Cat Cafes in South Korea

Yeongcheon, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Byeorirang Nolja is a cat cafe and cat hotel on the third floor of a building opposite the Yeongcheon City Library, and describes itself as the only venue of its kind in Yeongcheon. It is run as a non-commercial cafe supported by local cat carers who feed street cats, and all income goes to the cats. The owners encourage visitors to interact calmly with the cats rather than just handle them. Admission covers two hours and includes a bottled drink, and a stamp card gives a free visit after ten. Parking is available in front of the entrance, in the public car park behind the building or at the library opposite. Opening hours vary, so check the cafe's Instagram before visiting.

Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Cat Dabang is a ground-floor cat cafe in Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun, the residential area just across the Nakdong River from southern Gumi, opposite Seokjeok Nonghyup and next to a Paik's Coffee. Admission is charged per person and includes unlimited drinks, and visitors can buy churu treats for the cats. The cafe also rehomes some of its cats for a fee, including through a responsible adoption scheme, so some kittens are available to take home. It is a busy spot for local families on weekends, when the room can get crowded, so a weekday visit is quieter. On weekends the cafe opens from noon to 8 pm.

• Adoptable cats

Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Nabiya Nolja is a long-running cat cafe on Namgumi-ro in Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun, near Namgumi Bridge and Dongnak Park on the edge of Gumi. It occupies a standalone building with its own parking. The cats are generally calm and friendly towards people, and many are happy to be stroked or to doze next to visitors. Visitors take off their shoes, put on slippers and sanitise their hands before entering. Admission is charged per person, with a time limit of about two hours. The cafe has operated here since at least 2018 and closes in the late evening.

Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Nyangiui Haru Cafe is a small cat cafe on the second floor of a building on Inpyeongjungang-ro in Buksam-eup, Chilgok-gun, just west of Gumi; drivers can navigate to the Dalgubeol grocery mart in Buksam-eup and find it nearby, with public parking in the area. The resident cats include a large Maine Coon among other breeds, and visitors pay an entry fee with drinks ordered separately. The business also sells kittens, so some of the cats here are available to buy. It is a quiet neighbourhood spot, popular with local families and couples, and stays open into the evening.

• Adoptable cats

Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Myeongpum Goyangi Cafe is a reservation-based cat cafe in Sangmo-dong, Gumi, opposite Sangmo Pil Mart. All of its cats are imported pedigree cats, including British Shorthairs and Longhairs in gold and silver, short-legged cats, Munchkins, Napoleons, Maine Coons and Ragdolls. Visits must be booked at least an hour ahead through Naver or by phone, and same-day cancellations are not accepted; there are standard rooms, a kids' room and an SVIP option, with different time allowances on weekdays and weekends. Children under 12 must come with a guardian, and pets cannot be brought in. The cafe supports rescue organisations, although there are no rescue cats on site. It is closed on Wednesdays.

Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Yeppeojilgae & Cat Cafe combines a dog and cat grooming salon with a cat cafe on the second floor above Ujeong Pharmacy in Indong, Gumi, about 20 metres from the Davich Optical junction towards Sun Mart, next to Fatima Women's Hospital. The groomer, who holds a first-class KKF grooming licence, runs the salon in the same space. The cafe's cats are friendly and used to being stroked, and it is aimed at people who would like a cat but cannot keep one. Admission includes unlimited use of a self-service drinks bar, and there are board games to play. There is a reduced rate for children under three and adults over 65. It is open from 11 am to 8 pm and closed on Mondays.

Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Cafe GoEat is a brunch cafe and cat cafe in Idong, Nam-gu, Pohang, beside Idong Hot Spring and opposite a Lotteria. Visitors enter through the brunch cafe on the second floor and take the inside stairs to the cat room on the third floor. The owners describe it as a space for bonding with cats rather than an animal experience venue, and ask that sleeping cats are not woken; on days when the cats are tired there may be unannounced breaks. Socks must be worn. Admission is charged by age, with adults and teenagers paying least, and babies up to 12 months enter free; children must be accompanied. Reservations are taken by phone with a deposit and are recommended at weekends. Paid public parking is two minutes away. It is closed on Mondays.

Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Ichungjip Goyangi (Second-Floor House Cat) is one of Pohang's oldest cat cafes, operating since at least 2016 and now on the second floor of a building in Sangdo-dong, Nam-gu, about 100 metres down the alley between Tous les Jours and Joeun Animal Hospital at the Ssangyong junction. Many of the resident cats are older cats that have lived here for years, and the cafe says it is run around the cats' needs. Admission is charged per person with drinks extra, and it is a no-kids zone for children under 10. The cafe also offers cat boarding and grooming without anaesthesia. Free weekend parking is available at the Sangdo public car park. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Catnap & Reborn combines Reborn Sikdang, a casual restaurant using ingredients from Jukdo Market, with a cat book room where resident cats live, in an alley by the entrance to the market's fourth public car park in Buk-gu, Pohang, next to the Odagada guesthouse. The book room is a quiet space for doing nothing much with the cats, stocked with books and comics, board games, drawing and colouring books, a piano and a ukulele, with a self-service pour-over coffee set. Food and drinks from the restaurant can be taken up. The room can be used on its own with a Naver reservation or paid for on arrival; entry is by unstaffed kiosk, and booked guests receive instructions by text. Visitors with cat allergies should take care.

Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Yaongah Nolja Cat Cafe Gyeongju is a cat cafe on the second floor of the Land Rover building on Jungang-ro in central Gyeongju, next to the Bonghwangdae royal tomb and opposite KB Kookmin Bank, a short walk from the Daereungwon tombs and Hwangnidan-gil. About 40 cats live in the 130-square-metre space, which is set up purely for the cats, and they are looked after by a trained cat groomer. Admission is charged per person, with a lower price for elementary, middle and high school students and preschool children. It is closed on Thursdays, opens from 2 pm to 8 pm on other weekdays and from 11 am to 8 pm on weekends, which makes it an easy indoor break during a day of sightseeing.

Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Louis Cat Gyeongju is a newer cat cafe on the second floor of a building on Gyerim-ro in Hwango-dong, central Gyeongju, right next to a large Daiso store, two minutes from a public car park and about five minutes on foot from Hwangnidan-gil. It presents itself as a cosy indoor space where visitors can get a taste of life as a cat owner, with lap cats and sociable cats that readily approach children. A visit lasts 90 minutes, with separate prices for adults and for under-19s. The cafe opens from 1 pm to 8 pm on weekdays and from noon to 8 pm on weekends, making it a convenient break from sightseeing around the Daereungwon tombs.

Andong, Gyeongsangbuk Do

Books & Cats is a cat room run together with Book Cafe Tong 659 and the Andong Punggyeong Hostel n Library in Noha-dong, Andong, 10 to 15 minutes on foot from Andong Station and the intercity bus terminal. More than ten cats live in the room, and visitors check in at the ground-floor book cafe, order one drink per person and pay a small separate fee for the cat room; food and drinks stay in the book cafe. Elementary school children and younger must come with a guardian. House rules ask visitors to sanitise their hands, stay out of the cats' rest area, avoid picking cats up or touching their tails, bellies and paws, keep noise down, not use camera flash and only give treats sold on site. It is open every day from 9 am to 9 pm.