The Story Behind Madonna Inn’s Pink Champagne Cake — Interview with Audrey Pearce

Located on California’s Central Coast, the Madonna Inn was founded by Alex and Phyllis Madonna in the late 1950s. Known for its flamboyant pink décor and individually-themed rooms, the Madonna Inn has been named one of the most iconic motels in America. It is gaudy, kitschy, and over-the-top in the best way. 

Multiple weddings, photoshoots, and parties take place each year at the Madonna Inn. Additionally, visitors from all over the world make a pit stop at the motel while visiting Big Sur.

Although the Madonna Inn has been around since the last century, social media has boosted its popularity. The quintessential motel has also starred in music videos and reality shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Girls Next Door, and The Bachelor.

In 2024, the Madonna Inn was featured in Vogue’s Portugal February 2024: “The Kitsch Issue”. Wow!

The regal dining room features an opulent golden tree that is adorned with gold cherubs. If this isn’t enough, the décor is taken up a few notches when holiday season is in full swing.

The 110-themed rooms, with their lavish decor, are the perfect backdrop for an impromptu photoshoot. Other amenities at the hotel include a men’s waterfall urinal, a secret garden, a pink tennis court, and a luxurious spa to pamper yourself. You’ll also find rhinestone clothing and high-end skincare products at the boutique. Think Alice in Wonderland meets Dolly Parton. It’s a visual spectacle. 

In early 2018, I went on a trip with my dad to Big Sur. On our way back to LA, I remember driving past the Madonna Inn’s giant neon sign. “Oh My God! It’s the Madonna Inn! I’ve seen it on Instagram so many times!” I said excitedly. I took the next exit on the US Highway 101 and pulled up in the big parking lot. My dad fell in love with the colorful goblets, I fell in love with the décor.

At the end of 2019, I started listening to Kacey Musgraves. Her albums Pageant Material (the most beautiful country album I’ve ever listened to) and Golden Hour are very near and dear to my heart. In May 2024, Golden Hour was featured in Apple Music’s “Best Albums of All Time” list. I swear, ever since I listened to it, something has shifted inside of me. In March of 2024, Kacey released Deeper Well, her sixth album.

For the release, Kacey was featured in an episode of American Express’s “Story of My Song”, where she explains in detail the lyrics of her song “Dinner with Friends”.

“The layers and ruffles in my favorite pink champagne cake”, she sings. In the episode, she shared: “I really debated on whether it should be ‘my favorite’ or ‘this certain’. Because it is this certain cake, from this one place — it’s called the Madonna Inn. It’s like this layered, pink, beautiful, ‘50s-looking cake, and it’s the best thing in the world.”

Wait, what? I didn’t know that Madonna Inn had a famous cake!! Imagine the honor of having a seven-time Grammy award-winner singer feature your cake in one of her songs.

After watching the video, I went down a rabbit hole of Kacey’s love for the Pink Champagne cake. Although Kacey lives in Nashville, Tennessee, her love for the Pink Champagne cake runs very deep!

I missed Kacey’s concert in 2022, where she gave a special shoutout to the ladies who drove four hours to LA to deliver not one, but two Pink Champagne cakes to her dressing room at the Crypto.com arena!  

Kacey said to the 20.000 fans in the audience: “I liiive for this confection. We somehow convinced the sweet ladies at the Madonna Inn to let me buy a couple of those cakes. I’ve been fiending for them for like two years. We traded a couple of show tickets, and they brought the cakes you guys!!! I hope they’re having a great time wherever they are. They drove for four hours. I feel like Cleopatra today.”

In September, Kacey will kick off the US leg of the Deeper Well World Tour. She will perform at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles for two nights at the beginning of October. Will the staff from the Madonna Inn deliver Pink Champagne cakes for her? We’ll see if they get a shoutout! I’ll be at the October 3rd show. 🙂 However, Kacey will also stop in Santa Barbara on September 25th! Will she get her Pink Champagne cake there instead?

Update (September): Not only did Kacey get her Pink Champagne cake in Santa Barbara, but she also captured the experience with a gorgeous photoshoot.There’s no doubt that this cake holds a very special place in her heart! 💝 🍰 

On May 4th, I drove three hours from LA to get my hands on this coveted cake. Before, I made a quick stop at Bell’s in Los Alamos for steak and French fries. After that, I drove for less than an hour to my final destination: The Madonna Inn. 

The magic bakery is located inside Madonna Inn’s Copper Cafe. When I walked in, I was welcomed by the sight of beautiful, decadent cakes in wooden glass display cabinets. This is the area where locals and tourists pick up their cakes and baked goods. Among all the cakes I saw, the Pink Champagne cake reigned supreme. It’s a feast for the eyes! Please note that in order to buy a whole cake, you need to place your order at least 48 hours in advance on their website.

If you want to eat a slice of any cake, just walk past the bakery counter and sit on one of the pink-padded barstools. 

What is it like to eat the Pink Champagne cake?

The cake has subtle hints of almond flavor and the texture is light and soft. Pillowy layers of Bavarian cream and whipped cream hold the cake together for an unforgettable melt-in-your-mouth experience. Due to the incredibly soft texture of the cake, you won’t feel heavy after eating it, and surprisingly, this cake is not too sweet.  

Every mouthful of the Pink Champagne cake is a heavenly combination of textures. The fluffy creams, the delicate, spongy texture of the cake, and the crunchiness of the pink chocolate crumbs. Ugh, I want it now. The sumptuous pink chocolate curls, which are very reminiscent of a gift bow, are a sheer delight to eat. They’re thinly shaved and lightly dusted with powdered sugar! For those wondering, the pink chocolate is actually white chocolate dyed pink. I’m not a big chocolate person, but the chocolate used in the Pink Champagne cake is light and flavorful without having an overpowering chocolaty flavor. 

Is the hype for the Pink Champagne cake justified? Absolutely. 

When I had for the first time, I didn’t know how big the slice was going to be, nor how well it was going to hold up on the 3-hour drive to LA, so I didn’t take it with me (Ouch). When I went back in June, I knew the drill. I cut the slice in half and put the other half in a takeout box.

On my way back to LA, I stopped in Santa Barbara to do some window shopping on State Street Promenade and watch the sunset at Stearns Wharf. I left the cake in the trunk of my car, but because of the towering size and the heat, a huge chunk of the frosting fell off. As soon as you get home with the cake, run straight to the fridge! 

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed eating it the following day at home while watching The Holiday (2006). The cake held up excellently the following day. I didn’t want to finish it! 

For the following weeks, the Pink Champagne cake lived rent-free in my mind. Funnily enough, one day I dreamt about it! Thank you, Kacey, for introducing your fans to this delicious cake. I had it in May, June and August.

After a long drive to the Madonna Inn, don’t forget to refuel your energy with a cup of their delicious drip coffee. Here’s a picture of when I had a slice of the Pink Champagne cake in August. Since it was a weekday and the cafe wasn’t busy, I chose a table that overlooked the garden outside. 

Prior to going to the Madonna Inn, I stopped in Santa Barbara for a quick bite. Because the cake was so light and I didn’t feel super full, I had the other half of the slice in Santa Barbara that afternoon. This is why, I made sure to order an extra slice to enjoy the following day in LA! 😉

I thought I was the only person who drove from LA just to get a slice, but, it turns out that people drive from different parts of California to get it. From LA to the Bay area! When I went back at the end of August, the server told me that people drove to LA with their cakes all the time. 

Below are a few reviews I compiled from TikTok, Instagram, and Yelp that further prove the power of this magical cake. 

Jaime B. from Yelp said: “I had to try the famous pink champagne cake and boy did it live up to the hype! It is light and has a bit of a delicious almond flavor. I’ll be dreaming of that for the rest of my life…or at least the next time I can get to SLO!”

Yiven C from Yelp wrote:

+ Pink Champagne Cake. I ordered a 6″ and drove it four hours all the way to San Francisco and it held up in a cooler bag. + Long lasting. I can’t believe that after five days it still holds up. Fridge it and take out only what you want to eat. + Most popular signature cake and it’s not too sweet, so when I eat a huge slice I don’t feel gross.

In this interview, the granddaughter of Alex and Phyllis Madonna, Audrey Pearce, shares the lore behind the Pink Champagne cake, as well as her favorite recommendations in San Luis Obispo! 

Hello Audrey! What’s the backstory behind Madonna Inn’s iconic Pink Champagne cake?

Our Pink Champagne cake has definitely been around for a long time, but was not offered until our bakery had been operating for a few years. Many of our original bakers brought traditional European recipes – including Black Forest cake – which was very popular during the early days of our bakery. In the early 1970s, one of our bakers who is known today only as “Steve,” decided to try a twist on the Black Forest by switching out the chocolate cake and chocolate pudding for Vanilla Cake and Whipped Bavarian Cream. This was enrobed in whipped cream and chipped pink chocolate shavings and curls (much like the milk chocolate shavings and curls on the Black Forest)! The Pink Champagne cake was slow to catch on – we made ten Black Forest cakes for every four Pink Champagne. Over time, however, celebrities and wedding guests saw it as the perfect confection for their celebrations and its popularity grew.

The cake has looked the same since it was initially offered. The color has varied slightly as the formulation of the pink chocolate has evolved, but the general construction is the same. 

It seems like everyone who tries the Pink Champagne cake is under a spell. What is it about it that’s so good?

The Pink Champagne cake is truly legendary – I think because it combines both, an incredibly aesthetic appeal with incredible flavor and mouth-feel. It’s stunning to look at – the pink curls, the pink shavings, the clouds of whipped cream… and when you bite into it, the flavor is rich and luscious without being overly sweet or heavy. The whipped Bavarian cream – as opposed to the buttercream that is used in some other recipes – makes it so light and airy.

Who decided to make the color pink?

The trend of Pink Champagne was probably originated in Hollywood. There was a movie in 1957 called An Affair to Remember. In it, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr sip Pink Champagne cocktails by the ocean as they are falling in love.

Watch the full scene here

After this movie came out, Pink Champagne was everywhere – in high society gatherings, department stores, and eventually West Coast kitchens. Pink as a Madonna Inn staple was the dream of Alex and Phyllis Madonna, but pink as the signature of Pink Champagne predates the Madonna Inn. The namesake came with the popularity of Pink Champagne. Despite the name, there is actually no champagne used in the recipe!

On average, how many Pink Champagne cakes are made at the Madonna Inn? Is there ever a slow season?

We typically make between 8 and 10K Pink Champagne cakes a year! We don’t really have a slow season in the bakery, just seasons that are EXTRA busy – mostly the holidays and summer months.

If someone reading this lives in LA and really wants to try the cake, do you offer shipping or would they have to drive three hours to get it?

Because of the delicate nature of the cakes, we have never offered shipping. So, if people need their Pink Champagne cake, they have to drive to get it, or find a really REALLY good friend to bring it to them! I recently saw someone fly with their cake to bring to a family gathering in the Midwest. 

When I went there in June, I overheard a woman telling her group that someone she knew drove from very far (I couldn’t hear the exact place) just to get it. As far as you know, what’s the farthest someone has driven from just to get the cake?

People will drive all day just to get a slice and then drive home. For some, Madonna Inn is a bucket list destination and they come from all over the world to stay here (and enjoy the cake!)

You’re the granddaughter of the founders. What are your earliest memories of the cakes and the bakery?

My earliest memories of the bakery revolve around going back behind the counter with my cousins to see what sweet treats we could wrangle. Especially at a young age, it was a marvel to see so many cakes and pies and circus cakes being made to look so beautiful – and with such ease by the bakers and decorators. One of my favorite memories is getting buttercream flowers piped onto my fingers by our beloved cake decorators. As I grew a little older and worked in the bakery on school breaks, I learned (sort-of) how to make those same flowers.

My earliest memories of our cakes are of getting to smash my face in them for early birthdays. My parents gave me a tiny cake and I got to make a total mess – it was amazing. I don’t remember the first time I saw my family members eating the cakes, but they were at every party and holiday I can think of.

Do San Luis Obispo locals know how lucky they are to have this cake that is so coveted by out-of-towners?

I think many SLO residents love our cakes as much as guests that only get to visit once or twice in a lifetime. There’s a lot to love about living in San Luis Obispo and SLOcals tend to be a grateful bunch.

Besides the Pink Champagne cake, what other cakes do you recommend?

Our Carrot cake and Banana Nut cake are both to die for. You really can’t go wrong, though. I also think we have the world’s best cheese pie. It’s better than any cheesecake I’ve ever had, and it’s still made by Phyllis Madonna’s original recipe.

When did Kacey start visiting the Madonna Inn? How does it feel to have the Pink Champagne cake immortalized in her song “Dinner with Friends”? 

Her first visit was sometime in 2019, but she had been a fan for a little while before that. Bless her! It’s still so amazing that she mentioned us in that song. It’s such an honor, and such a beautiful song, too! Whenever she is in the area, we try to hook her up with some cake. She’s lovely.

How long does the cake last?

I would say they can kept and enjoyed for up to four days with continuous refrigeration. A drive to LA without refrigeration should be okay, as long as the car isn’t hot. We like to blast the AC when we drive with cakes. After four or five days, the cake itself will start to dry and the cream will begin to spoil. So to answer your question, the cake should be good on its second and third days. 

What’s the ordering process like?

The earlier you’re able to order, the better. Once we reach our maximum number of orders, which is around the holidays and weekends, we will not be able to accommodate any more orders.

HERE is the link to order a 6” cake.

Last question! If someone is going to the Madonna Inn to have a slice of the Pink Champagne cake but they’re not staying the night, what do you recommend doing afterwards? Either at the Madonna Inn or in San Luis Obispo? 

I definitely recommend coming by the Madonna Inn for cake and coffee and checking out the seasonal décor, gift shops, and gardens. After that, guests should check out the nearby downtown area – so many cute shops, restaurants, and beautiful open spaces. Downtown SLO has a bounty of great restaurants. Firestone is a local legend for tri-tip sandwiches. I also love Novo, Giuseppe’s, Buona Tavola, Nate’s, Bear & the Wren, Thai Palace, Petra, and La Esquina to name a few.

No trip to the Central Coast is complete without heading to the ocean. Pismo Beach is our most popular beach and I love it, but I think Cayucos and Morro Bay have some of the prettiest waterfronts in the County.

Madonna Inn: 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA.

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