The Hello Kitty Cafe in Seoul: What Happened to the Original (And Where to Find One Now)

Last Updated on September 16, 2026

Short answer first, because I know that’s what most of you searching for this actually want: no, the Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae is not there anymore. The building has changed hands twice since then. But there is a real, currently open Hello Kitty cafe in Seoul, and it’s in Myeongdong.

Here’s the story to know and where to go. Hello Kitty is one of those characters that everyone knows of even if they’ve never seen the actual show. The cute and lovable Japanese character that was created in 1974 has grown to proportions that creator Yuko Yamaguchi likely never imagined.

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Hello Kitty Apple Cafe, Myeongdong (The One That’s Actually Open)

You can’t miss this three-floor cafe that begs you to enter with the adorable Sanrio characters. Enjoy the Hello Kitty cakes and drinks and then find the character goods taking up the entire third floor. If you, or your kids, are into Sanrio, they will love this stop. Being in Myeongdong means it’s busy throughout the day, but also can be completely empty at times too.

• Address: 15 Myeongdong 6-gil, Seoul (서울시 명동 6길 15)
• Hours: Every day, 10:00am to 10:00pm

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So What Happened to the Original Hongdae Hello Kitty Cafe?

Hongdae is where university students flock for live music shows, underground hip-hop and indie music venues, modern cafes and boutique shops. There is street art and graffiti, and for a while, in the middle of it all, sat the infamous Hello Kitty Cafe (헬로키티 카페 홍대).

The two story pink and white cafe that tourists flocked to was opened in 2015, having been moved from a previously smaller location a couple blocks away. The building screamed Hello Kitty from the alley it overlooked. A stone stairway led up to the building, which was decorated with gold and shiny accents giving the whole Hello Kitty experience a glamorous twist.

On the first floor was a cafe and gift shop, and each corner of the building seemed to have a photo zone, so while customers had to purchase a drink in order to hang out, no one was really hanging out so much as meandering from room to room to get those all necessary photos.

The first floor had a faux fireplace and chairs to give Hello Kitty a little homey vibe, and then upstairs even her bedroom was on display, though the bedding looked quite worn and I would assume it hadn’t been washed in ages. Buffs on the walls here and there took away the glamour that the original decor gave off. The place could definitely have used a little clean-up, but that wasn’t stopping tourists.

The food and coffee was a bit overpriced, though it came out quite jazzed up with Hello Kitty faces and what not. We got there a bit after it opened and apparently they still needed an hour to heat up the waffle maker, so no waffles. We were okay with just having coffee, since the food didn’t look all that appetizing for the price. That’s obviously not why we went there anyway.

Though I wasn’t a huge Hello Kitty fan going in, I was impressed with the overall effort to be completely Hello Kitty from top to bottom. Literally even the tiled Hanok style roof was painted pink and white too. They went gung-ho and it was all that and a bag of kitty litter, er, something that goes along with Hello Kitty.

That was Hello Kitty Cafe, as it existed when I visited. Here’s what happened to the building after that.

Then It Became a BLACKPINK Reality Show House

After Hello Kitty Cafe closed, the building had an unexpected second act: it was renovated and used as the filming location for BLACKPINK’s first reality show, BLACKPINK House. If you’re a BLACKPINK fan wondering why this address looks familiar, that’s why.

Next Came Sanrio Lovers Club

The building’s next life was as Sanrio Lovers Club, an officially Sanrio-run character cafe. Unlike the original walk-in Hello Kitty Cafe, Sanrio Lovers Club ran on a reservation system through the Catchtable app for its second-floor cafe space (the first-floor gift shop stayed walk-in), with visits capped at an hour and a one-drink-per-person minimum.

The lineup expanded well past Hello Kitty to the wider Sanrio roster including My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, Little Twin Stars, and Pochacco, with the theme rotating through different “seasons” and a full remodel in between each one. This was the period when Sanrio really started trending in Korea and there were multiple Sanrio character cafes in Seoul and beyond down to Busan too.

Today, It’s Kkokko Land, a Korean Chicken and BBQ Pub

As of now, the building has changed hands again. It’s currently Kkokko Land, a charcoal-grilled chicken and Korean BBQ pub, built into the same converted old house. Instead of the standard fried chicken you’ll find all over Seoul, Kkokko Land grills its chicken over charcoal for a smokier flavor, and it’s known locally for having one of the largest outdoor terraces in the neighborhood, with a retractable roof and a small rotating waterwheel feature that gives the space a bit of a countryside feel in the middle of the city.

• Address: 18 Wausan-ro 19-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 와우산로19길 18)
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 3:30pm to 2:00am; Saturday and Sunday, 12:00pm to 2:00am

So: Hello Kitty Cafe, then a BLACKPINK filming set, then a Sanrio pop-up, and now a chicken and beer spot. It’s one of the more unusual building histories in Hongdae, and a good reminder that Seoul’s pop-up culture moves fast. If you’re chasing a Hello Kitty Cafe photo op today, Myeongdong is your best bet, not Hongdae.

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FAQ

Is the Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae still open?

No. The original Hello Kitty Cafe closed years ago. The building has since been a BLACKPINK reality show filming location, an official Sanrio pop-up called Sanrio Lovers Club, and is currently Kkokko Land, a Korean chicken and BBQ pub.

Is there a Hello Kitty cafe in Seoul right now?

Yes. Hello Kitty Apple Cafe in Myeongdong is a currently open, three-floor Hello Kitty and Sanrio character cafe with a character goods shop on the top floor.

Where is the Hello Kitty Apple Cafe in Myeongdong?

It’s at 15 Myeongdong 6-gil, Seoul, open every day from 10:00am to 10:00pm.

Is Sanrio Lovers Club still open in Hongdae?

No, that pop-up has also closed. The space is now Kkokko Land, a charcoal-grilled chicken and K-BBQ pub.

Was the Hongdae Hello Kitty Cafe building really used for a BLACKPINK reality show?

Yes. After Hello Kitty Cafe closed, the building was renovated and used as the filming location for BLACKPINK’s first reality show, BLACKPINK House, before it later became Sanrio Lovers Club.

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