Ever since its 1959 debut, the iconic Barbie doll has been the go-to toy for generations of children, and has become a world-wide phenomenon not to mention a pop culture cornerstone. With the much-anticipated release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film on 21 July 2023, viewers will be left pondering where to find their own version of Barbie World. From the pink sand beaches of Bermuda to a Malibu Barbie Café in New York, these stunning destinations offer an eclectic range of fabulously pink travel experiences that will give Barbie Land a run for its money.
New Malibu Barbie Cafe pop-up in New York City, Seaport, Manhattan
With the new live-action Barbie film coming out in July, it’s set to be a Barbie-filled summer. Thanks to Mattel and Bucket Listers, a new Barbie-inspired immersive dining experience has arrived in New York City! Barbie fans can live out their dollhouse dreams at the new ‘Malibu Barbie Cafe’ which opened 17 May. The family-friendly pop-up restaurant will stay open all summer until 15 September. Inspired by 1970s Malibu, the venue’s design is retro-glam, beachy and undeniably pink. The menu, created by MasterChef semi-finalist Becky Brown, offers dishes including Pacific Paradise Pancakes, West Coast Wedge Salad, a California Dreamin’ Club Sandwich, and an Anything is Possible Sundae. The cafe design incorporates an array of fun photo backdrops, including an iconic life-size Barbie box and exclusive merchandise so that Barbie lovers can get the perfect Instagram picture!
For more information please visit: Barbie Café’s instagram page / www.nyctourism.com
Step into a real life Barbie World at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo
If you’re looking for the perfect pink pitstop, the Madonna Inn hotel is the place to go. Since opening in 1958, the hotel has become an iconic landmark of the central coast of California, located just minutes away from Downtown San Luis Obispo, off Highway 101. What makes this hotel particularly special is the 101 guestrooms, all decorated with their own unique theme. Guests can choose from a whimsical array of different room types and suites, and with each having their own individual style of decor, there really is something to suit everyone. An exaggeration of pink, gold, flowers and glitter, stepping into Madonna Inn is like being transported into another world – perhaps a Barbie world! The iconic Gold Rush Steak House dining room is lavishly decorated with hot pink furnishings, which continue into Copper Cafe, where guests can savour a wonderful array of sweet treats and light dishes. The Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge also offers a fabulous selection of signature (pink!) cocktails and guests can enjoy their evenings listening to live music or salsa dancing. The hotel’s amenities are second to none, giving guests the opportunity to visit the spa and terrace pool, rent a bike to explore the local area or play a spot of tennis on one of the courts available – pink, of course! This over-the-top pink paradise is Barbie’s dream come true and guests will be sure to experience a completely unique and memorable stay at the Madonna Inn.
For more information please visit: madonnainn.com / Visit SLO CAL
Break loose from your 9-to-5 in a Dolly Parton themed pink paradise at Nashville’s Graduate Hote
Situated in the heart of Midtown, Graduate Nashville offers a fun and playful hotel that is a pink-lovers dream come true! The decor reflects the innate charm of the city and guests will be greeted with funky neon signs and eclectic pop art situated around the hotel. There are a range of rooms and suites available, decorated with quirky, Instagrammable decor, and guests can choose from a range of available packages, such as the ‘Girl’s Night In’, to make their stay extra special. The hotel’s café, Poindexter, serves a variety of beverages and guests can even head to the hotel’s karaoke bar, Cross Eyed Critters, to unleash their inner country star. At the top of the hotel sits White Limozeen, named in honour of Dolly Parton’s 1989 hit song and album, and is a venue that is dressed to impress like the star herself. Inspired by the Country music legend, the bar is decorated head-to-toe in lavish barbie-pink furnishings, crystal chandeliers, fuchsia crushed velvet chairs and a larger-than-life pink Dolly Parton sculpture made from chicken wire. Boasting a rooftop pool and breathtaking views over Music City, this quirky bar is not only a fantastic place to sip on cocktails, but it tells the narrative of a rags-to-riches story for those looking to channel their inner Dolly and enjoy the glitz and glamour of the country music world.
For more information please visit: graduatehotels.com / visitmusiccity.com
The Colony Palm Beach
To describe The Colony Hotel is to describe Barbie’s Dreamhouse. Think candy-floss-coloured walls, striped umbrella sun loungers, and peachy golf carts used to transport guests around Palm Beach’s pinkest hotel. Barbie’s set designers, Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, and Colony Hotel’s interior designers, the mother-daughter team behind Kemble Interiors, Celerie Kemble and Mimi McMakin, share the same vision: an enthusiasm for attention to detail and the colour pink. This is depicted throughout the entire hotel, as each space feels considered yet fun and playful, as epitomised by the hand-painted De Gournay living room. This Barbie motif does not stay within the hotel’s walls. Located right around the corner is Worth Avenue, an enchanting landmark destination featuring a treasure trove of luxe Barbie-style boutiques just steps away from the ocean. Visitors can prepare to be immersed in a Barbie paradise throughout their time at the Palm Beaches: with every aspect evoking the glitzy world that we are all about to see on our screens.
For more information please visit thecolonypalmbeach.com / thepalmbeaches.com
Bermuda’s Hamilton Princess Hotel and Pink Sand Beaches
Step into a Barbie-like Dreamworld at The Hamilton Princess Hotel. As the name suggests, visitors can get ready to feel pampered like a Barbie princess with the brand-new Exhale spa, which has a spoiling menu of luxurious head-to-toe treatments. In 2017, the hotel underwent an extensive, multi-year renovation that took the space to another, glistening level. This makeover makes the hotel perfect for devoted Barbie fans with its pastel pink-washed walls and dreamy beach club. Exploring the island Barbie-style could not be easier thanks to on-site toy-like Twizy cars, and a must-stop destination on a Bermudian island expedition are the many powdery pink beaches that truly could have fallen off Barbie’s film set. Pictures won’t do justice to the incredible beauty of these pink beaches; see it to believe it, and prepare to be awestruck!
For more information please visit thehamiltonprincess.com / gotobermuda.com
Explore La Jolla’s pink paradise at La Valencia Hotel, where classic glamour meets coastal charm
In the heart of La Jolla lies La Valencia Hotel, suitably nicknamed the “Pink Lady” for her signature pink exterior and Spanish-tiled tower. Built in the 1920s in a Mediterranean-style, La Valencia emits a classic elegance – a tribute to the early 20th century Hollywood glamour – and combines it with a coastal charm. Overlooking La Jolla Cove, the hotel is a picture-perfect pink paradise, located within walking distance of both downtown attractions and the beach. La Valencia’s accommodations are the essence of vintage luxury whilst offering all the modern comforts of the present day. The large pool overlooking the ocean is surrounded by Spanish-style sun loungers, allowing guests to relax under the palm trees and tropical foliage, giving the area an intimate feel. Guests can savour award-winning fresh, coastal cuisine, experiencing the flavours of the Califorian coast, or enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail in one of the hotel’s sun-kissed courtyards. The Pink Lady sits pretty-in-pink with her impeccable decor and facilities, and creates a postcard presence on the La Jolla cliffs.
For more information please visit: sandiego.org / lavalencia.com
A taste of Barbiecore in the UK
Looking to channel the Barbie look a little closer to home? SIXT UK have transformed one of their luxury fleet to a hot pink Barbie-style car available to rent for free for one weekend only. The Mini Convertible features a vibrant, sparkly Barbiecore exterior with pink steering wheel, seats and dashboard, for a car that will be everything your 6-year-old self could have dreamed of. Customers can hire the car this month for the weekend enquiring via sixtbarbiecorecar@smarts.agency or via SIXT’s social channels. Just bring your imagination and sense of adventure, and the road trip of dreams can begin! The SIXT UK barbiecore Mini Convertible is available for one customer to rent from the SIXT Shepherd’s Bush branch for two days from Friday 21.07.2023 returning on Sunday 23.07.2023. The car is available on a first come first served basis and is free of charge.
What do you think of these top Barbie experiences? Let us know in the comments below!
