Inside Look: Rihanna's Exclusive Met Gala After-Party

Everything you need to know about Rihanna's exclusive event, from the venue to the star-studded guest list

Rihanna had everyone, including the biggest celebrities and influencers, scrambling for an invite to her exclusive Met Gala after-party, after she casually announced the event on her Instagram last week. The party was held at Davide, the latest nightclub venture by businessman Richie Akiva, who was dubbed 'The King of New York City's Nightlife' by Forbes for his portfolio of upscale venues, including 1 OAK, Up & Down, and Butter.

Photo 1 of 3 Photo: Instagram/@ ronhansforddesign

Photo 2 of 3 Photo: Instagram/@ ronhansforddesign

Photo 3 of 3 Photo: Instagram/@ ronhansforddesign

According to the events team, they only had less than a week to turn Davide from an in-progress construction site to a space ready to host the biggest party of the season, suggesting that Rihanna's decision to host was a last-minute one.

Photo 1 of 2 Photo: Instagram/@roynachum

Photo 2 of 2 Photo: Instagram/@roynachum

For party backdrop, she chose the artwork of Roy Nachum, who is also behind the cover of her last album, Anti. In this piece featuring the American flag reconstituted from shredded Fenty-pink fabric with braille detailing, Nachum intended to convey the message: "All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights."

The pop singer and fashion and beauty entrepreneur arrived fashionably late with her new rapper beau, A$ap Rocky, in an all-black ensemble, which pairs a simple T-shirt with a sheer skirt in a classic fishtail silhouette—a stark contrast to her voluminous Balenciaga outfit at the Met Gala. Echoing the show-stopping Bulgari and Thelma West diamonds that she wore on the red carpet, she accessorises her after-party look with a bejewelled headpiece and sparkling tassels.

According to Vogue, the party was already in full swing when Rihanna arrived, with a free flow of D’ussé cocktails and Jay-Z's Ace of Spades luxury champagne as well as music by Hank Korsan and later, A$AP Lou. Joining her to party the night away were the biggest names in Hollywood, including the Williams sisters, Teyana Taylor, Lil Nas X, Chance the Rapper, Rosalía, Cara Delevingne, Ella Emhoff, Thomas Doherty, Naomi Osaka, Hunter Schafer, SZA, Lorde and many more. Timothée Chalamet and Rihanna's Oscar-winning ex-boyfriend, Leonardo DiCaprio allegedly made surprise appearances, with partygoers reporting the sighting through Deuxmoi, the Instagram account that has gone viral for its insider celebrity content.