Prada Caffè Harrods London Honors Pasticceria Marchesi Milano Until January 2024
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Pasticceria Marchesi, a historic Milanese pastry shop, has been a symbol of excellence and a hub of good taste since its inception in 1824.
The Prada Group acquired control of Pasticceria Marchesi in 2014, nearly 200 years after its opening at Via Santa Maria alla Porta. Despite the change in ownership, the pastry shop continues to operate with the same passion for excellence at its original location, offering its fresh patisserie, signature chocolates, and classic Milanese Panettone.
Prada Caffè Harrods London
On the eve of its 200th anniversary, the spirit of Pasticceria Marchesi transformed as the Prada Caffè has popped into the main floor of Harrods in Knightsbridge, open until January 7, 2024.
Maintaining strong visual connections to Prada’s original Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II location [and the Pasticceria Marchesi on the second floor above], the new Prada Caffè has a chic, 21st century, fusion design vibe. Regency-inflected green velvet chairs are married to black marble tables and a black and white checkerboard floor to create a sophisticated, modern atmosphere — or as Harrod’s calls it — a “serene environment.”
Tableware is unique to the Prada Caffè, modern pale-blue Japanese porcelain inspired by ancient Celadon pottery. The handblown crystal is from Prada’s Triangle collection.
Open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday, Prada Caffè is a full-fledged restaurant serving strong espresso accompanied by pistacchio fagottini and eggs Florentine with caviar for breakfast. Take heart — you can also enjoy yogurt and granola.
Hungry shoppers or Mayfair locals can lunch on vitello tonnato or risotto Milanese and beef fillet with girolles and pistachio. Black truffles are waiting to add even more robust flavor at a £20 supplement.
Images via Eva Hutnikova IG
A menu of classic sweet and savoury pastries and pralines will be available throughout the day (and for takeaway). Highlights include apricot sacher-torte and Gianduja chocolate cake. If sweets are not your fancy, enjoy a tomato, mozzarella and basil pizzette.
Cocktails and bites for aperitivo will seduce visitors until the curtain falls in early 2024. Once again, the menu plays with our imaginations. The wine list is exclusively Italian from Sicily to Piedmont. France only provides bottles of Krug and Billecart-Salmon champagne.
In New York, young Gen Zers are lining up for cocktails at famous Manhattan haunts like the Rainbow Room and the Carlyle’s Bemelmans bar. At London’s Prada Caffè, cocktails include the Tuscan Blossom and the Mediterraneo. There'll also be Aperol Spritzes, Negroni Sbagliato, Bitter in Love, and a Garibaldi too.
The Pasticceria Marchesi Story
Founded by Angelo Marchesi, the family-run bakery began as a high-quality patisserie, serving morning coffee, evening cocktails, and other refreshments alongside freshly baked pastries, cakes, biscuits, and sweets. Over time, it evolved into a charming café and eventually became one of Milan's landmark venues.
The Prada Group acquired control of Pasticceria Marchesi in 2014, nearly 200 years after its opening at Via Santa Maria alla Porta. Despite the change in ownership, the pastry shop continues to operate with the same passion for excellence at its original location, offering its fresh patisserie, signature chocolates, and classic Milanese Panettone.
With a focus on traditional recipes and long-standing know-how, Pasticceria Marchesi skillfully handmakes all its specialties using high-quality ingredients. The shop's artisanal products are immune to passing fads, as they remain faithful to their historical roots and traditions. These time-honored recipes are reinterpreted with a contemporary style, ensuring that the pastry shop maintains its reputation for impeccable service, elegant spaces, and sophisticated creativity.
In addition to its historic store in Via Santa Maria alla Porta, Pasticceria Marchesi has expanded to include two other locations in Milan: Via Monte Napoleone and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. In 2019, the pastry shop opened a new destination in the heart of London's prestigious Mayfair district.
Pasticceria Marchesi — as distinguished from Prada Caffè — offers a wide range of delicacies, including breakfast, lunch, cocktails, confectionary and savory selections, chocolate, and sweet specialties like the famous Panettone. The meticulous attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the shop, from pastry decoration and dish presentation to window displays and iconic packaging featuring pastel shades and gold leaf finishing.
As a testament to its enduring appeal, Pasticceria Marchesi continues to embody Milanese style and artisanal taste, providing customers with unforgettable moments of conviviality and refined creativity.
Clearly the two culinary concepts — Pasticceria Marchesi and Prada Caffè — enjoy much synergy, but they are not identical twins.
Milano images via stylist Jojo Zhu IG Nov. 2017. All non-IG images via Prada Group.
