Café Mai:lish

One of Akihabara's oldest maid cafés, this is the genre's archetype. Although it is pricier than some of the newer maid establishments (¥1,000 will get you a glass of Coke and a blob of ice-cream), your investment pays off in the details. The Victorian maid uniform is a faultless re-creation, and the soda fountain looks like something straight out of the '50s. The mood between the maids and their masters (that is, the customers) can be a bit chilly, but that's part of the appeal for the regulars who are big on 'unfulfilled longing'. Check the website for special events, such as 'Glasses Day'. Foreign nerds are welcome – there's even an English menu.