The place to go for three of the world’s most delightful things: wine, cats, and girls in thigh-high stockings.

Once a unique phenomenon, Japan’s maid cafe culture is now well-known around the world, and has grown to make all sorts of niche fantasies come true, with plump maids, zombie maids, and maids to help you flex your muscles.

Out of all the many establishments in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, where most of the country’s maid cafes are located, one newly opened business called Akiba Zettai Ryoiki has been voted the most popular maid cafe on travel site TripAdvisor, where it also ranks as the third most popular restaurant in Akihabara’s wider Chiyoda Ward.

▼ The cafe is bright and airy with a welcoming atmosphere, which makes it great for first-time visitors.

Since its opening in February last year, Akiba Zettai Ryoiki’s popularity has skyrocketed, with locals and overseas tourists giving it rave reviews for its service, food, and “kawaii” cute appeal. Given the huge demand for their style of maid experience, the “No. 1 Kawaii Maid Cafe” has just announced it will be opening a second branch in Akihabara on 20 July.

Whereas the first branch, which has an “otaku x kawaii” or “nerd × cute” theme, is staffed by cute maids in cat ears and over-the-knee socks, the new second branch takes a slightly different approach, but keeps the focus on the “zettai ryoiki” from its title.

▼ “Zettai Ryoiki” translates to “absolute territory” and is used to refer to the exposed thigh area between skirt and thigh-high stocking.

Called Akiba Zettai Ryoiki A.D.1912, the new branch will take visitors to a different era of exposed thigh, with a “Classical English-style feel” present in the decor, uniforms and demeanour of the maids.

▼ The new maid cafe will be run under the theme of “classical x chaos“.

While the maids in many classically themed cafes tend to wear long uniforms, Akiba Zettai Ryoiki A.D.1912 is looking to give their customers a cute and contemporary take on the classical maid with specially designed outfits featuring shorter hemlines. The new branch will also be incorporating its original cute feline theme into the mix, with cat-ear headwear.

The cat theme will also be a feature of the meals, with menu options like this juicy hamburg steak served up in a cast iron cat plate.

And maids will be ready to decorate your omuraisu, or omelette rice, with ketchup cats as well.

For dessert, sweet-tooths will be able to treat themselves to a number of special mini cakes, featuring cute anime illustrations by Japanese artist Tsurushima Tatsumi, with the whipped cream topping standing in as the skirt for each maid.

And for those looking to indulge over dinner, the evening menu will include more than 18 varieties of sommelier-selected wines; a move that’s prompted them to call themselves “Akihabara’s First Maid Winery“.

It appears that the word “winery” is being loosely used by the new cafe, as no wine will be made on the premises. However, they’re serious about giving diners a wine-centric experience with their evening meal, as they have a cellar stocked with wines from around the world for all to enjoy.

So if you’re looking for a place to sip some good quality wine with your meal in the company of maids with “absolute territory”, Akiba Zettai Ryoiki A.D.1912 is waiting for your visit. Just be careful you don’t end up like this mystery customer, who dropped more than US$4,000 on champagne at a maid cafe!

Maid Cafe Information

Maid Cafe & Winery Akiba Zettai Ryoiki A.D.1912 / メイドカフェ＆ワイナリー アキバ絶対領域 A.D.1912
Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Soto-Kanda 3-1-15, Hashisho Building 2F
東京都千代田区外神田3-1-15 箸勝ビル2F
Hours: 12:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (last order 9:30 p.m.) every day
Website

Source, images: PR Times