Minions cafe to open: 8 other character-themed cafes in Singapore

Hello Kitty decorations can be found all over the Hello Kitty cafe. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

This article was first published on April 28, 2016, and was updated on Nov 22, 2017.

SINGAPORE - The Minions are coming.

A new character-themed pop-up cafe will open at Orchard Central on Thursday (Nov 23).

Besides serving dishes inspired by the little yellow characters from the Despicable Me film franchise who spout gibberish and love bananas, the cafe will also sell exclusive merchandise.

This trend of putting popular characters to work promoting a cafe is not new in Singapore, and fans have been lapping them up in the past couple of years.

We look at eight other character-themed cafes in Singapore.

1. Hello Kitty Orchid Garden cafe

Singapore's first Hello Kitty themed-cafe opened on May 12. PHOTO: HELLO KITTY ORCHID GARDEN

Singapore's first Hello Kitty themed-cafe opened on May 12, drawing hundreds of people to Changi Airport's Terminal 3, with some in the queue at 7am, hours before the 11.30am opening time.

The cafe is also the world's first Hello Kitty-themed cafe that is open round the clock,.

The 84-seat Hello Kitty Orchid Garden Cafe, with Hello Kitty shaped furniture, pays tribute to the popular character, part of Japanese company Sanrio's roster of cute creatures. Diners can head to a photo-taking area with a statuette of the cat.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ HELLO KITTY ORCHID GARDEN

Dishes on the menu are inspired by Singaporean fare, such as wagyu beef rendang and orange sugee cake.

Breakfast options include Eggs Benedict with smoked duck and salmon, with a Hello Kitty twist. Prices of the main course dishes range from $15 to $24.

It has a retail section which sells merchandise featuring the cat for those looking for souvenirs from the cafe. There is also Hello Kitty custom-roasted coffee and custom-blended tea.

2. DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe

Superman busts in DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe. PHOTO: DC COMICS SUPER HEROES CAFE

The DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe on the first level of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands serves American-style burgers, sandwiches and steak.

The cafe is decorated with posters from the DC Comics series, a life-sized figure of Superman breaking through the wall, limited-edition merchandise and a life-sized replica of the Batmobile.

Ceiling decoration in the DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe. PHOTO: DC COMICS SUPER HEROES CAFE

There are four booths themed according to different superheroes: Supergirl, The Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, with each booth showcasing original artwork by concept artist Stanley Lau.

On the menu are superhero-inspired creations, such as the new Batman's Wagyu Beef Jaw Burger ($31.90), which is based on the newly released Batman v Superman movie.

This signature dish comes with wagyu beef and foie gras butter served in charcoal burger bun with the batman logo.

Prices for burgers and entrees range from about $20 to $40.

3. Charlie Brown Cafe

Chocolate Lava Cake & Matcha Lava Cake for the Charlie Brown Cafe. PHOTO: THE CHARLIE BROWN CAFE

Charlie Brown Cafe is South-east Asia's first Peanuts comic strip themed-cafe.

The first outlet in Orchard Cineleisure Mall opened in 2011, followed by the OneKM mall in 2015. Both cafes are Halal-certified.

The Charlie Brown Cafe's Chocolate Snoopy Crepe.PHOTO: THE CHARLIE BROWN CAFE

Some signature dishes include the Honey Grilled Chicken ($14) and the Beef Risotto ($14). And for dessert, the chocolate and matcha lava cakes ($7) which come decorated with a drawing of Snoopy, Charlie Brown's pet beagle.

You can buy Peanuts merchandise, including mugs, clothing and plush toys, at the cafes or from the website.

4. Pompompurin Cafe

The Tomodachi House. PHOTO: POMPOMPURIN CAFE

The cafe is named after the Sanrio character Pompompurin, a golden retriever that has been nominated twice as the most popular character by Strawberry News, a magazine published by Sanrio.

The eatery on the fourth level of Orchard Central just opened on April 18 and is Sanrio's first character-themed cafe in Singapore, after opening in places like Tokyo and Hong Kong.

The cafe has space for 78 diners and serve creatively styled dishes, like the Pompompurin shaped banana and caramel pancakes ($16.99) and the Taco Rice In A Cup of Friendship ($19.99). Main courses are priced between $18 and $27.

Beverages include the hot latte ($12.99), which comes with Pompompurin-shaped marshmallows.

Take a photo with Pompompurin's friends Bagel, Coconut, Mint and Macaroon in the Tomodachi House, which means "Friends House" in Japanese. Each booth fits four people and is themed after one of the four friends.

Every Pompompurin Cafe has a centrepiece of its own that serves as a photo op spot. For the Singapore outlet, there is a decorative tree, which features 3D mascots of Pompompurin and friends.

The greenery as well as the cafe's floor-to-ceiling windows contribute to its "garden city" decor.

5. Hungry Heroes

Fans can satisfy their craving for all things pop culture at Hungry Heroes, along Tessensohn Road.

The eye-catching DIY Superhero Chandelier hangs from the ceiling and is decorated with superhero action figures.

The Superhero Hall of Fame. PHOTO: HUNGRY HEROES

There are also life-sized superhero statues and head busts of Captain America, Thor and Iron Man.

The walls feature more than 100 superhero and pop culture posters in frames. These include posters of actress Audrey Hepburn and The Beatles.

The Faux Weapons Showcase at the Hungry Heroes Cafe. PHOTO: HUNGRY HEROES

There is also a faux weapons showcase, inspired by the movie Kick-Ass.

The restaurant serves American-style dishes, like the Bacon Karate Chop with Honey Thyme Gastrique ($20) and the Mother of all Chicken Burgers ($32). Prices for the main courses are from $19 to $30.

6. The Little Prince Creamery

The Little Prince Creamery's walls are decorated in illustrations from the book. ST PHOTO: JESSIE LIM

Opened in July 2015, the Little Prince Creamery is a heartland cafe at 47 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh inspired by the classic French book The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

The walls and floor feature drawings of key characters like the Little Prince and the boa constrictor.

The Little Prince Creamery's collection of The Little Prince books in different languages. ST PHOTO: JESSIE LIM

There is also a corner filled with The Little Prince books in different languages including French, Chinese and English.

The floor decorations at the The Little Prince Creamery. ST PHOTO: JESSIE LIM

The cafe serves artisan teas and hand-crafted gelato which pair well with waffles and sandwiches.

There is also a Rose Cafe Latte ($5) based on the Little Prince's beloved rose in the book.

Prices for waffles and sandwiches range from $6.90 to $8.90.

7. Gudetama Cafe

The Gudetama-themed cafe opened at level one of Suntec City Mall last year.

Local food blogger Shirley Wong, also known as Little Miss Bento, was enlisted by the Singapore Gudetama Cafe to assist with the food styling and co-creating the menu. On offer are dishes such as "I'm Cold" Smoked Salmon Benedict ($26.90), which is poached eggs, smoked salmon and mashed avocado on brioche toast, topped with yuzu Hollandaise sauce; Rib-"I" Don't Care ($28.50), a 200g chargrilled prime Angus ribeye steak topped with creamy mushroom sauce, served with mashed potatoes and vegetables; as well as Big "Nua" Breakfast ($25.90) with bacon, spicy pork bratwurst, sauteed mushrooms, baked beans and toasted brioche.

The 2,300 sq ft cafe features ceilings that look like waffles, as well as egg-shaped booths and chairs in the main dining area.

8. Soup Spoon Union x Cartoon Network Cafe

This 93-seat cafe at Punggol Waterway Point was the most recent entry to the slew of character-themed cafes.

Featuring popular characters from Cartoon Network's hit shows such as the Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Adventure Time and We Bare Bears, the cafe serves dishes such as Pan-Pan Calzone, inspired by We Bare Bears' panda character Pan Pan ($10.90++); a cheesy and crusty Omnitrix Pizza ($14.90++), with pepperoni and seaweed for Ben 10 fans; and the Blossom Carrot Cake ($14.90++), with marshmallows, named after one of the Powerpuff Girls.

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