WinkyPinky Cat House

Seoul · 1.8 mi / 2.8 km

Cat Paradise is a cat cafe on the third floor of a building on Wausan-ro 13-gil in Sangsu-dong, in the quieter southern part of Hongdae near Sangsu Station. It is known among visitors for its many good-looking pedigree cats and is a common stop for families with children as well as couples. Adult admission includes one drink and there is no time limit on visits; teenagers and children pay a lower rate without a drink. The cafe opens every day from 1 PM to 10 PM. It is a straightforward, relaxed place to spend an afternoon with the cats after exploring the cafes and shops around Sangsu and Hapjeong.

Seoul · 1.9 mi / 3.1 km

MAO is a cat cafe combined with a multi-room style entertainment space, on the third and fourth floors of a building on Wausan-ro 21-gil in central Hongdae, near Hongik University Station. Look for the cat sign at the entrance of the alley by the former Cocoon crossroads. Alongside the resident cats, many of them friendly and used to being handled, visitors can play video games such as Nintendo titles, which makes it a popular choice for dates and groups of friends. Pricing is by time, from 30 minutes up to a day pass that allows guests to leave and come back. The cafe opens in the early afternoon and stays open into the evening.

Seoul · 1.9 mi / 3.1 km

Jipsaui Haru Hongdae is the original branch of Jipsaui Haru, a chain of rescue cat cafes, located on the third floor of a building beside Hongdae Playground, opposite the main gate of Hongik University. The founder opened it in 2015 after twenty years working at an animal hospital, starting with 15 cats, and the chain now cares for about 200 abandoned or surrendered cats across several branches. The cafe works as a self-funded shelter: entry fees pay for the cats' care, and cats that have settled in are matched with adopters. The Hongdae branch is the largest, with plenty of room for the cats to run and climb. Visitors pay a flat entry fee, and drinks and cat treats are sold separately. There is no parking. It is open daily until 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Seoul · 1.9 mi / 3.1 km

Meerkat Friends is an exotic animal cafe on Wausan-ro 21-gil, right in front of Hongdae Playground. Cats are only part of the attraction: alongside Bengal cats, the cafe keeps meerkats, wallabies, arctic, silver and marble foxes, raccoons, a genet, a rock hyrax, a kinkajou, dogs and reptiles, and visitors move between areas to meet them under staff guidance. Children must be at least five years old to enter, and those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; the meerkat zone is limited to children aged seven and over. House rules on handling and feeding the animals must be followed. The cafe opens in the early afternoon. Visitors mainly interested in cats may prefer one of the dedicated cat cafes nearby.

Seoul · 1.9 mi / 3.1 km

Y Cat Cafe, known in Korean as Cheongchun Goyangi Cafe, is a long-running cat cafe on the third floor of a building in Seogyo-dong, Hongdae, a short walk from Hongdae Playground and Hongik University. It opened in 2008 and is one of the oldest cat cafes in the area. The resident cats include rescued and senior cats, and many are relaxed lap cats used to visitors, which makes the cafe popular with families and couples. A single entry fee applies to adults and children alike, with no time limit on visits, and cat treats can be bought at the counter. To find it, look for the cafe's banner near Hongdae Playground; the building is at the end of the alley to the left of the convenience store facing the playground. It opens in the early afternoon on weekdays and at noon on weekends.

• Walk-ins welcome

Seoul · 2.0 mi / 3.2 km

Roof Cat Me Hongdae is a large cat cafe on the second basement floor of the H-Cube building on Yanghwa-ro, three to five minutes on foot from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station. The space is designed as a fairy-tale cat village with themed corners for photos and rest areas, and it is home to more than 40 cats of various breeds. Entry is charged per person, with a lower children's rate and ticket options that add a printed photo card, and coffee, tea and other drinks are available inside. Children under 13 must come with a guardian. The cafe is open every day from noon to 10 PM. Paid parking is available in the building. It is part of the Roof Cat Me group, which also runs a branch in Myeongdong.