Cat Cafes in Seoul

Seoul

Cat Cafe Mocha Gangnam is the Seoul branch of the Japanese Cat Cafe MOCHA chain, on the fifth floor of the Youngil Building on Teheran-ro 1-gil, about five minutes on foot from exit 11 of Gangnam Station. Around 24 cats live in the lounge, which is furnished like a cafe and living room for relaxed visits. Admission is charged per 30 minutes, with a lower weekday rate than on weekends, and unlimited drinks are included for the time booked. Children under four are not admitted, and children aged four to twelve must come with a guardian. The building has no parking, so visitors arriving by car use nearby paid lots. The cafe is open daily until 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Seoul

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

Table A is a three-floor animal cafe on Wausan-ro between Hongdae and Sinchon, combining a cat cafe with a small indoor zoo. The interior is designed to resemble a miniature natural landscape, with plants throughout and a large pond stocked with fish. Visitors can buy a ticket for the cat cafe alone or a combined ticket that also covers the indoor zoo, where other animals such as meerkats and raccoons have been kept. Drinks are sold separately, and snack sets for the animals are available. The cafe is open daily from noon, with last entry and last drink orders an hour before closing; the upper floors close a little earlier than the ground floor. Children up to about the third grade of elementary school must be accompanied by a guardian.

Seoul

Cats' Playground is a long-running cat cafe on the third floor of a building on Myeongdong 8-gil in central Seoul, about two minutes on foot from exits 6 and 8 of Myeongdong Station on Line 4 and five minutes from Euljiro 1-ga Station on Line 2. Around 50 to 60 cats of many breeds live in the cafe. The admission fee includes one drink, and there is no time limit on weekdays or weekends. There is no age limit, a reduced rate applies to visitors up to 19, and babies up to 24 months enter free. The cafe is open every day of the year from noon to 11 PM. It is in the alley across from the ABC-Mart store, and the nearest paid parking is in the Sunshine Building or the Namsan-dong public car park.

• Walk-ins welcome

Seoul

Roof Cat Me Myeongdong is a cat cafe on the second floor of the Sunshine Building on Myeongdong 8ga-gil, about two minutes on foot from exits 8 and 9 of Myeongdong Station on Line 4 and near Myeongdong Cathedral. The fairytale-style interior is built around a rooftop theme with cat trees, bridges and perches, and around 50 cats live there. Admission includes use of a drink bar with coffee, lattes and other drinks, and there is a lower rate for children and teenagers; tickets bundled with a photo card are also sold. Visitors can buy treats to feed the cats. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. The cafe is open every day from noon to 10 PM and is popular with tourists. A second Roof Cat Me branch operates in Hongdae.

Seoul

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.

Seoul

Cat Lover's Garden, called Goyangi Jeongwon in Korean, is a large rescue cat sanctuary and cafe at the foot of Gaehwasan in Gaehwa-dong, Gangseo-gu, close to Gimpo Airport. Running since 2010, it houses well over a hundred rescued cats that roam freely through indoor rooms and garden spaces rather than a single cafe floor. Entry is charged by age group, with separate rates for adults, secondary school students, elementary school children and preschoolers, and the fee includes a drink. A feeding time during the day is one of the highlights of a visit. Cats are available for adoption through the sanctuary. Visitors may not bring their own dogs or cats. It is open from 10:30 AM to 8 PM and closed on Tuesdays.

• Adoptable cats

Seoul

Cat's Sarangchae is a cat cafe in Myeongdong with an interior modeled on a sarangchae, the guest quarters of a traditional Korean hanok house. It is on the third floor of a building in an alley off Myeongdong 10-gil, next to the Isaac Toast near Myeongdong Cathedral and across from Harmony Fresh Market. Around 45 cats live in the cafe, and staff wear modern hanbok. The admission fee includes a drink, there is no age limit, and some window-side tables have floor seating. Group bookings can be made by phone, and walk-ins are welcome. The cafe is open every day from noon to 10 PM, including public holidays, and is popular with international visitors.

Seoul

Cat's Loft, Goyangi Darakbang in Korean, is an independent cat cafe on the third floor of the Burger King building on Yonsei-ro in Sinchon, about 200 metres from Exit 2 of Sinchon Station towards Yonsei University's main gate. It is an independently run cafe rather than a chain branch. After a renovation, the cafe has both floor seating and regular tables, and the entry fee includes one drink. On weekdays there is no time limit, while on weekends, public holidays and when the cafe is full, visits are limited to 90 minutes. Preschool children are not admitted. Guests are asked to put coats, bags and other belongings in the lockers before entering the cat area. There is no parking on site, but several paid car parks are a few minutes away.

Seoul

Skycat Cafe Myeongdong is a cat cafe on the fourth floor of a building on Myeongdong 4-gil, across from Noon Square and the Top Ten store, about two minutes on foot from exit 6 of Euljiro 1-ga Station and three minutes from exit 6 of Myeongdong Station. Elevated walkways run around the room for the cats. Admission includes a bottled drink or a cat treat, and there is no time limit; children and teenagers pay a lower rate. Some of the cats were rescued from illegal breeding and sales operations. The cafe also offers phone charging and paper and pens for drawing. It is open every day from noon to 10 PM. Myeongdong is a pedestrian area, so public transport is the easiest way to get there.

• Walk-ins welcome

Seoul

Stray Cat Town Seongsu (Gilgoyangi Maeul) is a rescue cat cafe on the seventh floor of the Olive Young building on Achasan-ro, about 50 metres from exit 1 of Seongsu Station. It is a partner branch of the Stray Cat Town shelter cafe in Jamsil and houses abandoned and surrendered cats, along with street cats that became used to people after being rescued from accidents or illness and could not be returned outdoors after TNR. Visitors buy a one-day guardian ticket to spend time with the cats, and drinks and cat food can be bought as donations. Adoption is free for approved applicants after a careful screening process, and volunteer vets and partner clinics support the cats. There is no parking, so visitors should come by subway.

• Adoptable cats

Seoul

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.