From May 23 to June 22, iconic Soho restaurant Bob Bob Ricard will undergo a glamorous transformation to celebrate the release of The Phoenician Scheme, a new film from Universal Pictures and Focus Features. Known for its “press for champagne” buzzers and maximalist interiors, the restaurant’s Red Room will become Marseille Bob’s—a cinematic reimagining inspired by the luxurious bar featured in the film.
Set to transport guests into the visually stylised world of The Phoenician Scheme, the takeover blends theatrical food, immersive design, and signature cocktails. The film—starring Benicio del Toro as eccentric tycoon Zsa-zsa Korda, Mia Threapleton as his daughter Liesl, and Michael Cera as their Norwegian tutor Bjorn—boasts a supporting cast including Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Richard Ayoade, and Scarlett Johansson. Wes Anderson’s distinct visual language, a clear influence on the film, will be echoed throughout the venue.
Design details include pink-framed placemats, custom coasters, and graphic-heavy menus developed in collaboration with the film’s creative team. A bespoke neon Marseille Bob’s sign will greet guests at the stairway, while the bar’s mirrored back will showcase the film’s crest. Staff will complete the immersive experience in white blazers, red carnations, and fez hats—mirroring costumes worn by characters onscreen.
The themed cocktail menu will feature four original creations. Among them: the “Virgin Novitiate,” a Champagne-based drink with Hennessy VS and Maraschino cherry; the colour-changing, pipette-served “Tycoon on the Rocks”; the “Handgranade,” a white Negroni twist; and “The Norwegian Tutor,” a refined alcohol-free option made with Thompson & Scott and Tanqueray Zero.
Bar snacks nod to the film’s opulent but playful sensibility, with silver bowls of giant salted pretzels and tins of Cantabrian anchovies served alongside butter and brown bread.
The limited-edition Marseille Bob’s takeover and cocktail menu will run for four weeks at Bob Bob Ricard, 1 Upper James Street, London W1F 9DF. The Phoenician Scheme is in cinemas from May 23.