Sanrio’s first Chicago Hello Kitty Cafe opens with a weekend grand opening at 360 N. Michigan Ave—complete with reservation-only afternoon tea, Chicago-exclusive merchandise, and new menu items in an 8,000-square-foot, two-level space.
By the time the doors were finally set to open, Chicago fans were already treating the day like a deadline.
The Hello Kitty Cafe is coming to the Midwest with its first Chicago location. and Sanrio is marking the arrival with a grand opening this weekend in the Windy City. Tickets for the experience are built around excitement—exclusive treats. merchandise. and photobooths—alongside a space designed to turn a quick stop into an all-day outing.
Sanrio will open an 8,000-square-foot, two-level cafe at 360 N. Michigan Ave, in the heart of Chicago. Inside, there’s room for the full Hello Kitty-themed experience, and outside, the cafe adds patio seating along Wacker Drive, with sweeping views of the river and the city skyline.
The cafe’s grand opening begins at 10 a.m. CT Friday, June 26, and runs through Sunday, June 28.
The experience is bigger than a storefront. Fans will be able to take part in a special Afternoon Tea service, buy Chicago-exclusive collectible merchandise, and use the cafe’s photobooths and immersive, photo-ready spaces.
That tea service comes with one important rule: reservations only. It will be hosted in the speakeasy-inspired Bow Room, which is available only in Chicago.
The menu aims to match the moment, leaning into sweets and drinks designed for repeat orders. Highlights include freshly made-to-order Bow Waffles, an Apple Pie Vanilla Latte, a Melon Soda Float, and fresh lemonades, according to Sanrio.
Hello Kitty and Friends-themed pastries will also be available, including assorted character sugar cookies and a macaron box (sets) in flavors such as Vanilla Bean, Green Tea, Strawberry, Salted Caramel, and Blue Raspberry.
The cafe is also arriving with expansion momentum beyond the city itself. This summer, the iconic pink Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will make two stops in Chicago suburbs, with the first scheduled this weekend.
The truck will stop at Oakbrook Center Mall on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, positioned between Macy’s and Seasons52. It will return to Illinois on Saturday. July 11. with an additional stop at Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie—located between Vuori and Nespresso—from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT.
The truck will accept credit cards only—no cash—and will offer special merchandise and sweet treats.
Hello Kitty Cafe Chicago Sanrio 360 N. Michigan Ave Bow Room Afternoon Tea Bow Waffles photobooths Wacker Drive
8000 sqft for Hello Kitty is insane lol, Chicago really can’t just chill.
So is it like… a real cafe or just photos? Because I feel like the whole point is taking pics and then leaving.
Afternoon tea reservations only in a Hello Kitty place is wild. Like who’s gonna be sitting there judging the latte art?? Also “Chicago-exclusive merch” means they’ll resell everything for double online, watch.
Wait the cafe opens tomorrow at 360 N Michigan but the article says doors were set to open already? I’m confused. And the truck stops accept credit cards only—so no Apple Pay? I guess we’re all just stuck paying with our phones? Either way I’m mad because I don’t even like macarons, but the Bow Waffles sound kinda dangerous.