Café Mulberry, a cozy French restaurant in downtown New York City, has quietly emerged as a special retreat for celebrities like Rita Ora, Jason Momoa, and Ed Sheeran.
Co-owners Justin Sievers and Leo Jacob gave Page Six an inside look at the Nolita hotspot, which features a secret garden, a luxurious French fair, and an ultra-VIP cocktail lounge known for hosting star-studded late-night afterparties.
“We’ve tried to create a place that’s discreet and intimate, but also a place where they know us and know we can make sure they’re safe and happy and have a place to have fun,” Sievers said.
“This is an intimate place. We don’t have a big club downstairs or a big restaurant upstairs.”
The small, candlelit 25-seat dining room is lined with exposed brick walls and decorated with photos of the celebrity guests and patrons who have wined and dined there over the years.
In one photo, Jason Momoa can be seen behind the bar pouring beers to attendees. Another photo shows Rita Ora, who frequents the restaurant with her husband Taika Waititi.
Fortunately for A-listers, there aren’t too many rules to follow, creating a relaxed and private environment where elite diners can truly relax.
“We can tell (celebrities) we want to have an afterparty, no problem,” Sievers said. “We close the books that night, and we have a beautiful space here to hang out and get intimate with friends and family and cast members.”
Enjoy a sophisticated French menu created by Chef Nicole Gajadar in a cool, unpretentious atmosphere. Some of the stars’ most beloved dishes include French onion soup, steak au poivre with pomme purée, and 48-hour salt-cured chicken (the latter was a favorite of Momoa and his “Wrecking Crew” cast and crew).
Initially, the founders envisioned Café Mulberry as a café and coffee shop during the day, transitioning to wine and snacks at night, but strong customer demand soon created a desire for full dinner service.
“We enlisted Chef Nicole and she was able to work her magic in that little kitchen and we started creating beautiful dishes,” Sievers said.
Their cafe roots remain clearly at the front of the space, where a small counter serves lattes, sandwiches, and pastries to customers on the go.
A secret garden at the back of the restaurant offers our distinguished patrons a stylish outdoor getaway away from the hustle and bustle of the city and from the public eye.
“We wanted it to have a quaint, special feel, like you’re in the south of France,” Sievers said of the patio, which has a Cote d’Azur feel with wavy umbrellas, brick floors and lush greenery.
The sun-drenched setting is the perfect setting to relax with a chilled glass of the restaurant’s signature frosé.
“This summer marks 10 years since I invented frosé at Bar Primi,” Sievers said, recalling that “it was talked about all over the world.”
To celebrate this milestone, The Mulberry is introducing a new twist on the popular frozen drink, Fraccia Frosé, a matcha-infused version created especially for the occasion.
Down the narrow staircase beneath the restaurant and past velvet ropes is The Mulberry, one of Manhattan’s most exclusive nightclubs.
The basement cocktail lounge features a disco ball dance floor, a DJ booth, a sleek bar, and a preserved 60-foot bread oven that dates back to the 1800s. Hidden behind the curtain is a private space known as the Whisper Room, named for both its amazing acoustics and the many secrets said to be shared within its walls.
Jacob said the late-night hub was born about four years ago after the owner’s actor and musician friends kept asking where they could go after hours.
“We’ve had everything from wrap parties to engagement parties to birthday parties here. You know, we’ve had nights that never end, nights where you don’t even know when it ended or where the sun rose,” Jacob said.
As Page Six reported in 2023, Beck celebrated his Madison Square Garden concert with a private show at Bowji Bar. While there, Jon Hamm joined the singer at the microphone for a duet of the Cars’ 1978 hit “Just What I Need.” Sofia Coppola, Emma Roberts, Sarah Hyland and Arctic Monkeys were also in attendance.
Last year, Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell celebrated the premiere of their film The Big Bold Beautiful Journey by hitting the dance floor. Two years ago, Chris Evans hosted an impromptu afterparty after the premiere of his 2023 film Ghost.
“(Chris) was like, ‘Hey, I want to go with just my close friends,'” Jacob said. “And I thought, ‘Cool.’ And we closed the bar, and they came in, put down their cards, and had an after-after here.”
“That’s what’s happening here,” he added. “And we also provide regular, better service that New Yorkers can take advantage of.”
It’s not that easy to get in. Not even one of the club’s investors could get in when the “Ocean’s Eleven” actor came in one night, Jacob said, without giving his name.
“The door is pretty tight. We try to close the door as much as possible,” Jacob said, before explaining, “We’re targeting creative people, fashion[people]cool kids, club kids, but also people who just want to listen to good music.”
While the venue continues to attract stars such as Taylor Swift, Sophie Turner, Jenna Ortega and Saweetie, Jacob and Sievers ultimately aim to grow the multi-faceted venue into a destination for locals as well.
“I think we’re looking forward to being a staple in the area, and really, I think we’re looking forward to being a place where people can hang out, have a good time, eat good food, drink frosé, and have fun with friends,” Sievers said.
