Maid Cafe (Meido Kissa), are a subcategory of cosplay restaurants found predominantly in Japan. In these cafes, waitresses dressed in maid costumes act as servants, and treat customers as masters (and mistresses) in a private home, rather than as cafe patrons. The first permanent maid cafe, Cure Maid Cafe, was established in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan, in March 2001, but maid cafes are becoming increasingly popular. As they have done so, the increased competition has made some use unusual tactics in order to attract customers. They have also expanded overseas to countries like China,South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, France, Mexico, Canada and the United States. (source: wikipedia).
Early this year I went to Taiwan for an official trip organized by our company. During the end of our tour, I had the chance to visit some of maid cafe available around Taipei city. First I went to look for Good Smile Cafe which was mentioned by Danny Choo many months ago, it was located near the Z2 exit from Z underground mall after you come out from Taipei Main Station but sadly to found out it’s already closed down. What left is just an empty shop with few boxes. Probably had become a temporary storeroom. Second I went to look for the well known Fatimaid cafe, they said is the longest serving maid cafe in Taiwan, they start operating since 2009. It was located near Y13 exit from Taipei City Mall. I was so disappointed to found out the cafe also closed down and stop operating since December 2013. Next I went to look for other cafe hoping they still operating, luckily to found out other still open like usual.
Notice of closing down
Good Smile Cafe now
Fatimaid cafe near Y13 exit
There's a stair leading up to the cafe
Their sign board still there though
Notice of closing down
Maiden Diner
Maiden Diner, located inside Taipei City Mall, when you first come out from Taipei Main Station, proceed to "Y" section underground mall, the cafe is some where near Y27 entrance. You can always refer to map display near the station. The café is based on inside a train sub theme. Mostly covered with pink and white layout color. Even the maids dress in pink and white outfit. There were 3 maids on duty that day; Yume with extremely kawaii face, Aki being extremely friendly and Naruko with megane and with extremely soft voice. Aki and Naruko is the one who serve us that day. Minimum spending is 150NT and maximum stay of 100 minutes but you can stay longer as long as there’s empty seat I guess. Aki told me the café has been operate about 4 years already. The boss is also the head maid. They are about 14 maids working by shift. There’s a big mirror on the wall and train handrails. There’s a manga section with anime song playing as background. Oh I forgot to take photo of the menu. I just had a dessert that day of course with the magic charm/spell. My friend was quite shy as this is the first time he enter a maid cafe.
Starting from Y13 extrance onward, there's a lot of Otaku shop selling many different kind of anime related merchandise. For the maid cafe just keep walking until Y27 entrance.
Starting from Y13 extrance onward, there's a lot of Otaku shop selling many different kind of anime related merchandise. For the maid cafe just keep walking until Y27 entrance.
There's a backdrop for you to take some picture
A golden rule in a maid cafe is you are not allowed to take photo of the maid without permission, If you like to have some photo as souvenir, you can always request it where you have to pay and get to take photo together. Normally they use a Polaroid camera where the photo instantly comes out from the camera. Then the maid will decorate them with lovely drawing and words. I had some photo taken too but I guess better just keep it inside my drawer rather than post it here..lol..
Apart from that, they have some ready stock merchandise for sell such as calendar with photo of different maids on each month, a photo book consist of personal biography of the maids (highly recommended), note book, and postcard. Customer can write down any notes on the guest book provided, the maids will read and reply them. Apart from that, there’s a card given where you spend a minimum amount in the cafe, you can get a stamp from the maid, until reaching certain level you need to play a game with the maid, if you win, you can proceed with getting more stamp next time you visit, but if you lose, you have to start all over again from zero, oh man…. There are total of 12 stages you need to complete, and of course, you will get a prize for completing all of them. Not sure what is the prize though, if not mistaken is free upgrade to platinum card holder.
Souvenir for sell
Photobook
Maid Aki reply getting healthy after sick
So far i'm only manage to collect 3 stamps
Souvenir for sell
Calendar
Photobook
Maid Aki reply getting healthy after sick
Address:
台北市市民大道一段100號，地下街美食區11室
(塔城街。市民大道交叉口Y27入口下)
Business hour: 12.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Tel: 02-2558-8279
How to get there? Check out the map below
How to get there? Check out the map below
Google map - click for larger
From Taipei Main Station, proceed to "Y" section Underground mall as shown in map below, the cafe is some where near Y27 entrance. Photo credit to kiwiism.wordpress.com
Maiden School
Next I went to Maiden School, located just in front of Maiden Diner. This time, Maiden school is based on a classroom sub theme. Inside you feels like sitting in a class room. There’s a chalk board and teacher desk infront. Even the menu also mentioned as lesson. There’s a manga section where you can read them. Some anime poster on the wall with anime song playing as background. Maximum stay in the café is 100 minutes with minimum spending of 100NT. Maid who serve me that day is Ryuzaki Haine, dress in purple and white outfit with twin tail. An extremely friendly maid. She’s quite free that day and we had a long chat about how Japanese Pop Culture influence in Taiwan, exchange info about maid cafe from my country and other random stuff. Usually they are more busy during weekend and night. She’s the one who told me about Fatimaid cafe and another maid café at Ximending area. I had their omu rice. Taste really good with the magic charm/spell from the maid. Same as Maiden Diner, you cannot take a photo of the maids but have to request for it using their camera, but I asked whether I can take photo around the café she said yes as long as not including the maid.
Notice about the shop's operating hour and some basic rules
There's singing show every night starting 8.30 pm
Had a quick snap of their menu..sorry some of them blur. Using my reliable mobile phone when i took these
A postcard given by the maid
Notice about the shop's operating hour and some basic rules
There's singing show every night starting 8.30 pm
Had a quick snap of their menu..sorry some of them blur. Using my reliable mobile phone when i took these
Omu rice and doodle of a maid on it
A postcard given by the maid
Address:
台北市市民大道一段100號地下街美食區3室
Tel: 02-2558-7776
Business hour: 11.00 am – 9.00 pm
Moe Point
Moving on to next maid cafe which is recommended by Haine (maid from Maiden School). Moe Point is located at Ximending district which happened to be walking distant from my hotel. When you stop at Ximen LRT station, take the exit 6 and you will saw a building on your right, took an elevator to 6th floor. There's a standing poster of a maid at the entrance of the building. The place is atleast twice bigger than the previous 2 maid café I have visited. Surrounding was covered with lots of anime related stuff even the table. There’s also a manga section with anime song playing as background. Minimum spending is 100NT and Im guessing maximum stay is 100 minutes. Maid on duty is Lena. I had a beef steak set for dinner. Same with the previous maid café, you can’t take photo of the maid without their acknowledgement, however you can pay 150NT and get a photo with the maid plus extra 2 photos taken using your own mobile phone.
Just look for this standing poster at the ground floor entrance
View from my sit
The beef was really good, highly recommended
Address:
台北市萬華區漢中街127號6樓
Business hour:
Mon - Fri: 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sat - Sun: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Tel: 02-2388-1816
Click on this google map for direction, i link it from Ximen Station Exit No.6
Upon coming out from Ximen Station Exit No.6, go right and you can easily spot the building with the signboard outside. There's also a standing poster at the entrance.
Click on this google map for direction, i link it from Ximen Station Exit No.6
Upon coming out from Ximen Station Exit No.6, go right and you can easily spot the building with the signboard outside. There's also a standing poster at the entrance.
Chitty Mood
This is actually a butler cafe located inside Taipei City Mall near Y23 entrance. Ladies might get more interested on this. It's really close with Maiden School and was actually same row with Maiden Diner. But I didn’t manage to visit them as I am rushing that time. Definitely will visit them next time if I happend to visit Taiwan again. Check it out here.
Address:
台北市 中正區 市民大道一段100號 地下街美食區Y21處
Business hour: 11.00 am – 9.00 pm
Tel: 02-2558-7739
P/S: Sorry for very long absent from blogging, I was super busy due to many new tasks given at work.
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