Cat Cafes in South Korea

Seongnam, Gyeonggi Do

And Coffee is a cat cafe on the ground floor of a building in a residential area of Jeongja-dong, Bundang, next to Baekhyeon Park. It is about ten minutes on foot from exit 6 of Jeongja Station on the Shinbundang Line, or 13 minutes from exit 2 on the Suin-Bundang Line. The cafe shares its premises with Bundang Cat, a cat breeder, so the resident cats include many friendly breed cats and kittens are sold on site. Visitors often mention the number of lap cats. Entry is charged per person, with a lower rate for children up to fourth grade of elementary school, and drinks are ordered separately. It is a popular indoor outing for families with elementary school children. The cafe is open every day from 11 AM to 8 PM.

Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Do

Cafe Leo is a cat cafe in Osan-dong, Dongtan, home to the cats featured on the Korean YouTube channel Goyangi Sanchaek (Cat Walk). It is on the second floor of Le Bois City Building A, the officetel tower, rather than Building B, the shopping block. Tickets are sold for two hours, with a higher price on weekends, and no reservation is needed. Outside snacks and toys for the cats are strictly prohibited. Local gift certificates are accepted, and the building's underground car park offers two hours of free parking. The cafe is closed on Mondays, opens from 1 PM to 7:30 PM Tuesday to Friday, and from 11 AM to 8 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

Anyang, Gyeonggi Do

Cat Zip (Goyangijip) is a rescue cat cafe on the third floor of a building on Manan-ro in Anyang 1beonga, the shopping district near Anyang Station, right next to the Cheongnyeon Dabang restaurant. It runs fixed two-hour sessions with a 30-minute break between them for the cats, three on weekdays and four on weekends, and the number of visitors per session is limited. Booking ahead is recommended and requires a deposit, although walk-ins are admitted when spaces remain. Each visitor must buy one drink in addition to the entry ticket. Socks are required, visitors' own pets and outside food are not allowed, and commercial filming is not permitted. Weekday sessions start at 1:30 PM and weekend sessions at 11:30 AM.

• Adoptable cats

Gunpo, Gyeonggi Do

Catple Heaven AK Plaza Geumjeong is a branch of the Catple Heaven cat cafe chain on the ground floor of the AK Plaza complex at Geumjeong Station in Gunpo, behind the GS25 convenience store. From the subway, follow signs toward AK Plaza, then take the lift next to the escalator down to the first floor. Catple describes itself as a space for trying out life with a cat, combining time with resident cats with adoption and care services and a cat goods shop. Weekday tickets are sold for one or three hours, weekend and holiday tickets for two hours, and a cheaper ticket applies after 7 PM. Treat sets with a free drink and ten-visit passes are also offered. It opens at 1 PM on weekdays and 11 AM on weekends.

Gunpo, Gyeonggi Do

Nyangi Town is a cat cafe in Sanbon-dong, Gunpo, near Sanbon Station, on the third floor of the Jeongwan Building, which also houses Kkang Udon and a rooftop restaurant. Its cats are gentle and people-friendly, and the owners limit visitor numbers to keep the space calm and clean, with the cats' rest and condition put first. The standard ticket covers two hours, and drinks, canned food and lickable treats are sold separately, with treats available in limited quantities each day. Both reservations and walk-ins are accepted, though there may be a wait when it is busy, and groups are asked to get in touch first. Solo visitors are welcome. The cafe opens at 11 AM daily, closing at 7 PM on weekdays and 8:30 PM on weekends.

• Adoptable cats

Suwon, Gyeonggi Do

Sunhan Goyangi, whose name means gentle cat, is a small cat cafe in Cheoncheon-dong, Jangan-gu, northern Suwon, on the seventh floor of a building beside a fried chicken shop. The cafe doubles as a refuge for cats that were given up by their owners, and as the name suggests it keeps only calm, gentle cats. It is unusually relaxed in its rules: there is no age limit and no time limit, and visitors may bring their own food and drinks. Entry is charged per person, with lower prices for elementary school children and for middle and high school students. Up to three and a half hours of parking in the building's underground car park is free, but the ticket must be validated. The cafe opens at noon on weekends and in the afternoon on weekdays, closing at 8 PM.

Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Do

My Neighbor Kitty & Lunafelt (Iutjip Goyangi) is a cat cafe on the ninth floor of the Tomato Medical building in the Bongdam 2 district of Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong. About 15 affectionate cats live here. The entry fee covers 90 minutes and includes a drink, with extra time charged in 10-minute blocks, and additional drinks and ten-visit prepaid passes are available. Children must be at least six years old to enter. It is popular with local families looking for an indoor outing in the Bongdam area, including many with elementary school children. The cafe opens at 1 PM and closes at 8 PM.

Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Do

Sikppang Gumnyang is a ground-floor cat cafe in Bijeon-dong, Pyeongtaek, that has appeared on the SBS programme TV Animal Farm. The owners describe it as a place for mutual connection with the cats rather than a hands-on animal experience: adult cats can be stroked but should not be picked up or held against their will, and kittens under a year old may only be watched, to protect their immune systems. Visits last 90 minutes on weekdays, weekends and holidays, and the single entry price includes a drink and is the same for adults and young children. Children under 24 months are not admitted. Books are available for visitors who want to read while the cats nap. The cafe opens at 12:30 PM and closes at 9 PM.

Hanam, Gyeonggi Do

Gorocat is a bright, sunny cat cafe on the sixth floor of Misa River Park in the Misa Gangbyeon new town of Hanam. Tickets cover two hours, with separate weekday and weekend prices and lower rates for children. Reservations are not required, but there may be a wait at busy times. The last entry is at 6 PM on weekdays and 7 PM on weekends. Socks are required and can be bought at the counter if needed, and cat treats and extra drinks are sold separately. The building gives two hours of free parking, after which charges apply. Visitors often recommend it for families and for people who want to spend relaxed time with cats in good natural light. It opens daily at noon.

• Adoptable cats

Guri, Gyeonggi Do

With Nyang is a cat cafe on the second floor of a building in Sutaek-dong, Guri, reached through the Guri Traditional Market alley from the Guri Market bus stop. Some of its cats were raised in the cafe, but many came in after a hard life on the streets, and the owners say each visit helps fund their care. Visitors are asked to treat the cats as living beings rather than toys: no forced lifting or holding, no flash photography, and sleeping cats are to be watched rather than touched. Children aged six through elementary school must stay with a guardian. Entry includes a drink, with a lower rate for children and students, and socks are required. The cafe also runs cat hotel rooms. Use the nearby public car parks.

Namyangju, Gyeonggi Do

Naman Eobseo Goyangi, a play on the Korean internet phrase for 'I'm the only one without a cat', is a cat cafe in Byeollae-dong, Namyangju, on the second floor above the Chevrolet Byeollae service centre, with the entrance at the back. Its interior was designed by the owner, a former designer, and the cats are mostly sociable lap cats, including British Shorthairs, Munchkins and Devon Rexes. The cafe also puts care into its drinks and desserts, from cake slices and croffles to fish-shaped bungeoppang in winter. Visitors must be at least eight years old. It also runs a cat hotel and sells kittens. Visitors can park at the service centre or the public car park next door.

Namyangju, Gyeonggi Do

Cat Cafe 38.5 is a long-established cat cafe on the fifth floor of Seoul Plaza in Byeollae-dong, Namyangju, near exit 3 of Byeolgaram Station. It has been running for close to a decade, with around 20 mostly adult cats that are calm and approachable, and the owner often shows guests how best to play with them. Visitors must be at least 12 years old. There is a standard entry ticket and an all-day ticket. The cafe also offers cat boarding, with staff on site around the clock. Drivers should enter the car park from the alley behind the building, next to the Janggunjip restaurant sign, and two hours of underground parking are free. It is open until 10 PM.

• Booking required