It was suppose to close at the end of 2023 but endless queues meant that the Prada Caffé at Harrods has extended its run.
Since Raf Simmons joined Prada as co-creative director in 2020, the Italian label has been on the upswing. Not only has its fashion quotient moved into high gear once again, its wider cultural appeal has also been turbo-charged. Yes, Muccia’s gold-clad Fondazione Prada was already a formidable force in the upper echelons of contemporary art, but it's taken something slightly more accessible – and fun – like unique handbags (read: really tiny, triangular bags) and a Wes Anderson-esque Prada Caffé at Harrods in London, to capture the zeitgeist.
Inspired by the interiors of Pasticceria Marchesi, one of Milan's oldest patisseries, a soft green storefront pierces through Harrods Edwardian brick facade. Inside, guests are greeted by a black-and-white chequered floor reminiscent of the historic Prada boutique on Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan and walls in the brand’s iconic hue, evoking some of the maison’s flagship stores world-wide.
A focal point of the Prada Caffé at Harrods is a long, marble-clad counter displaying delicate patisseries, signed Prada. Very much accidentally Wes Anderson in its precise staging (the lauded film-maker did design a bar at Fondazione Prada in Milan in 2015), the brand’s particular shade of green – a delectable mix of pistachio, mint and seafoam – washes the space. From walls and ceilings, to upholstered armchairs and the bowed balustrade that skims the mezzanine floor, the hue brings much needed clam to the buzzing department store. A decorative bas-relief adorns the walls of the private dining room lined with an emerald green velvet banquette.
Marble-topped tables and brass chandeliers complement the macaroon colour scheme. The fashion house's selection of tableware is just as intentional: pale-blue Japanese porcelain with contrasting black lines inspired by ancient Celadon pottery and hand-blown crystal glassware featuring the brand’s iconic triangle design – every detail of the Prada Caffé in Harrods is classic, yet playful. Just like the maison!
