Chase InfinitiZach Hilty/BFA.com
Cafe Zaffri at The Twenty Two is a place where stories naturally unfold. This sophisticated restaurant and private club-hotel, transported from London and housed in a former Victorian-era women’s boarding house, has become a regular venue for Met Gala events, creating memorable tales.
This year, in partnership with GQ, the guest list was filled with notable figures, led by the host committee. Under the guidance of newly appointed global editorial director Adam Baidawi and global fashion correspondent Samuel Hine, the roster included entertainment icons like Chase Infiniti, Damson Idris, Blackpink’s Lisa, and Paul Anthony Kelly.
Shortly after midnight, Baidawi and Hine greeted guests as the Revered Al Sharpton observed from a corner seat. “Last year was so great, so we thought we might as well do it again,” Hine shared with Vogue. “Every GQ party is about bringing a variety of people together from art, fashion, music, sports, and Hollywood. They’re all part of this family we’ve created, and we like to see what happens when they’re all together.” The result was the kind of magical moments that the First Monday in May is known for.
While many guests took a moment to change outfits at their hotels, Paul Anthony Kelly arrived still wearing his Dior tailcoat, which he called “dastardly” during the Met Gala live stream with La La Anthony. The Love Story actor was adorned with numerous expensive pieces, including a ruby and diamond pinky ring that sparkled in the camera flashes.
The Canadian celebrity was just one among many friends of GQ present in the room. As burgers and chicken fingers were served around 1 a.m., the atmosphere resembled a lively basement gathering. Unlikely pairings were abundant, with Angela Bassett and Babyface, Lena Dunham and Sarah Pidgeon, Laufey and designers Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell, and Alyssa Liu and Shaboozey mingling, discussing future projects and reminiscing about the Met. Some even shared prohibited photos taken in the museum’s bathroom. Others praised the evening’s performances by Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Nicks; as one attendee exclaimed, “I mean, how could you not cry at a rendition of Landslide?!“
Meanwhile, Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, wearing a beret and boxer shorts, joined Colman Domingo, BJ Novak, and Olivia Rodrigo on the dance floor before hosting an impromptu rooftop gathering that continued into the early morning.
By 4 a.m., some pop stars were planning their next destination, possibly heading to Rihanna’s party on the Lower East Side or Madonna’s in NoHo. Meanwhile, some actors, with filming commitments the next day, decided to call it a night. Such is the ebb and flow of the First Monday in May, inevitably followed by an ordinary Tuesday at work.
