For those who’ve been around, Aniplus Café has become a familiar sight along the Annexe stretch of Esplande Mall, but that’ll no longer be the case. Now situated within the mall itself, it offers an expanded new space for the first time in six years, launching alongside a new official Haikyu!! collaboration – the first of its kind in Singapore.
The excitement kicks in before visitors step into the café, with standees of popular characters like Hinata, Kageyama, Tsukishima, Oikawa, Kenma, and Kuroo lining the exterior, and the much-loved Bokuto-Akaashi pair greeting them at the entrance. Unlike before, the merchandise area is tucked away from the dining premises in a dedicated spot, while a row of gacha machines presents an opportunity to tempt luck.
On the inside, themed décor adorns the tables and pillars, joining two larger-scale installations that pay homage to the franchise – one featuring a net and the Miya brothers, Atsumu and Osamu, and another set up like a court, complete with a scoreboard flipper and a giant display showcasing the various trailers and iconic moments over the years. Keep your eyes peeled, and there’s even a neat reference to Hinata’s highest jump reach (fans can take on the jump challenge and see how they fare against the Ultimate Decoy!).
As the hunger pangs set in, it’s time to dig in. The Aniplus Café x Haikyu!! collaboration assigns each of the five major school teams to its menu offerings, starting with drinks priced at S$9 each: Mango Citrus Punch (Karasuno), Apple Berry Ade (Nekoma), Melon Soda Float (Aoba Johsai), Brown Sugar Hojiacha Latte (Furkurodani), and Blackcurrant Lychee Float (Inarizaki).
The main dishes – the names of which are a direct reference to the slogan of the respective school team – and desserts are also paired up accordingly, with Tangerine French Toast (S$19) and “Fly” Curry Omurice (S$21) representing Karasuno, alongside the following:
- Nekoma: Pudding Parfait (S$19) / “Connect” Sanma Takikomi Gohan (S$21)
- Aoba Johsai: Fruit Sando (S$19) / “Rule the Court” Broccoli Pesto Past (S$21)
- Fukurodani: Pistachio Pancakes (S$19) / “One Ball, Heart and Soul” Yakiniku Rice Bowl (S$22.50)
- Inarizaki: Cranberry Mochi Parfait (S$19) / “We Don’t Need Memories” Kitsune Udon Meal (S$22.50)
Each purchase of a collab main or dessert includes one random acrylic coaster out of 11 designs, while drink orders come with one random memorial card out of 10 designs. For those looking to buy more merchandise, there will be exclusive offerings available, including Café Original SD character illustrations.
Rounding out the Aniplus Café x Haikyu!! experience is a meet-and-greet with the bird mascots of Hinata and Kageyama, known affectively as Hinagarasu and Kagegarasu, on 25 and 26 October. Additionally, a scavenger hunt will run from 24 October to 13 November, inviting fans to locate various mini-sized secret objects hidden within the store and win Aniplus Café vouchers and exclusive merchandise.
The collaboration is happening now till 18 December.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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