In early 2016, news that a Hello Kitty cafe was heading to Singapore set fans talking. It was to be called Hello Kitty Orchid Garden, and it would sit in Changi Airport Terminal 3. At that point only the month, May, and the name were known, with no menu and no firm opening date.
The cafe opened on 12 May 2016 in the Terminal 3 Arrival Hall at unit #01-22. It was Singapore’s first themed cafe starring the Sanrio character, and was billed as the world’s first 24-hour Hello Kitty cafe.
A garden for the garden city
As the early announcement had promised, greenery and orchids set the tone. Each Hello Kitty cafe is built around its own theme, and this one took the national flower and Singapore’s “garden city” image as its starting point.
The look was gentler than many fans expected. Home & Decor Singapore described a neutral colour scheme and fairly understated decor, with trellis-like features, a canopy of orchids in various shades and a mix of real and artificial blooms. Real orchids were planted at eye level, with realistic artificial ones higher up.
Furniture was customised. Tables carried Hello Kitty motifs, chair backs were shaped like her bow, and swing seating added a casual touch. There were also two life-sized figures set up as photo spots.
What was on the menu
The cafe served all-day brunch and “Kitty-fied” desserts, as promised. Local and Asian influences ran through the menu alongside breakfast dishes, mains and sharing plates. Desserts included soft serve, gelato sundaes, pastries and tea cakes.
Prices at the 2016 opening included:
- Big Breakfast Surprise, at S$18.50: scrambled eggs, smoked duck, sautéed shiitake mushrooms and Kitty-shaped waffles with melted cheddar.
- Let’s Do The Salsa, at S$16.50: a Kitty-shaped salsa chicken sandwich.
- Hola Nachos, at S$15.90.
- Kitty Blush, at S$7.90: a watermelon and basil soda.
- Ice Salted Caramel Latte, at S$7.
A retail corner offered Singapore-exclusive merchandise, including tea blends and grow-your-own plant kits. That was the memento the original announcement had teased for die-hard fans.
The cafe has closed
Hello Kitty Orchid Garden ran for more than two years. Its last day of operation was 8 February 2019. Farewell tea parties were held on four afternoons in December 2018: the 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th. Tickets were S$138 nett for two people, and each came with a limited-edition Orchids For You figurine.
The cafe is no longer open at Changi Airport, so there is nothing to visit at the Terminal 3 address today.
FAQ
Was Hello Kitty Orchid Garden open around the clock?
Yes. It operated 24 hours a day, every day, which was part of its claim to be the first Hello Kitty cafe in the world to do so.
Why does Singapore’s Hello Kitty have two bows?
The cafe’s launch coverage noted that the Singapore version of the character was the only Hello Kitty in the world with a double bow. That detail is part of why the bow-shaped chair backs stood out.