclusively bookable for parties of up to six guests, with seatings at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.
See also:
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Soho’s Newest Gem: Inside the Elegant World of Broadwick Soho
TheHotelTrotter.com is curated by greek journalist and fanatic hotel lover Eleni Stasinopoulou. With the eye of a fashion and lifestyle editor, Eleni hopes to inspire all connoisseurs of traveling, focusing on stylish hotel moments around the globe.
