What is "maid cafe"

alt. A novelty restaurant, originating in and found predominately in Japan, in which guests are served by waitresses in maid costumes, who treat them as masters/mistresses in a private home rather than as restaurant patrons. n. A novelty restaurant, originating in and found predominately in Japan, in which guests are served by waitresses in maid costumes, who treat them as masters/mistresses in a private home rather than as restaurant patrons.

are a subcategory of cosplay restaurants found predominantly in Japan. In these cafés, waitresses dressed in maid costumes act as servants, and treat customers as masters (and mistresses) in a private home, rather than as café patrons. The first permanent maid café, Cure Maid Café, was established in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan, in March 2001, but maid cafés are becoming increasingly popular. As they have done so, the increased competition has made use of some unusual tactics in order to attract customers. They have also expanded overseas to countries like China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Mexico, Canada and the United States.