If you envied the characters living in the Day-Glo fantasy world of Barbie Land in the 2023 “Barbie” movie, you’re in luck. A real-life facsimile, Malibu Barbie Cafe, will open this summer in San Diego.
Co-created by Bucket Listers and toymaker Mattel Inc., the pop-up Malibu Barbie Cafe will open in a Harborview-area hotel on July 11. The bubble-gum pink attraction will offer a quick-service menu of sandwiches, salads, desserts and drinks, a Barbie merchandise shop, plenty of Instagram-worthy photo stations and a roller-skating rink.
The San Diego location is the eighth Malibu Barbie Cafe pop-up, ing locations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis’ Mall of America, Austin and Houston.
The temporary installation, which will be open for two to three months, will be set up in the Bayside Kitchen and Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego at 2137 Pacific Highway. It arrives just in time for San Diego Comic-Con, which takes place July 24-27 at the San Diego Convention Center, about 2 1/2 miles away.
Julie Freeland, Mattel’s vice president of global location-based entertainment, said in a statement that the cafe represents a unique experience that celebrates the Barbie brand.
“At Mattel we are always looking for exciting, new ways to bring the Barbie experience to life. From the décor to the menu, every detail has been thoughtfully designed to celebrate the iconic Barbie style,” she said.
While the configuration of the installation changes from city to city, the look and feel of Malibu Barbie Cafe matches that of the toy line, the 1970s vibe of the “Barbie” movie and its cotton candy color scheme.
The restaurant’s menu, created by “MasterChef” finalist and “Chopped” champion Becky Brown, offers a classic burger, vegetarian grilled cheese sandwich and vegan pancake plate option. There are a few shareable plates, including a spinach artichoke dip, beet hummus plate, salad and sides. There’s a Cupcake Barbie Boat, with nine frosted cupcakes served aboard a plastic Barbie boat toy, a design-your-own cupcake dessert, cake pops, an ice cream float and make-your-own sundae option. There’s also a children’s menu.
Besides food and skating, the venue will offer a few special events, including cupcake-decorating classes, paint parties and a 21-and-up skate night.
ission for a 90-minute visit will be $25, which includes a $10 food credit and $5 merchandise credit. Visitors can rent roller skates on-site for the rink, and $1 of each skate rental will be donated to the American Red Cross in of those affected by California wildfires. The hours for the attraction have not been announced.
Tickets will go on sale one month in advance, on June 11. A waiting list and more details are available at bucketlisters.com/experience/malibu-barbie-cafe-san-diego. More details can be found on Instagram at instagram.com/barbiecafeofficial/.
