That’s right, in the heart of downtown Vancouver at 1274 Robson St you’ll now find an adorable Hello Kitty themed cafe. This is exactly the kind of thing I didn’t know I needed but now that it’s here, I just can’t get enough. The cafe itself has two floors with some limited seating upstairs and an open space for ordering and taking pictures on street level.
However, I have a feeling that the layout inside is flexible and can look different depending on the day/season.
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 12:00pm – 9:00pm, Friday & Saturday 12:00pm – 10:00pm.
This cafe’s “kawaii” (cute) theme is seen not only in their menu items but also in the decor and furnishings. Every last detail down to the pink drain catcher I noticed in the washroom sink has been carefully considered and placed with care. The Japanese are masters when it comes to taking ordinary objects and making them cute, or as they would say, “kawaii”. The proof is in the pudding when you walk into this immaculate cafe adorned with all things cute and Hello Kitty themed.
There are multiple photo opportunities here that have been staged for your enjoyment which make for a great social media story or to keep as a cherished memory in your camera roll. It’s an immersive experience of all things pink and sweet!
While visiting this cafe you can enjoy a selection of sweet treats as well as some fun Hello Kitty merchandise. Their menu has a nice variety including but not limited to your staple iced coffee as well as bubble teas, cakes, and ice-cream served in a Hello Kitty waffle cone. It is understandably a popular spot already after opening this new location only a couple of months ago. Click here to view their full menu.
This new Hello Kitty Cafe is owned by Sanrio, a Japanese company that also owns and operates other specially themed cafes around the world such as the Gudetama Cafe in California. Did you know that Hello Kitty is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year? Click here to find some exclusive merch to celebrate this adorable character that has brought joy over the years to so many, young and old. There’s so many cute things to choose from!
In terms of location this cafe is in the perfect spot for a day of gallivanting with your favourite people. Robson Street is full of fun shops to visit and slowly melt the hours of the day away in (Indigo, Konbiniya Japan Centre, Dank Mart, Mintage, etc). It’s also a nice neighbourhood stroll with your pink to-go Hello Kitty cup in hand; especially if you’re walking toward Davie St passing so many beautiful, old Douglas trees and character buildings.
You could try to drive in this area, but with how dense the downtown Vancouver traffic can often get I recommend coming as a pedestrian if you can.
Additionally, being in this area affords you endless possibilities in terms of where you could explore next as you have ample transit lines available mere steps away. You can easily get to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal (bus line 257), North Vancouver (Seabus), Kitsilano (bus line 4, 7, 16, 10), Mt Pleasant (bus line 5, 8, Expo skytrain), and beyond if you feel like it.
I hope that this new Hello Kitty themed cafe paves the way for more themed cafes to pop up in the Greater Vancouver area. Japan is famous for their many themed cafes, I feel like we need to step up our game! Well, this is definitely a step in the right direction. I hope you get the chance to visit the Hello Kitty Cafe on Robson in Vancouver soon or whenever you’re able to travel to BC! It’s a great addition to include during your exploration of this beautiful city.
Thoughts to Writings 