早喵食肆

Tainan City · 0.3 mi / 0.5 km

Bo Ji (波吉) is a small, pet-friendly brunch restaurant on Linsen Road in East District, Tainan, best known for its resident animals: three to four friendly cats and a Chihuahua who keep diners company inside. The cats are well cared for and happy to be stroked. The animals have set working days, and the shop posts on Instagram which of its little managers are on duty. The entrance faces the main road, not the lane behind. Seating is limited, so it is worth calling ahead to book, especially if you want an indoor table near the cats. The menu is good value: signature brunch platters, French toast with honey, pan-fried chicken leg steak, sous-vide meats, bagels, bacon and German sausage, with coffee and tea.

Tainan City · 0.3 mi / 0.5 km

Dou Zai Man Shi Jian (都在漫食間) is a cat-themed brunch restaurant on Linsen Road in East District, Tainan, where four resident cats share the dining room with guests. The cats are calm and gentle, lounging by the windows, under chairs and sometimes on the tables. Some will accept a stroke, while others prefer to watch, so guests should let them choose. The kitchen serves brunch platters, pan-fried chicken leg, slow-cooked curry rice, pasta with clams and other Italian-style dishes, desserts such as crème brûlée, and coffee and lattes. Tables can be booked online, which is a good idea at weekends, and a dining time limit applies when the restaurant is busy. Parents should supervise children around the cats.

Tainan City · 0.6 mi / 0.9 km

Xia Liao Cat Coffee (瞎聊。貓咖啡) is a rescue halfway-house cafe in a lane near the East Gate roundabout in East District, Tainan. It is not a pet cafe: the owner traps, neuters and cares for street cats, many of them injured or paralysed, and funds their care from the cafe rather than through donations. All the cats roam freely and are available for adoption. Gentler cats live on the ground floor, while new arrivals stay upstairs, which is open only to prospective adopters. Guests are asked not to play with, feed or handle the cats, to keep voices low and to let the cats approach. The cafe is small, with about ten seats. Specialty pour-over coffee, teas, scones, lemon tart and other light bites are ordered at the counter, with a minimum of one drink. Outside food and pets are not allowed.

• Adoptable cats

Tainan City · 0.6 mi / 0.9 km

Mao Wang (貓王龍貓餐廳) is an animal-themed restaurant on Kaixuan Road in East District, Tainan, where a large family of cats shares the dining room with chinchillas and guinea pigs. Many of the cats are friendly and come to greet guests, including a big Maine Coon who has been known to eye up diners' plates. The owner's family keeps them well groomed, and children often get to hold the chinchillas. The menu runs from freshly baked waffles with banana, chocolate or ice cream to savoury dishes such as Thai basil pork, green curry and chicken wings. Prices are on the high side and there is a minimum spend. Visits are by reservation only, through the restaurant's official LINE account or by phone. Keep an eye on your food if the cats get curious.

Tainan City · 0.8 mi / 1.2 km

Xiang Cun Xiao Su (鄉村小宿) is a small cat-themed restaurant on a lane off Datong Road in East District, Tainan. Despite the name, it is a restaurant, not a guesthouse. Five friendly resident cats share the cosy dining room and often come over on their own to be petted, which helps pass the time while dishes are prepared by the single owner-chef. The menu centres on healthy Italian-style dishes made with ingredients the owner would serve her own family: risotto with truffle cream or squid ink, pasta with pesto or egg-yolk and cheese sauce, and beef dishes, plus puddings, cinnamon rolls and cat-shaped desserts. Custom cakes and desserts can be ordered in advance. The room is small and can get warm. Days off vary and are announced on the Facebook page.

Tainan City · 1.0 mi / 1.6 km

Maomi Cafe (貓米咖啡) is a small brunch cafe in a lane off Beimen Road in West Central District, Tainan, run by one person and two resident cats. The cats have the run of the room and its cat area: one is outgoing and loves attention, while the younger one is often found asleep. Visitors can stroke them gently while they eat. To protect the cats and keep the space calm, the cafe does not admit children under eight. Booking ahead is recommended, as the kitchen is a one-person operation and tables are limited. The menu mixes brunch plates with Korean touches, including black-bean noodles, kimchi dishes and ramen, alongside hamburg steak, yogurt bowls, cakes, rooibos tea and coffee. Limited-time dishes appear from time to time, and days off are announced on Instagram.

• Booking recommended