Popular Rilakkuma-themed café Rilakkuma Café makes its healing debut in Taiwan

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

Long-awaited by Rilakkuma fans, Japan’s ultra-popular Rilakkuma has finally unveiled its first-ever themed café, which officially began soft operations on September 1, 2015, in Taipei, with its grand public opening on October 2. Amid the bustling streets of the city’s East District, stepping into this café feels like entering a dreamy world all its own—a rare and precious lifestyle space that offers tranquility amidst the urban hustle. Inside the café, Rilakkuma appears everywhere, enveloping visitors in a blissfully therapeutic and stress-relieving atmosphere, making it the perfect spot for a laid-back, leisurely time.

Rilakkuma Café doesn’t rely on flashy décor but instead offers a naturally healing warmth and unwavering commitment to quality. The clean white walls set the tone, and right at the entrance, the super-popular Rilakkuma “store manager” greets every guest. Take a closer look at the left side of the door—there’s an intricately designed blue pattern on the white metal lattice wall. This blue dot pattern comes from the inside of Rilakkuma’s zipper, hiding a little secret. Every detail in the café lets you feel Rilakkuma’s boundless enthusiasm and the owner’s thoughtful creativity. Without excessive embellishment, the service here is refined to perfection. Not only that, but at the entrance, behind the bar, and even in the photo zone, there are six large plush character dolls—including Rilakkuma, Kiiroitori (Little Yellow Bird), and Choco Cornet (Little White Bear)—waiting to greet fans and pose for photos.

The space of Rilakkuma Café includes a product display area flown in directly from Japan, a comfortable and spacious dining area, and a Rilakkuma sofa photo zone that will delight both adults and children. All the tableware in the café is custom-made, and every seat comes with fluffy Rilakkuma-shaped pillows and plush toys. Even the Rilakkuma food toys on the walls and all the products sold in-store have been flown in from Japan. Everywhere you look, you can see the care and dedication put in by the owners.

Arthur, General Manager of Good Food International Culture Co., Ltd., shared: “The birth of Rilakkuma Café is not just about fulfilling my own dream of owning a café—it’s also about realizing the dream of my wife Mollie, who is Rilakkuma’s biggest fan. We want to offer every guest the most comfortable and spacious dining experience possible. That’s why we spared no expense in creating an 80-ping dining space in the prime and pricey East District. Unlike other themed restaurants that go for a small and cute style, we’ve adopted a design centered around sleek white and natural wood tones to create a cozy, home-like atmosphere. Every unique design element and thoughtful detail in the café is the result of many careful discussions between Arthur and Mollie. Seeing customers affirm our ideals and beliefs, and witnessing their joyful expressions while dining here, Arthur says it’s all been worth it.”