Gato Café

Gato Café, proudly recognized as Rio de Janeiro’s first cat cafe and the largest of its kind in Brazil, offers a feline-themed sanctuary with locations in Botafogo and Barra da Tijuca. Founded by Giovanna Molinaro, an architect and self-proclaimed “cat lady” inspired by her first adopted cat and a transformative trip to Japan, the cafe combines a stylish, Instagram-worthy atmosphere with a mission to promote cat adoptions and debunk feline myths. Visitors can enjoy a creative menu—including cat-shaped “salgatos” with fillings like calabresa or cheese, the waffle “miauravilha” topped with chocolate and strawberries, and playful milkshakes—while observing resident cats through a glass partition or booking time in a dedicated feline playground filled with platforms, toys, and cozy nooks. Partnering with NGOs like Bigodes do Bunker and Focinhos de Luz, the cafe houses adoptable cats in meticulously designed spaces, with all proceeds from lounge fees reinvested into their care, having facilitated over 550 adoptions since opening in 2020.