Hello Kitty Cafe Brighton - Review
Here’s everything that you need to know about Art Box’s Hello Kitty and Friends cafe in Brighton. Keep reading to find out about the decor, food and how to book!
As someone who lives in Sussex, I’d been meaning to visit the Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe for absolutely ages. I’m so glad that I finally stopped by as it was 100% worth it!
Run by the Korean company Art Box, Hello Kitty and Friends is currently the UK’s only character cafe, with a theme that changes every 1 - 2 years. While Art Box haven’t announced their plans for the next rebrand, Hello Kitty is set to stay for the remainder of 2024. Previous iterations include Gudetama’s Lazy Lounge, Line Friends and Pusheen’s Snack Parlour, and while I wasn’t able to visit any of those, I do think that the Hello Kitty theme is my favourite. It’s just so cute, and I love so many of the characters.
The cafe itself is divided into two halves, with the ground floor offering takeaway ice creams and a variety of drinks, while the second floor is table service only with a full menu.
The first thing you need to know is that this cafe is extremely popular, and it’s advised that anyone wanting to eat on the first floor books a table in advance. Booking is particularly essential during the cafe’s busiest periods, which includes weekends and school holidays. I visited without a booking at 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon, and managed to snag a table for 5:30pm after speaking to the staff, so it’s always worth asking in case they have any walk in slots available.
It’s still worth calling in if you’re unable to get a booking, as the first floor also has a small boutique selling a wide range of Sanrio toys and gifts. The ice cream selection looked excellent and there are tables outside where you can relax in the sunshine (weather permitting of course).
The cafe is fully vegetarian and offers a concise but varied menu, which also includes vegan and gluten free options. The food itself is wonderfully Hello Kitty themed, with dishes including a Pompompurrin Basket Burger and Hello Kitty’s Cute Curry. Although I had initially planned to try the curry, I decided to order a Hello Kitty Sundae and an apple and raspberry mocktail as it was a very hot day. They were both lovely and I definitely want to go back and try more of their adorable dishes!
I spent around £14 in total, which felt reasonable considering how wonderful the overall experience was. Everything here is Sanrio themed, from the crockery to the napkins, the little biscuit on my sundae and the straw on my drink.
Where to Find the Cafe
The Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe is located in central Brighton, just a short walk away from both the pier and the train station. It’s easy enough to find although there’s not much parking nearby. Brighton is a very connected city so you definitely don’t need to bring your car!
The full address of the cafe is: 5-6 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HP.
Book in Advance
As previously mentioned, it’s best to book in advance if you want to have the full Hello Kitty experience! You can book a table on their website here.
Opening Hours
These vary depending on the day, so it’s worth checking their website for up to date information. At the time of writing, the published opening hours are as follows:
Ground floor takeaway and boutique
Mon - Fri: 11am - 6pm
Saturday: 10:30am - 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 6pm
First floor sit down cafe
Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 11am - 6:30pm
Sunday: 11:30am - 5:30pm
I’d love to know if you’ve visited the Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe! What did you think of the theming and what did you order?
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