Step into a world of pink and playfulness as we embarked on a whimsical adventure at the Malibu Barbie Café in Chicago. We were not only captivated by the vibrant atmosphere but I was armed with my limited edition Barbie journal from Five Below, where I was determined to document every moment of this extraordinary experience.
That opening sure sounded wonderful. Didn’t it? I knew exactly how I wanted our experience to be at the Malibu Barbie Cafe, so I wrote the post in advance and just saved some room for some minor edits. Well, guess what?
None of it really went as planned. Hell, I didn’t even bring in the Barbie notebook!
A Dream Come True or Not?
As we made it to the cafe, I found available parking along the street which was very convenient. There was no lack of street parking and for once, free parking which was greatly appreciated.
Once we arrived, I walked in to check in and was told to hang out outside in line and we would be let in a little closer to time. It was no big deal since we arrived about 10 minutes earlier than our assigned time. As we waited, I snapped a few photos of the cafe outside and caught such a gorgeous photo of my mom and daughter.
When my name was called, we stepped through the doors of the Malibu Barbie Café and were greeted by a stunning pink paradise. From the carefully curated décor to the Barbie-inspired menu items, every detail exuded the essence of the iconic doll. The excitement was palpable as we settled into our table, ready to embark on a memorable experience.
Savoring Pink Delights
After our waiter greeted us, we were able to add-on any additional items that we did not purchase during our reservation. This included any children’s menu items, drinks, floats, cake pops, etc.
We agreed to stick to our original order but would add more later on throughout the experience. My plan was to order a strawberry float to be delivered in a pink Barbie convertible, but I didn’t get a chance to order it. I’ll talk more about that later.
We pre-ordered the California Dreamin’ Chicken Club and side salads which were very aesthetic (not to mention delicious) and didn’t take much time to arrive. I was pleasantly surprised by the sandwich because it had a nice balance of pink pickled onions on it that really help to make the taste unique and delicious. It was certainly a taste that I have never experienced before.
Immersed in Pink Aesthetics
Prior to our meal being delivered and in between eating, we popped over to the Barbie photo box op for a few fun photos. While we captured a few, I was certainly planning for more. My mom didn’t really seem to but too interested which really dampened the mood. Talk about disheartening.
I couldn’t believe how we could be in such a visual wonderland, with vibrant pink hues adorning every corner, and she not be interested, especially after planning for this for so long, buying pink dresses to wear, and driving a few hours to get there.
Not to mention, I brought the pink camera and the Barbie journal to be used as a faithful companion, allowing me to jot down our thoughts, place mementos such as the menu inside, and attach Polaroid snapshots of the magical moments we encountered. None of that happened. My heart still aches from the unfulfilled potential.
Barbie Chic Fashion
Aside from the array of photo opps inside the cafe and outdoors, the café itself exuded Barbie’s iconic style; the staff and patrons also embraced the spirit of fashion. Everyone came decked out in their Barbie attire, from children and babies to moms and grandmas, even the men! Everyone radiated a sense of joy and playfulness.
I LOVED IT!
I loved seeing everyone happy to be there, enjoying the lunch, and taking super fun photos. Sadly, we didn’t take a lot of photos, my mom wanted to box up her lunch, and the outing ended up pretty damn sour, to say the least. If I could have the experience over again, I would do it in a heartbeat with strangers or even a friend, but certainly not with my mother.
Final Thoughts
Overall, visiting the Malibu Barbie Café should be an exciting time and and unforgettable adventure – made even better with good company.
Should you have any interest in going, I’m leaving the link below. There’s no affiliate link for this, just a link leading you to how to schedule your own visit.
However, I am also leaving my Buy Me a Coffee link below, as well in case you’d like to drop a dollar or two (or $100) for a redo!
https://bucketlisters.com/experience/malibu-barbie-cafe-chicago
