Almost every girl-tot grows up adoring the cuteness of Hello Kitty. The lovely design, the soft and sweet pinkish stuff, and the iconic bow.

It manifests a unique brand of magic and sweetness feel that made our innocent years extra cheerful. 
So it’s not surprising that despite reaching adulthood, we still can’t get enough with the charm of Hello Kitty, and the fascination it brings to our senses.

All those shades of pink and pastel, contrasting white still evoke lovely memories. 

So when this Sanrio-themed cafe finally opened in the Philippines, girls-turned-ladies are as equally as excited as the kids to drop by at this dining place.

The Interior Design

All its themed cafes around the world are designed to contrast each other. While in the US, HK Cafe follows a dreamy shade of pink, the Philippine version is a Western royalty theme. 
It has golden cages to resemble the gilded thrones of European royal court. This is to highlight the concept of dining in a bewitching room fits for a princess. 

Still obsessed with the cuteness of Hello Kitty? This cafe indeed offers a fairytale-fantasy feel. 

The gold trimmings, the cute interiors evoked that period in our childhood where we cared nothing but toys and plays and fun and food.

Sweet moments indeed. 

This is my second gourmand trip to Hello Kitty Cafe but the childish excitement is still very much on. The Kawaii-inspired interior frills still make me giddy that a repeat visit is still as good as the first one.
THE MENU!

Hello Kitty Cafe serves character-inspired dishes and pastries, and though Sanrio is a Japanese brand, the cafe however, follows a French-style gourmet. But while the menu is thoroughly French, the cafe retains the Kawaii pop culture. 
All dishes and beverages are served with Hello Kitty designs and cutouts on top, which make the presentation so attractive and fabulous. 

Sanrio, the company that holds the license of Hello Kitty, has a unique way of enchanting people to experience the subtlety and sophistication that Hello Kitty brings. 

Here are some of the dishes we tried.

My colleagues tried the Chicken Gibraltar (Php275.00), a grilled Mediterranean chicken breast with fresh greens rolled in French sourdough bread and served with crisp fries, tomato-cucumber salsa, fresh olives and chutney sauce. 

However, we cringed haha! It could be the olives or chutney sauce, but we found the smell a little offensive and tangy. The taste was too westernized.

This time, I chose the Apple Crumble Crepe (Php445.00), Roasted Pumpkin Soup (Php185.00) and Caramel Machiatto Latte (Php195.00).

Another dish worth trying is the Shrimp Scampi (Php395.00), fettucine pasta in white wine sauce with butter sauteed prawns and bacon strips. 

I love the texture of this pasta, al dente! And the white wine sauce perfectly blended with Parmesan cheese, coating every strand of fettucine into perfection.

The girls loved chocolate cake, so they added some sweetness in the table. Chocolate Truffle Cake (Php215.00), which is covered with rich chocolate ganache and adorned with cream fillings. 

Something I barely touched because I am not into chocolates. Then there’s Kahlua Cream Cheese Tortle (Php255.00), a sponge cake soaked in espresso and Kahlua (a coffee-flavored liquor) and smothered with cream cheese. They also picked Java Chip Frappe (Php215.00).

I took a small bite on both Truffle and Kahlua cake delights, and it tasted awesome. Not overly sugary, it has a balance taste of creaminess and sweetness. Ideal for people who don’t like sugary stuff. Other must-try dishes at Hello Kitty Cafe are the profiteroles and sandwiches.

The highlight of the experience dining at Hello Kitty Cafe, however, is the atmosphere of being in a dreamy room filled with all things cuteness and glamorous. Fairytale trimmings that evoke happy childhood memories.

Dishes are ultra luscious, rich in gourmet details and flavor, every item on the menu is prepared on a distinct savory note that only classy cafe could accomplish. Food sophistication at its best which makes the pricey tag worthy.

Hello Kitty Cafe also has entrees and other savory French dishes: Grilled Moroccan Chicken (Php295.), Pork Tenderloin Medallions (Php445.00), Classic Beef Burgundy (Php445.00), Pan-seared Salmon with Tarragon Cream Sauce (Php655.00).  Profiteroles: Oreo, Salted Caramel, Blueberry, Choco mint, Pistachio with price ranging from Php55.00 to Php65.00 each. Mini cakes, pasta, croque and sandwiches are also available.

They have hot and cold drinks, lattes, frappes, shakes and soda with price ranging from Php165.00 to Php300.00. I like the Matcha Latte, its taste is not too sweet but creamier which balances the bitter tad of matcha.

Food and beverages at this cafe are quite pricey. More than the average price tags of casual cafe shops that follow a Western, especially European, concept. 

But with scrumptious dishes concocted in  sophistication and fine gourmet delights, plus the Sanrio brand of magic and unique culture of cuteness, the goodies are worth the value of your money. 

Safest budget for each person is Php600.00.

For girls who love everything about cuteness, and all things pink and dreamy, nothing beats the thrill provided by one of the world's most beloved cartoon characters, Hello Kitty! 

There's something about this fictional character that captures every girl's fantasy of a soft day. Perhaps, it's the way the whole concept of fascination this cutie cartoon magnifies.

Each time I see a Hello Kitty merchandise or design, it feels everything in my surrounding has transformed into something magical and lovely. 

As though the whole world is filled with love and wonders and the environment is at peace again. So it's not surprising that when I heard about this Kawaii-inspired cafe in Uptown BGC, the child in me perks up. 

My colleagues who are equally crazy as myself over Hello Kitty, have been planning to visit this dining wonder but due to conflict of our schedule only Zy and I gave it a go.

And it was a great night filled with cuteness stuff inside Hello Kitty. I settled with a creamy pink carbonara because I was intrigued with its design and unique recipe. Pink carbonara! Haha

Half past nine, we walked to the cafe. It was close to mall closing time so the place was not super crowded. 

And as we strode inside the area, it was a bit surreal, finally we made it, making things happen, taking a piece of fantasy, believing that magic of innocence never ends. 



The café’s interior brings back happy childhood memories. All those shades of pink and blue and yellow that evoke a care-free life.

Hello Kitty is licensed by Sanrio, a Japanese company known to produce items and designs focusing on Kawaii (cute) segment of Japanese popular culture. 

And unlike most popular Disney characters, Hello Kitty has quite a late entry into the world of cute cartoons. Only in 1974 when Yumo Shimizu created it for Sanrio. 

Its iconic design, however, was not fully established until in later years when Yumo Yamaguchi designed Hello Kitty to its current form.

Since then, almost every girl once in their childhood had been captivated by the magical cuteness of Hello Kitty. 

Perhaps, due to its sweet personification. And the shade that associated to soft feminine type – baby pink. 

It’s almost impossible for girls who like cutie stuff to never be mesmerized with the sweetness of Hello Kitty. So this cafe in Uptown, BGC appears to be like the fulfillment of that childhood fantasy.

When Zy and I went their last night, a different level of excitement was bubbling beneath. At last, after months of planning, things finally pushed through. 

We were grinning when we entered the cafe. There was a beautiful memory resonating. Emotions were light. Mood was smoother. 



It felt like we’ve just walked to a fairytale room full of pretty things. We immediately walked to the dreamy gilded cage lounge.

Looking around, I couldn’t help but be amazed with the thrill of fantasy going around. Gold trimmings shimmered like diamonds. 

Atmosphere was soft and warmth. When the menu was handed to us, I was quite surprised to discover that the cafe follows a French dining style.

With some tongue-twisting names of pastries, desserts, entries and beverages in the menu, diners will surely get a dose of a European dining sophistication. 

But it makes the whole experience more fascinating. Just imagine the perfect blend of Japanese cuteness and French extravagance. It’s a rare combination!

Indeed, sweetness was all over the place last night, washed off by the shades of pastels and gold accents, bringing the concept of dining in fantasy to a whole new level. 

The interior appeared to be like a fairytale classroom filled with innocence and care-free spirit. And with all those frills and trimmings of a dreamy world fit for a princess.

In great contrast to the roots of Sanrio, which is thoroughly Japanese, this Hello Kitty Cafe however, follows a French theme with items in the menu prevalent to a French culinary. And yes, as expected, quite pricey. But very worthy!

I chose one of the best-sellers, pink creamy carbonara topped with a soft boiled egg that comes with a cute Hello Kitty design. For my drinks, I chose a demitasse of hot matcha latte. Zy opted for another pasta, the spag bolognese, with S’mores latte.

It was a good meal combination. I love carbonara and my choice of beverage has always been matcha, a Japanese beverage. But one of the reasons I was attracted to pink carbonara was due to its uniqueness. It was something I have never heard before. Where else could we find a pink carbonara? 😆

Zy told me the s’mores latte has too much sweetness. A coffee concoction of milk and cream drizzled with chocolate, s’mores latte looks like a smorgasbord of calories containing the thickness of chocolates and cream. 



The matcha latte tasted just right. The texture was creamier and thicker and the bitter tad of matcha helped balance the sweet blend of milk and cream.

Hello Kitty is not your typical cafe house of dessert and pasta and coffees, it’s a food place of wonders full of fascinating frills of childhood fantasies. 

Everything in the menu tastes great but a little pricey for someone who’s following a stiff budget. 

Price tag for food ranges from Php250 to 500 while a cup of beverage of your choice starts at Php160.00. But it’s worth the value of your money.

Each order comes with an artistic Hello Kitty design which makes you hesitate to take it. 

You just don’t want to ruin it because it looks so perfect and dreamy.😄The downside is that this cafe doesn’t have Hello Kitty souvenir items to shop despite being a licensed-Sanrio store.

For a satisfying food adventure at Hello Kitty Cafe, prepare a budget of Php700.00, this is already consists of a one-course meal and a glass of soda. 

Hello Kitty has also a frappe variety with a price that ranges between Php210 to Php295. Other items in the menu include French pies, salad, sandwiches, cupcakes, profiteroles, fries, soup and eclairs.

Hello Kitty Cafe is on thethird level of Uptown Mall. 

Address: 36th, 9th Avenue, BGC, Taguig, Philippines. Operating hours: 11am to 10pm Monday to Sunday.

The blistering summer heat in the Philippines makes your appetite to crave for more coolers and refreshing sweets every now and then. And on weekends when you're outside, the punishing temperature makes you rush to grab a cup of ice cream.

That's what we felt when we were strolling around UP Town Center yesterday after taking our lunch at Yabu. I adored gelato so much because of its sturdy, yet ultra smooth and creamier texture, so when we saw a life-sized poster of Manila Creamery where luscious gelato menu has been featured, we didn't waste time. And rushed to the third floor of the mall to sample the flavors. 

Interestingly, Manila Creamery has a wide array of gelato flavors with some twists. Not settling on the usual boring ice cream flavors, this refreshment shop concocted some unique creations. Mangga't suman, tutong na kanin, mango pomelo, Davao chocolate.  Tutong na kanin? How's that for an ice cream flavor? That's for everyone to find out. 

Meanwhile, we ended up choosing the gelato parfait creations for an intense afternoon refreshment! Because the heat outside was simply terrible. Usually, when Jeff and I went out for a dinner or any food adventure, we usually chose two different items so that we can taste both or exchange if I don't like the one I pick 😂

At Manila Creamery we chose two kinds of parfait - halo halo and mais con yelo, both mouth-watering and incredibly luscious! With a big blob of gelato on top how can we not be amazed? 

The halo halo variety is a creative mixture of black sesame seeds,  roasted rice and a creamy gelato coffee. The mais con yelo tasted like a mango cheesecake with some caramel sauce drizzled on top. 

Scrumptious and delicious flavors and definitely will be back there and try other flavors in the menu.