What Melbourne’s A-listers will be eating inside the Birdcage at Melbourne Cup Carnival

From free flowing champagne and secret tequila bars to elite cuts from a posh steakhouse — this is what society’s elite will be eating inside the exclusive Birdcage marquees.

These are the best things to eat and drink in the Birdcage.

Plenty of the city’s A-list chefs will be prancing around the Birdcage.

All eyes will be on the G.H Mumm marquee, which swiftly scratched Reine and La Rue after its director, Al Yazbek, was charged with displaying a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney.

Posh butcher Victor Churchill will now instead slice and dice the finest cuts for the French fizz’s exclusive La Table Des Chefs.

At Penfold’s, Magill Estate chef Scott Huggins will cook two special bites for the marquee’s Tasting Cube paired with a splash of 2020 Penfold’s Grange.

Expect a melt-in-your-mouth skewer of smoked and seared beef cubes, followed by a savoury trifle-looking creation of smoked and pickled beetroot, sour cream, chives, French onion soup jelly and cauliflower cream.

Magill Estate Restaurant chef Scott Huggins.

Outside of the cube, The Big Group has everything from chicken-ribbon sangers, tempura corn fritters, prawn and scallop sesame toast, orecchiette lamb ragu and beef sliders, alongside a long list of new-vintage Penfold’s wines and cocktails.

Don Julio Rosado secret bar Bird Cage

While on drinks, tequila brand Don Julio is hiding a secret bar within a secret bar inside the Birdcage. Look out for the Rosado Party Starters, who’ll hand out “calling cards” to suitable guests inviting them to dial Club Rosado for a good time via the Rosado Phone Box.

Cocktail whiz Orlando Marzo will be shaking his finest creations inside – but if that’s not enough allure, another ultra-exclusive Secret Don Julio 1942 Tequila Bar is hidden within this space, promising more bevs and sweet treats.

Cocktail champ Orlando Marzo will be shaking his tricks inside Don Julio’s secret bar.

French star chef Guillaume Brahimi is behind Crown Melbourne’s two-level marquee feast, which includes a caviar and champagne service, sushi station, oysters shucked on demand and plenty of wagyu, ocean trout and lobster. The Crown marquee will also offer a taste of DJ Grant Smillie’s new Crown venue with his signature cocktail.

Lexus Australia has put Atlas chef Charlie Carrington on the tools to create a three-course menu using homegrown ingredients. This will include grilled king prawns, smoked lamb cutlets and a honey-drizzled mango semifreddo.

Meanwhile, VRC members will get a glimpse of Sydney chef Ross Lusted cooking at The Byerley, before his Melbourne restaurant Marmelo debut, and Omnia star Stephen Nairn’s elevated five-star feed at the Chairman’s Club.