Tired of dating self-absorbed men? China’s butler cafes have got you covered
“Okaeri-nasai mase, Goshujin-sama!” exclaimed Misaki Ayuzawa back in 2015, introducing international anime audiences to the concept of Japanese maid cafes. Translating to “welcome home, master” Ayuzawa used the phrase while greeting male customers—all the while condensing her inner ‘bruh-ness’ to fit the concept of being a kawaii girl decked in a frilly French maid outfit. “The men out there today need someone to hear them out, let’s do our best,” her co-workers chanted.
Back in 2016, after watching the anime myself, I remember echoing the same curiosity which has plagued female audiences to date worldwide. Why should men have all the fun? What about ‘male maid cafes’? Do they even exist? If so, where can I visit one? Women in China, fed up with dating self-absorbed men, are now fuelling a booming industry in this quest. Enter butler cafes, China’s hottest rental service offering attentive male company—for a fee.
Men who actually listen
Remember those “I rented a Korean oppa without telling my boyfriend” videos that used to randomly pop up on your YouTube recommendations circa 2019? Well, butler cafes are based on a similar concept where lucky customers get to spend time with a team of dashing young waiters for an hourly fee of approximately ¥800 (£90).
The general concept goes something like this: with various roles like House Steward, Butler and Footman, the staff are impeccably dressed and are here to solely act as your butlers while you’re dining in your own ‘home’. They strictly have to stay in character throughout your time at the cafe while pampering you with drinks and movies. To top it all off, they listen to everything you have to say. No interruptions, pronto.
Originally from Japan, butler cafes are now generating enormous buzz on Chinese social media—spreading rapidly in major cities. Sixth Tone noted how a review site, DianPing, now lists dozens of outlets offering “butler” services. Several posts about the cafes have also gone viral on the country’s Instagram-like social platform Xiaohongshu in recent months.
So what exactly is fuelling this boom out of the blue? The bottom line: tightening restrictions and frustrations of Chinese women, many of those who feel that the society is far too patriarchal. With studies in the past proving how Chinese wives are less happy in their relationships than their husbands across age groups, butler cafes aim to give women a space where they are in control.
“Our mission is simple. We want to take care of women’s needs as much as possible,” said Mero, co-founder of The Promised Land, a butler cafe in central Shanghai. Launched in October 2020, customers can choose the type of man they want to be accompanied by at the cafe. They also have the autonomy of deciding the activities they’ll do together—right down to their preferences of dressing. In an interview with Sixth Tone, Mero highlighted how a traditional suit and tie or a Japanese-style school uniform are popular choices among customers. They can also book a butler to accompany them on shopping trips and other errands through the cafe’s “one-day boyfriend” service.
According to Mero, most of the clientele are university-educated women who are “open-minded.” They spend ¥600 (roughly £67) per visit on an average, with some paying as much as ¥25,000 (£2,803) to avail VIP perks—giving them access to special parties with butlers and more. “When I play games with my male friends, sometimes they’ll just keep winning without making you feel involved,” said Wang Qian, a 24-year-old student who is a regular visitor at the cafe. “But with the butlers, they’ll notice that and make you feel accomplished in the game.”
Qian described most of the men she meets in normal life as ‘pu xin nan’—a term popularised by the female comedian Yang Li that translates to “men who are so average, yet so confident.” The butlers, however, are considerate and never ‘mansplain’ anything to her. “The butlers respect me and care about my feelings,” added Zheng, a 40 year-old Shanghai civil servant who visited The Promised Land with a friend in April simply out of curiosity. “With the butlers, you are the queen!”
More than just “frivolous fun”
After spending time at the cafe, Zheng is no longer able to accept the unequal power dynamics that prevail in most Chinese relationships. “In the traditional Chinese mindset, men should be the breadwinners,” Zheng said. “But there’s nothing wrong with women consuming men for fun.” According to Zheng, in reality, men are the ones who pay checks and women are the ones serving them. “I don’t want to be in the subordinate role anymore. It’s nice to be on a higher level than them.”
Although The Promised Land was set up for a bit of “frivolous fun,” co-founder Mero explained how the cafe has deeply impacted the personal lives of customers. To many, the cafe isn’t really about cosplay, but companionship. “Some women have asked the butlers to help them move home or accompany them on visits to the hospital,” said Mero.
With the Chinese government increasingly cracking down on culture and business, following President Xi Jinping’s call for a “national rejuvenation,” butler cafes may just be the UNO reverse card on Japanese maid cafes that echo a counterintuitive solution for a society deeply rooted in patriarchy and the promotion of ‘masculinity’. The impact of these cafes also makes one wonder who has more power at this point: the customers or the servers? After all, industries like this wouldn’t exist if gender relations were friendly and respectful in the first place.
