Cat Cafes in South Korea

Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Do

Needz is a cat cafe on the second floor of a building in central Uijeongbu, opposite Daiso Uijeongbu on the Jungang-ro green street, a short walk from Uijeongbu Station. The space covers about 165 square metres and is shared by 11 sociable cats and one dog, which the cafe calls Uijeongbu's only hybrid cat-and-dog lounge. Staff stress that it is a home for the animals rather than an animal experience centre, and children of elementary school age and younger can enter only with a guardian who agrees to supervise them. Tickets are sold for 30 minutes, one hour or two hours, and drinks are ordered separately. The building has no parking, so nearby paid and public car parks are the best option. It opens at 3 PM on weekdays.

Gwangju, Gyeonggi Do

My Pet is a small cat cafe on the ground floor of a new villa building just behind Ibaejae-ro in Mokhyeon-dong, at the western edge of Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, on the road over the Ibaejae pass towards Seongnam. It is a licensed animal exhibition business where visitors pay a single entry fee to spend time with the resident cats, and the cats' comfort comes first. Visitors are expected to interact gently and follow staff guidance rather than pick up or chase the cats, so it suits calm visitors better than boisterous groups. Cat stickers and phone grips are sold as souvenirs. Opening days vary, so checking the current hours on its map listing before visiting is recommended.

Yangju, Gyeonggi Do

I Cat You Yangju is a cat cafe on the second floor of a building on Mansam-ro in Samsung-dong, Yangju. Visitors buy a two-hour ticket per person, with a discount for weekend morning entry between 10 AM and noon and paid one-hour extensions; drinks are ordered separately, and babies under 12 months enter free. The cafe is popular with families. Kittens are also sold here, and the cafe welcomes enquiries about group visits for school field trips. It opens at 1 PM on weekdays and at 10 AM on weekends, and closes at 8 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Yangju, Gyeonggi Do

Myohae is a cat cafe on the sixth floor of Poly Tower 1 in Okjeong New Town, Yangju, a building with an arcade and several restaurants on the ground floor. No reservation is needed. Children younger than elementary school age must come with a guardian, and children under 24 months enter free. Visitors buy a two-hour ticket, with a lower rate for minors and a cheaper one-hour ticket on weekdays; drinks and cat treats are optional, and cat toys can be used free of charge. The cafe also runs a cat food cooking experience where visitors prepare a meal for the cats. On weekdays it closes for cleaning from 7:30 PM if there are no guests, so later visitors should call ahead. The building gives three hours of free parking.

Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Do

Cafe Catch is a cat cafe on the third floor of Mega Tower, the Starbucks building, in Saesol-dong in the Songsan Green City area of western Hwaseong. Its cats are surrendered and abandoned cats that the cafe looks after while they wait for new families. The cafe area and the cat area are separate, so visitors can also come just for the signature drinks and desserts. Entry is sold as sets that combine a 90-minute or 120-minute visit with a drink, priced by the type of drink chosen. The space is kept clean and is aimed at families, friends and couples alike. The cafe opens at 11 AM on weekdays and 11:30 AM on weekends, closing at 8 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Gwangju, Gyeonggi Do

Bless & Cats is a cafe with a separate cat lounge in Sinhyeon-dong, Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, close to the borders of Seongnam, Bundang and Yongin. The cat lounge is divided from the main cafe by glass, and about 15 cats live there, so visitors can either spend time with the cats or simply use the cafe on its own. It is set up as a family cat cafe that welcomes children, with safety rules explained to people meeting cats for the first time. The cafe uses certified organic coffee beans and also serves desserts and premium teas. Parking is free, and the cafe stays open until 10 PM.

Busan

Goyangi Darakbang (Cat Attic) Nampo is a long-running cat cafe on Gwangbok-ro in Busan's Nampo-dong shopping district, on the third floor of a building in a side alley opposite Wise Park, a short walk from Nampo Station. The Busan branch of the Goyangi Darakbang chain has been operating for more than a decade and is one of the best-known cat cafes in the city, with a large group of resident cats of different breeds and temperaments. Entry is charged per person, with lower rates for students and preschool children, and the fee includes a canned or boxed drink. A discounted unlimited weekday membership is also offered. Bookings can be made through Naver, and the cafe sells its own goods through an online store. It suits a stop between shopping on Gwangbok-ro and visits to BIFF Square or Jagalchi Market.

Busan

Jipsaui Haru (A Butler's Day) Nampo is a rescue cat cafe in Bupyeong-dong, Jung-gu, close to Nampo-dong and the Bupyeong Kkangtong Market. It belongs to Jipsaui Haru, a chain founded in 2015 by a former veterinary hospital worker that now runs branches in Seoul, Busan and Daegu and cares for several hundred abandoned and surrendered cats. The cafe operates as a self-funded shelter: entry fees, rather than donations or government support, pay for the cats' care. Cats are socialised in the cafe and rehomed through the chain's adoption programme to visitors who build a bond with them. Entry is a single flat fee for all ages, with drinks and cat treats such as churu, chicken breast and dried pollack sold separately. The cafe is open every day from late morning until 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Busan

Jipsaui Haru Seomyeon is a rescue cat cafe on the sixth floor of a building opposite the Judies Taehwa annex in central Seomyeon, a few minutes on foot from Seomyeon Station. It is the first Busan branch of Jipsaui Haru, a chain started in 2015 that rescues abandoned and surrendered cats and houses them in self-funded cafe shelters across Seoul, Busan and Daegu. The Seomyeon branch is one of the larger spaces in the chain, giving the cats plenty of room to run. Visitor entry fees fund the cats' food and medical care, and cats are rehomed through the chain's adoption programme once they have settled. Entry is a flat fee for all ages, and drinks and cat treats are bought separately. The cafe is open daily from late morning until 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Busan

Jipsaui Haru Jeonpo is a rescue cat cafe in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, on the second floor of a building between Jeonpo Station exit 7 and the Jeonpo cafe street. It is one of several branches of Jipsaui Haru, which since 2015 has rescued abandoned and surrendered cats and housed them in cafes that double as shelters. The cafe takes no donations or public funding; visitors' entry fees cover the cats' food, veterinary care and upkeep. Cats are socialised through daily contact with visitors and can be adopted through the chain's "adopt, don't shop" programme. Entry is a flat fee for all ages, and drinks and treats such as churu, chicken breast and freeze-dried snacks are sold separately. The cafe is open every day, from 11 AM on weekends and noon on weekdays, until 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Busan

Jipsaui Haru Gwangan is a rescue cat cafe on the third floor of a building at the Gwangalli Beach intersection in Suyeong-gu, a short walk from the beach. It is the newest Busan branch of Jipsaui Haru, a chain that began in 2015 with 15 rescued cats and now looks after around 500 cats across branches in Seoul, Busan and Daegu, taking in about 100 new rescues a year. The cafes are self-funded shelters: entry fees pay for the cats' care, and the chain also campaigns against abandonment and promotes responsible ownership. Cats go through a socialisation period in the cafe before being matched with adopters. Entry is a flat fee for all ages, with drinks and cat treats sold separately. The cafe is open daily until 10 PM.

• Adoptable cats

Busan

Angel Cat Cafe Goyangi Jeongwon (Cat Garden) is a small neighbourhood cat cafe on the fourth floor of a building in Sajik-dong, Dongnae-gu, in northern Busan near the Sajik Baseball Stadium area. It is a family-friendly spot where visitors sit among a resident group of house cats, some of which have had kittens born at the cafe. Entry is a single per-person fee, and cat treats, cup noodles and snacks are sold at the counter. The cafe reimburses part of the parking fee for visitors who use nearby car parks. Opening days are limited, with the cafe mainly open on Fridays and weekends, so checking the current schedule on Naver before visiting is advisable. It is a quiet place for children and parents to spend time with friendly cats.