On a Monday evening, hearing there was a maid cafe in Nakano where you can relax and unwind, I immediately did some coverage!
About Lilium Nakano The introduction page for Lilium Nakano is here.
Inside the shop, fairy-tale music and birdsong (*sound effects) can be heard, just like a mansion out of a picture book... About three customers had come in, each seeming to spend time alone.
Maybe thanks to the atmosphere of the on-duty cast, Yume-chan and Ao-chan, a very laid-back space spread out. Soothing...
A Fulfilling All-You-Can-Drink System
The system is all-you-can-drink, and during the time slot when this writer visited, for 1 hour at 1,980 yen you could freely order drinks including alcohol.
Since I was there, I tried ordering the "Seasonal Tea of the Month." The variety was apparently "Choco Berry." The cacao aroma is strong, with a bitter impression on the palate. Perfect for the cold winter!
The tea is served in a pot, and the maid pours the first cup for you. Tea must get ordered often, because she seemed practiced at it. They apparently put care into choosing the cups too. The cup with a blue floral pattern was cute...
Also, if you stay more than an hour, you get a snack set as an otoshi (appetizer), but it's a volume you wouldn't believe is just an otoshi! On a cute tray like one for afternoon tea, there's prosciutto, two kinds of cheese, sausage, crackers, and nuts. This alone could fill you up, but today I also had cake.
Today's cake, the "Chocolate Banana Tart," is 600 yen. It's quite sweet, so it pairs really well with the tea I'd just had! The scattered nuts are fragrant, and this too is satisfyingly substantial. Amazingly, it's handmade by the maid staff Yuki-chan and Haru-chan! Being able to eat the cast's handmade dishes is so delightful...!
Three Kinds of Cheki! You Might Even Get a Message from a Maid
The satisfaction is already immense, but of course I had to order a cheki! So I asked the on-duty cast member Ao-chan. The price apparently changes depending on the content of the doodle.
- Cheki (date and signature only): 800 yen - Doodle Cheki: 1,000 yen - SP Deco Cheki (with doodle on the back): 1,300 yen
Since I was there, I ordered the SP Deco Cheki. They write a message even on the back! How delightful! Since they do the doodle right at your seat, you can also enjoy chatting while they draw. It's a recommended menu item for those who want to talk more with the maids.
These are Ao-chan (left) and Yume-chan (right), who served me today. They're old friends, and the atmosphere between the two of them was very warm.
A Soothing Space Where You Can Forget the City's Hustle
It was very comfortable, and the hour passed in a flash. The shop has 12 seats, making it a cozy size, so I think it's perfect for those who want to be soothed after work. When you have business in Nakano, by all means drop by!