Pink Barbie Power Comes to Austin

By Victoria Hayden

Reporting Texas

Cafe visitors pose in one of the photo opportunities inside the cafe. Victoria Hayden/Reporting Texas

Roller skates glide and cameras flash as visitors step into a Barbie pop-up dream on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. 

The immersive experience is the latest from Bucket Listers. The company is known for transforming nostalgia and pop culture into real-life experiences, with pop-ups inspired by everything from hit TV shows to iconic characters. After making stops in cities like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, the Barbie Cafe is now giving Austinites a chance to live out their pink-powered fantasies. 

“Austin is very lucky to have opportunities like this,” said Rey Castillo, a skating attendant at the café.“It attracts people from all over the world.”

The Barbie Café will remain in Austin through June 15, giving visitors plenty of time to experience the pop-up before it moves on to its next adventure.

At the café, visitors can pose inside life-size Barbie boxes or lace up a pair of skates and roll around the Barbie-themed rink. The space is decked out for selfies and designed to make every guest feel like they’ve stepped inside Barbie’s world. 

“It fits the theme really well,” said Madeline Garcia.

The event is family-friendly, offering fun for Barbie fans of all ages—whether you’re bringing kids or reliving childhood memories.

Visitors can sip on Barbie-themed drinks, snack on colorful desserts, or sit down for a lunch menu crafted to match the café’s vibrant aesthetic.

The pop-up requires a reservation, which includes a 90-minute experience with a meal and access to the café’s themed activities. Tickets can be purchased through Bucket Listers’ website.

The Barbie Café isn’t just a nostalgic photo-op; it’s a reflection of Barbie’s cultural reinvention. Following the 2023 blockbuster movie, Barbie became more than a doll. She’s a conversation starter about gender roles and the challenges women face every day. 

Castillo said the café builds on that message, serving as more than just a themed attraction.

“It encapsulates the movie as a whole,” Castillo said. “Really empowering anyone who loves to wear pink, making everyone feel welcomed and wanted here.”

For Madeline Garcia, who visited the café with friends, the space goes beyond aesthetic appeal.

“It’s really girl empowerment,” Garcia said. “It shows that girls can do other stuff besides being pretty.”