Rihanna’s Met Gala After-Party Was The Hottest One Yet 

Between the buzzy crowd dressed to the nines, the mob of people eager to say the right name at the door, and lack of central air condition, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly made Rihanna’s annual afterparty so hot this year. Hosted at nightlife mogul Rickie Akvia’s new spot, Davide, guests were transported far from the typical, dark club dressed in disco lights to a dreamy underground escape with multiple candlelit rooms to explore. 

Feathery pampas draped over the vaulted ceilings, and a very on-brand and in-theme Fenty pink American flag beamed behind the bar and DJ booth. On the decks, Hank Korsan spun remixes to classic RiRi tracks from “Pon De Replay” to “Pour It Up” upon the artist’s arrival. Ditching her Balenciaga couture number for a tied-up black tee and sheer maxi-skirt, Rihanna sauntered in fashionably late to her own fête and snuck into a side room adorned with overflowing greenery behind French doors that definitely felt more like a chic flat in the 8th arrondissement and less of a chiché VIP room. Of course, her beau, A$AP Rocky, now donning an ERL graphic t-shirt paired with a furry cross-body bag was close by her side. 

Early to arrive at 1:00 am, Lil Nas X showed up with his posse on a party bus, exciting the growing crowd of fans who spilled out well onto 9th Avenue. Not long after, Chance The Rapper was spotted inside, still looking so sharp in his custom Ralph Lauren suit. Outside, Instagrammers flaunting their verified followings were quickly turned away at the door to make room for the A-list attendees. 

Partygoers, including hot couples like Yasmin Wijnaldum and Thomas Doherty; Talita von Furstenberg and Rocco Brignone; Ella Emhoff and GQ’s Samuel Hine, mingled with bachelors like Brandon Lee Thomas and Victor Cruz. Other celeb sightings include Mary J. Blige, Cara Delevingne, Hunter Schaeffer, Naomi Osaka, Alton Mason, Sza, Lili Reinhart, Teyana Taylor, Megan Rapinoe, Rosalía, Tommy Dorfman, and Vogue cover star, Lorde. 

Sweat and cigarettes were of plenty on the dancefloor, as were fabulous after-party looks that were definitely too hot to handle. Models like Vittoria Ceretti, Anok Yai, and Meghan Roche lounged on plush white couches tucked away in alluring alcoves that were perfect for swapping Met Gala secrets. Clusters of candles filled every corner of the cave-like space, creating an effortlessly sexy vibe from room to room. Through an exposed brick archway, the Williams sisters took over the back bar, dancing with the likes of Imaan Hammam, Russell Westbrook, Lewis Hamilton, and, Quavo of Migos all night long. 

Bartenders served D’ussé cocktails and only poured bubbly from magnum bottles of Jay-Z’s Ace of Spades Champagne, of course. Around 4:30 am, A$AP Lou of A$AP Mob took the main stage to keep the party alive with the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Jeremy O. Harris, and Winnie Harlow until the crack of dawn. It’s safe to say Queen RiRi can take a bow for this wild night.