Lana Del Rey, Jon BatisteNisha Johny & Jonathan Jacobs – Courtesy of Cartier

No party glitters quite like a Cartier party. A perennial highlight on the endless Met Gala after-party circuit, the celebration at Bemelmans Bar is often the first stop on many stars’ itineraries—but thanks to the exquisite crowd, conversation, and live music, it’s also the place where many choose to linger all night.

As the hour crept toward midnight, guests filtered into the iconic Carlyle Hotel. The rain outside did little to dampen spirits. Models, editors, and movie stars slid into plush banquettes to debrief the evening. At the mahogany bar, Michael Kors held court beside his husband, Lance LePere. Jeremy Allen White drifted past the bar’s signature gold murals, while tuxedoed waiters circulated with silver trays of martinis—both classic and espresso. Lauren Santo Domingo, luminous in a pale Christopher John Rogers gown, chatted with Derek Blasberg.

Earlier that evening, the Met Gala’s blue carpet sparkled with Cartier creations. Rihanna shimmered in an 18k white gold and diamond pendant. Halle Berry dazzled in the Tsagaan High Jewelry necklace with matching earrings. The men were no less adorned: Bad Bunny, Henry Golding, and Joe Burrow all wore Cartier watches, pins, and cufflinks. Dapper Dan, the evening’s ultimate dandy, flaunted a 1936 diamond-and-sapphire brooch, a 1943 pocket watch, and a pair of 1983 sunglasses.

As she worked the room, Lana del Rey oozed Old Hollywood glamour, having changed from Valentino Couture gown into a fur coat and pink slip. Other stars—including Emma Chamberlain, Miley Cyrus, and Aimee Lou Wood (in a baseball cap) —filed into the buzzy celebration.

Then came the moment that silenced the room. Grammy-winning artist Jon Batiste—known for his collaborations with Prince, Lana Del Rey, and Stevie Wonder—slipped behind the piano at the center of the bar. With fingers glittering in Panthère de Cartier rings, he began to play. His wild improvisations and electrifying riffs filled the space, transforming Bemelmans into a late-night salon of sound, sparkle, and style. Del Rey picked up a microphone and joined Batiste singing “Candy Necklaces,” which was followed by a rendition of Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady” and Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child” from Andra Day.

Not every Met Gala after-party ends with a duet and a jazz riff—but at Cartier’s Bemelmans takeover, it was all just part of the setlist. Leave it to Cartier to make the night’s most glittering party feel like an intimate encore.