Where did Taylor Swift dine with her London Squad? Argentinian bistro Casa Cruz is an A-list and royal favorite – but found itself in hot water when it hosted Rita Ora’s lockdown-breaking 30th birthday bash

The swanky restaurant where Taylor Swift wined and dined with her latest London girl squad on Tuesday night is known to be a favourite of British royal family members – and once landed Rita Ora in hot water over lockdown breaches.

Casa Cruz, located in the affluent Notting Hill neighborhood, welcomed the singer and a flurry of celebrities including Kate Moss, Stella McCartney, Andrew Scott and Phoebe Waller Bridge earlier this week. Meanwhile, old pals Cara Delevingne and Lena Dunham – who both live in the city – also joined the party. But the Argentinean bistro, where Princess Beatrice and Eugenie have been snapped, is used to an exclusive clientele.

According to Tatler, A-listers like the Beckhams and Prince Harry have also enjoyed evenings out at the luxurious eatery. Other famous visitors snapped there include Lady Violet Manners, Lottie Moss, Suki Water-house and even Madonna. The interiors accentuate Casa Cruz’s understated but opulent aesthetics, featuring mood lighting, floral imagery, and chic rustic décor – including a deer’s head. The exteriors are no less grand, complementing white stone arches with stylishly overgrown shrubbery.

‘The core philosophy of Casa Cruz is to be a home-away-from-home for all,’ its website reads. ‘Dating back to the early Victorian era, the building Casa Cruz now calls home in London was first a pub that would have been popular with passing trades. ‘Architecturally, the exterior still maintains most of its original details, including the tall, dual aspect window cornices and surrounds on the upper floors, which were spared during the Blitz.’ The menu includes £50 steaks – and a 1.2kg côte de boeuf going for a whopping £140 – as well as £25 pasta dishes.

The bistro is also known for its cocktails, offering up a £30 Martini and a £20 Margarita. Casa Cruz weathered controversy in 2020, when Rita Ora threw a lavish 30th birthday bash that saw her and several celebrity friends break lockdown rules to ‘party into the early hours’ at the restaurant. Pictures showed the pop star enjoying a glamorous night out surrounded by A-list friends – which was slammed as ‘selfish’ and ‘irresponsible’.

Supermodel Cara, her sister Poppy and Rita’s sister Elena were all spotted arriving at Casa Cruz. The dolled-up guests walked in through the back of the restaurant to avoid using the main entrance, with some wearing face masks and carrying in bottles of alcohol. It was initially reported that she had invited 30 friends to party ‘until the early hours’, but sources close to her have said it just seven.

At one point around 9pm, Met officers were seen peering in the windows after being called to check out the venue, but could not gain access after knocking on the windows and doors. Later on, the weary guests emerged a few at a time from the same side door, drifting off to chauffeur-driven cars waiting nearby.