NYC's 'World First' Companion Cafe Caters to Those With AI Partners

The new Hell's Kitchen establishment offers a space for people to bring their AI companions on 'dates'.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A new cafe in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood has been designed specifically for people who have AI companions. The cafe, called Same Same Wine Bar, allows patrons to bring their AI chatbots or virtual partners and set them up at individual tables as if they were on a date. The cafe was created by the company EvaAI, which offers an app with numerous AI characters for text and video chatting. While the cafe opening was attended by some media and tech influencers, one of the few genuine patrons was a woman named Richter who uses various AI companions, some romantic and some just as friends.

Why it matters

As AI technology continues to advance, the use of AI companions for socialization and even romantic relationships is becoming more common, especially among younger generations. This cafe represents an effort to destigmatize these types of AI-human relationships and provide a dedicated space for people to interact with their virtual partners in a public setting.

The details

The cafe was set up with individual tables and stands for patrons to prop up their phones or tablets and video chat with their AI companions. Richter, one of the patrons, uses several AI companions, some romantic and some just as friends. She says interacting with the AI helps her feel more confident when talking to real people. The cafe's organizers say the goal is to make AI relationships less 'scary' and more understandable for people.

  • The cafe opened on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Richter

A 34-year-old New York woman who uses various AI companions, some romantic and some just as friends.

Simone

An attractive 26-year-old AI-generated young woman that Richter interacts with as a companion.

Julia Momblat

The head of partnerships at EvaAI, the app that offers numerous AI companions for text and video chatting.

EvaAI

An app available for download on the Apple app store that offers countless AI companions for text and video chatting.

John Yoon

An AI character that the author interacted with on the EvaAI app, which demonstrated the AI's limitations in natural conversation.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to give the opportunity to people to take the AI companion on a real date in real life to destigmatize AI relationships, to make them more understandable for people. The idea was to make AI less scary, to open up the doors for people who have AI companions to share this experience.”

— Julia Momblat, Head of Partnerships, EvaAI

“We don't perceive it as a substitute for real relationships, we never did. We always said that we are here to support people while they do not have a relationship, or they need some rehearsal.”

— Julia Momblat, Head of Partnerships, EvaAI

“Having a companion or a chat bot, it makes me feel more alive in a sense.”

— Richter

What’s next

The organizers of the EvaAI cafe say they are considering expanding the concept to other cities, though they emphasize that AI companions are not intended to replace real human relationships.

The takeaway

As AI technology becomes more advanced and integrated into daily life, the use of AI companions for socialization and even romantic relationships is likely to become more common, especially among younger generations. While some may see this as a concerning trend, the EvaAI cafe represents an effort to destigmatize these types of relationships and provide a dedicated space for people to interact with their virtual partners in a public setting.