How the other half will live in the celebrity-filled Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup

Australia’s glitterati are preparing for one of the most highly-anticipated social events of the year – the Melbourne Cup carnival.

Famous faces, including the likes of Elsa Pataky, Delta Goodrem, Nadia Bartel and Karl Stefanovic are set to attend several race days at Flemington Racecourse, but they won’t be hobnobbing with members of the public.

Instead they’ll be inside the world-famous ‘Birdcage’ which is set to return after a two-year hiatus thanks to Covid.

The country’s biggest stars will enjoy the likes of roaming oyster shuckers, an affogato hour and even a pop-up KOI dessert bar away from the betting masses.

The Birdcage will feature a ‘Paradiso theme’, with organisers claiming it will transport guests into a social wonderland. 

Among the luxury brands inside the tent will be G.H. Mumm, the official champagne sponsor of the event, as well as Lexus.

French-owned company Mumm has transformed a two-storey marquee into a Parisian garden, with its own ornate fountain and a bevvy of celeb-loved vendors on board.

Floral designers will be from Benjamin Avery – also known as the Colourblind Florist – while a French feast will be served up by Chef de Caves Laurent Fresent.

Joel Bickford, culinary director of Sydney’s  Shell House, will serve up Aussie-French fusion, including  a ‘Croc(odile) Monsieur’, made with cured crocodile meat.

The champagne tent will be at the heart of the Paradiso Birdcage, which also features a ‘Bird Bath Bar’ as a meeting place for retail and dining experiences.

Guests will have the chance to experience interactive moments throughout the cage, which also features live entertainment and a seafood station. 

Those lucky enough to gain entry into the G.H. Mumm marquee will also enjoy garden-inspired canapes and tap-tap champagne bottles.

Supermodel Duckie Thot opened the space earlier this week. 

Meanwhile, Japanese car company Lexus’ three-tier marquee ‘Landmark by Lexus’ will focus on ’emotions’.

The space is set to blend Japanese traditions with local materials and ingredients and has been designed by globally renowned Architect, Koichi Takada.

The Tokyo-born, Sydney-based designer has placed together ‘floating’ flowers and plants to create a ‘sensorial journey’ within the tent.

Also on display within the marquee is Lexus’ first ever fully electric and emission-free SUV car, the Lexus RZ.

And guests certainly won’t go hungry,  with a chance to dine at some of Melbourne’s famous foodie spots.  

The tent’s ground level will include a dining experience by Hannah Green and Rosheen Kaul of Etta, with 80 guests able to enjoy a three-course menu.

There will a charcuterie tasting bar by artisan butcher Victor Churchill –  who Antony Bourdain called the ‘best butcher in the world’ – on offer.

Once they’ve enjoyed the Asian-inspired delights guests can indulge in a sweet tooth with a dessert bar by KOI.

Bringing Hollywood star power to the day is Elsa Pataky, who is officially a guest of Lexus.

Lexus Australia Chief Executive John Pappas said Lexus is dedicated to creating amazing personal experiences for its guests.

‘LANDMARK by Lexus is our way of extending the progressive and refined luxury lifestyle of our brand to all guests, enabling them to have the same warm and considered Omotenashi experience enjoyed by those already part of the Lexus family,’ he said. 

‘At Lexus we strive to make luxury personal by tailoring luxury to the specific requirements of each guest, anticipating their needs and generating experiences which are refined and exclusive.

‘A sustainable future is important to us and a core value of the Lexus brand’. 

Furphy will also have their marquee in the Birdcage – and say they will provide a ‘distinctive trackside experience’ that reflects a ‘premium pub’.

Their marquee is set to the the largest of the day, created by  specialist modular building company Spacecube, at  108 tonnes and 935 sqm. It features multiple bars, with enough room for 400 guests to watch the track.

Meanwhile, all day dining will be on offer at Villa Paradiso for $1800, which includes a seven course meal and free-flowing drinks.  

A Los Angeles-inspired space with tropical-themed cocktails is also on offer from Paramount, with Joel Selwood one of the featured guests.

South Australian wine producer Penfolds are set to take their guests to space with an ‘out of this world’ experience. 

The marquee will focus on space exploration with four distinct spaces, ‘Glasshouse,’ ‘Central Bar,’ ‘Total Eclipse’ and ‘Outer Space.’