Universal CityWalk Hollywood Celebrates Hello Kitty’s 50th Anniversary

Universal CityWalk Hollywood celebrates global pop icon Hello Kitty’s milestone 50^th anniversary by unwrapping a selection of scrumptious new menu items available at the highly popular Hello Kitty® and Friends Cafe along with 50th-anniversary merchandise at the all-new Sanrio Smile Shop. This kicks off on Friday, November 1, which is Hello Kitty Day when Hello Kitty celebrates her birthday and limited-time 50^th items will be available through December 31.

The Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe and the Sanrio Smile Shop are located adjacent to one another at the heart of Universal CityWalk and complement the Animation Studio Store located within Universal Studios Hollywood which features a wide selection of Hello Kitty merchandise including exclusive items only found at the theme park.

The one-of-a-kind Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe is adding an assortment of 50^th-themed items to its unique, grab-and-go menu with artfully designed creations to reflect Hello Kitty’s playful spirit, including a 50th Cookie Sandwich, 50^th Anniversary Cake and Sparkling 50^th Drink, which is a strawberry soda with coconut cream foam on top. Prepared by Universal Studios Hollywood Executive Chef Julia Thrash, the limited-time offerings join other Hello Kitty and Friends-themed sweet treats, including Hello Kitty® Mousse Dome, Seasonal Mousse Domes, Strawberry Cake, Berry & Cream Churro, Macaron Set, and Hello Kitty® Cookie. The venue also serves supercute signature beverages, including Hello Kitty® Strawberry Green Iced Tea, My Melody™ Lemonade, Kuromi™ Berry Iced Tea, Tuxedosam™ Lemonade, Keroppi™ Matcha Latte, Chococat™ Frozen Mocha, as well as two new hot drinks – the Mocha Bow Bomb Latte and the Hot Chocolate Bow Bomb – that will make their debut on November 1.

The Sanrio Smile Shop, located next to the Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe, is a vibrant new store that celebrates all things Sanrio and Hello Kitty, inviting guests to step into the very pink world of Hello Kitty and her beloved friends – Cinnamoroll™, Keroppi™, Kuromi™, My Melody™, Badtz-Maru™, and Chococat™.

The shop features an assortment of themed merchandise and a treasure trove of iconic statement pieces, featuring a limited-time-only Hello Kitty 50^th Anniversary merchandise line available now until the end of the year, while supplies last. The celebratory line features an array of Hello Kitty t-shirts, plush, ceramic mugs, tumblers, notepads, stationery kits, lanyards, cell phone bags, and backpacks. Customers will also find a selection of products themed in honor of the new Hello Kitty and Friends Café, including bright pink aprons emblazoned with the cafe’s logo, magnets, signs, and hats. All merchandise at the new shop radiates the cheerful spirit of Hello Kitty, making it a paradise for fans looking to take home a piece of beloved memorabilia.

To commemorate Hello Kitty’s 50^th anniversary in the theme park, Hello Kitty debuted a soft pastel pink dress that reflects her iconic sense of style while capturing her endearing timeless appeal. Donning this new outfit, Hello Kitty can regularly be spotted welcoming and posing with guests and fans when they visit her at the Animation Studio Store.