A lemon tart available at the new Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Matcha Matcha drink in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

The Bow Room hosts afternoon tea and an evening cocktail hour at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Detailed saucer under a tea cup during the daytime traditional Afternoon Tea service in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Bow Room hosts afternoon tea and an evening cocktail hour at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Hello Kit-Tea drink – Japanese whiskey, jasmine tea, lime, depaz syrup, yuzu and cream – in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Whisker Sour drink in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cucumber with dill cream cheese on milk bread, creamy egg salad with chives and paprika in a savory cone, mozzarella with vine tomatoes and pesto in a tart shell and smoked salmon and dill cream cheese on a pretzel croissant are part of the daytime traditional Afternoon Tea service in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A raspberry macaron and mini cupcake are part of the daytime traditional Afternoon Tea service in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bartenders Emily Delicce, left, and Anese St. John make cocktails at The Bow Room in the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. The new store hosts an afternoon tea and an evening cocktail hour. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A mini cupcake, Hello Kitty mini cake and raspberry macaron are part of the daytime traditional Afternoon Tea service in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Hello Kitty Cafe mug available exclusively at the new Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The inside of a Hello Kitty Cafe mug available exclusively at the new Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A new shirt available exclusively at the new Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The entryway to the new Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



The new Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum features treats, merchandise, donuts and an afternoon tea in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Decor inside the new Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Aloha Kitty drink in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dear Daniel drink – mezcal, tequila, pineapple, lime, and salted coconut whip – in the Bow Room at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bartenders Emily Delicce, left, and Anese St. John make cocktails at The Bow Room in the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



The Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Treats at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, Sep 13, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In an entirely pink room, a glowing Hello Kitty silhouette loomed over a white bar. Lights slowly dimmed and dance music shifted the vibe from serene catwalk to sexy nightspot. “Club Kitty!” shouted Los Angeles jewelry designer Onch, whose client list includes Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj and Sanrio. “I’m ready to get so boozed up and kick it!”

Wearing a necklace of Sanrio characters that played against his pink T-shirt, striped socks and Hello Kitty kicks, he was relishing a sneak preview of the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe Sanrio at the Irvine Spectrum Center on Thursday, Sept. 13. Guests were treated to a demonstration of how the Bow Room transforms from afternoon tea house into nighttime bar.

Isn’t it weird? Maybe even a little kinky to knock back cocktails in a place themed for an 8-year-old girly animated character? “No,” said Onch. “I think she’s growing up with her fans,” he said. In his opinion, Sanrio did Hello Kitty justice with this luxe experience, even if the room is painted pink. “Walking in, it feels like a warm hug,” he said.

The character’s fan base is huge. An announcement on the opening from the Irvine Spectrum Center got more web hits than any it’s published before. “It’s the most Instagramable place I’ve ever been,” said one social media maven.

The concept started as a pop-up restaurant but now has a dazzling permanent home. It opens Friday, Sept. 14 and is already booked through mid-October. So if you’re curious and can’t wait, peer through the keyhole into the Bow Room. We’ll give you a taste of what it’s like to take tea there.

Background: It’s the first and only permanent cafe in the U.S. A 700-square-foot plus kitchen fast casual cafe with seating for 12 will be the place to order coffee and sweets from a grab-and-go menu: Espresso and blended drinks, mini doughnuts ($6) and Sanrio character mini cakes ($15). Hello Kitty merchandise will be sold. The Bow Room, a separate, 600-foot space with 28 seats is available only by reservation Wednesday through Sunday.

Deep background: This cat prowls without a chef, but a culinary team turns out all the goodies. Proprietors Urania Chien and Alan Tea (he’s a food industry guy with Capital Seafood and its noodle bars) have hired veteran mixologist Emily Delicce. She’s worked at nearly every top craft cocktail bar in Orange County: Social Costa Mesa, 320 Main, Broadway by Amar Santana and Boathouse Collective to name a few.

The look: The cafe has a neon sign that flashes “Hot Donuts” and a big Hello Kitty figure in front that’s perfect for taking selfies. If you’ve reserved in the Bow Room you must use the big brass bow knocker to be let in. Once inside you’ll be seated on pink cotton velvet banquettes amid toss pillows in pink and gold bearing images of Hello Kitty and cupcakes. It’s well appointed with a coffered ceiling, pink walls with Hello Kitty stencillling, and quartz floors and tabletops with Carrera marble finishes. The restroom has a Hello Kitty shaped mirror, a Hello sign and rose gold fixtures.

What to wear: Don’t go sloppy because you might feel foolish. Dress for tea or cocktails as if you’re headed to a luxury hotel. It’s that posh.

Tea service ($55 per person): Selections for tea geeks include whole leaf assam, white tip jasmine, oolong, sencha and Japanese cherry. There are caffeine-free choices, fruit flavored teas, a Birthday Blend and Earl Grey. Service begins with fresh strawberries covered with cream and dusted with pink sugar in a Hello Kitty design. Then a three-tiered tea tray shaped like Hello Kitty arrives. Among the savories, the smoked salmon in pretzel croissant with fresh dill and cream cheese was buttery and satisfying. Egg salad in a miniature sugar cone was just odd.

The kitty images were everywhere on an open-faced sandwich with carpaccio-thin slices of cucumber and perhaps even on the tiny pesto tart garnished with chives tied into what looked like cat ears, do they really go that far? Drop scones didn’t impress, and no clotted cream here, but the mini cupcake and chocolate chocolate cake were feathery and delectable, served at the proper temperature so their flavors blossomed.

The Hello Kitty Mini Cake, an almond flour petit four, cloaked in white chocolate, is heart-stopping both for its decadent richness and its picture-perfect Kitty image. All savories and desserts were exquisite in presentation with many expert touches such as decorative rolled fondant bows, leaves and stems. Charming teapots and china bear the namesake branding.

Cocktails: They’re all Instagram-worthy and incredibly sophisticated, priced from $14-$21. Pink Bow is a martini with gin, raspberry, lemon, liquor 43 and uses aquafaba — rather than smelly, non-vegan egg white — to create a foamy top. Happy Together changes color to lavender when apricot lemonade is added to blue butterfly pea flower infused vodka. It’s garnished with yellow sun daisies for a sprightly finishing touch. There will also be a wine list ($10-$63) that will include Hello Kitty wines.

Who it’s for: All ages for tea, reservations can only be made for parties of even numbers: 2, 4, 6, etc. Children 3 and younger are welcome but will not have their own place setting without a reservation that includes them. Cocktail times are for the over-21 set.

Hello Kitty Grand Café Sanrio

Find it: 860 Irvine Center Drive, near the Giant Wheel Court in the Irvine Spectrum Center, sanrio.com/pages/hellokittycafe-grand. Cafe hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Bow Room’s reservation hours: Afternoon Tea Service 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cocktails 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday; 5-11 p.m. Friday, Saturday.