Ever since it was announced, as we reported earlier this year, Cowboy Bebop fans have been eagerly waiting for the Cowboy Bebop Good Smile x animate cafe to open its doors. The latest collaboration to be hosted by animate cafe in its locations in Akihabara, Tokyo and Nipponbashi, Osaka, this is a special event for Cowboy Bebop fans since it is also a celebration of the popular anime's 20th anniversary. With a cafe decor modeled after the aesthetic of the series, as well as a food and drink menu with a motif inspired by the Bebop crew, we couldn't hold back our enthusiasm.

Faster than you can say: "Ok, three, two, one, let's jam!" we were busy making contacts and getting things ready to cover the opening day, May 15th, 2018.

Cowboy Bebop Cafe Opening Day Report

Since the closest cafe to us was in Akihabara, our report is based on that location.

When you arrive on the 5th floor of the Akiba Cultures Zone building, you'll probably need to line up. Taking into account Cowboy Bebop's global popularity, it would be safe to assume there will be a few other people waiting to get in.

In a departure from some of the previous events hosted by animate cafe, the Cowboy Bebop Good Smile x animate cafe operates on a first-come first-serve basis, with no reservations required.

As you wait in line

This is the view once you step off the elevator and head towards the cafe.

Offering a taste of what you can expect inside, there is a three-tiered display case at the beginning of the waiting lane.

Top shelf: Big acrylic stands featuring Spike, Faye, Jet, Ed and Ein

Middle shelf: Rocks glasses printed with the likeness of Jet (green) or Spike (blue). (Faye and Ed / Ein versions not displayed), cork coasters with the likeness of Spike, Faye, Jet, Ed and Ein, and four of the twelve versions of their special coasters which you will receive at your table (requests for specific versions not accepted).

Bottom shelf: Menus (lunch version and dinner version), and four additional examples of the special coasters.

Cafe Interior

As you step inside, the first thing you may notice is Yoko Kanno's soundtrack and incidental music from the anime playing, creating just the right mood for a Cowboy Bebop cafe. The stage area at the opposite end of the room is decorated with impressive extra large posters featuring the full portrait series of the five crew members, flanked by two widescreen television monitors displaying a slideshow of images from the anime.

To the right of the stage area, life-sized cardboard panels are also available for you to pose with, for the perfect photo opportunity.

The left wall displays the 16 different trading portraits available for purchase (details below), while the right wall is decorated with the same full portrait images which are displayed on the stage.

Menu selections

Once we had gotten our bearings in the cafe, we chose a table. Each tabletop is decorated with stylish artwork representing each of the crew members and silhouettes of spaceships such as the Swordfish II and the Red Tail.

Cocktails

Before trying one of the dishes, we wanted to get in the right mood by ordering some cocktails. The first one was Spike's signature drink, the Spike Spiegel [800 JPY]. Naturally, for an "old-fashioned cowboy," it's an old fashioned.

And resting on the tray of nuts that comes with it is a bite-sized chocolate version of Spike's signature pistol, the Jericho 941. "....Bang..."

Other alcoholic selections are the Jet Black, a Cowboy (whiskey and half-and-half) and the Faye Valentine, a Martini, [700 JPY each] as well as beer [700 JPY] and a high ball [600 JPY].

If you have one drink too many and you're fighting a hangover, don't worry because the Prairie Oyster [600 JPY] is also on the menu. (Due to high quality control, eggs are safe to eat raw in Japan). Unlike the scene in the episode "Heavy Metal Queen," however, it's served without a few splashes of gin. And of course, you're perfectly entitled to order one sober.

Non-alcoholic beverages are also available. There's the Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV [700 JPY] which is essentially a Cinderella (orange, pineapple and lemon juice in a soda water or ginger ale base), the Swordfish II (strawberry puree in a ginger ale base with tapioca pearls and a sprig of rosemary), the Hammerhead (mango lemonade with a sprig of mint), and the Red Tail [600 JPY each], which is the one we ordered.

A mocktail made with White Water (a sweet, non-carbonated soft drink flavored with lactic acid and nonfat milk), blueberry syrup, cheesecake ice cream, blueberry sauce and crumbled biscuits, the Red Tail makes an excellent dessert cocktail.

Main Dishes

After we enjoyed those cocktails, we were hankering for something more substantial. We were able to sample two dishes when we visited, the Mushroom Samba (lunch version) and The Oniyate Bokujo Son-of-a-Gun Stew (Oniyate Ranch Son-of-a-Gun Stew) (lunch version).

The lunch version of Mushroom Samba [1,000 JPY] is a very tasty burger with a slice of grilled shiitake mushroom, served together with grilled shiitake and potatoes and a marinated mushroom salad. The dinner version is identically priced but replaces the burger with a saucepan of seafood and shiitake mushrooms cooked in hot oil and garlic "al ajillo" style. (No hallucinogenic mushrooms are used).

The Oniyate Bokujo Son-of-a-Gun Stew (Oniyate Ranch Son-of-a-Gun Stew) [800 JPY] is designed after Andy's canned version in the episode "Cowboy Funk." Basically, it's a cream stew with vegetables and chicken, served in its lunch version with a salad with uncured ham, three slices of baguette bread and a little square wafer decorated just like the label on the can of Son-of-a-Gun stew. The dinner version [500 JPY] is just the stew with one slice of baguette and the decorative wafer.

Other menu selections include Kane ga nai toki no Chinjiao Rosu (Bell Peppers and Beef When You're Broke) [700 JPY], a set meal (with egg drop soup and salad) which fans will instantly recognize from the first session, "Asteroid Blues" (for an additional 300 yen, you can have a version with meat), the Ganymede Seafood Pizza [900 JPY] (sea rat not included), spaghetti with meatballs [1,000 JPY], and several different kinds of appetizers ranging from 500 to 800 JPY for those interested in lighter fare. See more details on their website here.

[Note: Lunch versions of menu items cannot be ordered at dinner time, and vice versa. If you are interested in an item on the menu, be sure to visit at the right time of day.]

Desserts

If you're in the mood for something sweet, you can choose between two desserts, the Yamiyo no Heavy Rock (Toys in the Attic) (coffee jelly, coffee ice cream, nuts, caramel sauce and a crepe) [700 JPY], inspired by the episode of the same name or the I Am Giving a Warning! [800 JPY], which is a reference to a line from Teddy Bomber in "Cowboy Funk."

The I Am Giving a Warning! is a delicious parfait. A vanilla ice cream teddy bear head with cookie ears and snout stares up at you with white chocolate eyes. Under a generous layer of whipped cream is a bed of chocolate pudding, orange peel, chocolate ice cream, brownie chunks and corn flakes. As a clever nod to Teddy Bomber's weapon of choice, the parfait is decorated with a ring of purple pop rocks which will set off tiny explosions on your tongue.

Coffee and other beverages

Finally, if you're in the mood for something caffeinated, we recommend the Radical Edward [600 JPY], a cappuccino decorated with a grinning face.

Standard coffee is also available as well as 100% orange juice and oolong tea (500 JPY each).

The full menu is available online here.

Limited edition cafe goods

The wall closest to the entrance is reserved for the special limited goods which you can purchase in the cafe.

One of the cooler items is a necktie pin in the shape of Spike's spaceship the Swordfish II [1,500 JPY]

These handsome cork coasters are available in two different sets of three [1,000 JPY].

These rocks glasses are available in two sets of two [2,000 JPY].

You can choose from one of four big acrylic stands [1,200 JPY]. Here's Spike Spiegel.

They even sell handy folders [JPY 600] for you to store and display the special original coasters you receive when you purchase items from the menu.

Take your time to review all 16 of the attractive A4-sized trading portraits [500 JPY].

Here are some of our favorites:

You can also purchase a framed version of the special commemorative illustration for the Cowboy Bebop Good Smile x animate cafe [12,000 JPY] and a Zippo lighter [1,000 JPY] featuring Spike's likeness.

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You'll want to check out this amazing Cowboy Bebop cafe. With collectible and attractive goods, delicious food and drinks and an interior design and mood that pays homage to the anime, it's a must-visit for fans and non-fans alike. The magic ends on June 10, 2018, so don't miss it!

Cowboy Bebop Good Smile x animate cafe (Akihabara, Tokyo) details

Duration

May 15th to June 10th, 2018

Address

English: 5th floor, AKIBA Cultures Zone, 1-7-6 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021

Japanese: 〒101-0021 東京都千代田区外神田1-7-6 AKIBAカルチャーズZONE 5F

Tel: 03-3526-3761

Hours

Lunch: 11:00-16:00 [L.O. 15:30]

Dinner: 17:00-21:30 [L.O. 21:00]

Please note that the cafe will be closed between 16:00-17:00.

Access

A five minute walk from JR Akihabara Station, or a five minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Suehirocho Station

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Details for the Nipponbashi, Osaka location can be found here online.

Website

Cowboy Bebop Good Smile x animate cafe homepage

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See you space cowboys and cowgirls!